Agronomic producers to take note

August 7, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Agronomic producers to take note The management of the Agronomy Producers Association (APA) last week met in Windhoek to discuss matters of interest.

Business on the agenda was, among other things, the intake of maize.

Producers are reminded that maize intake by Namib Mills this year will take place as follows: Producers in the east, which include Hochfeld and Summerdown, and those in the south get preference for maize delivery directly to Windhoek, while maize from the maize triangle is delivered to Otavi.

Producers from the east must notify Namib Mills at least one week before delivery, so that the schedule can be planned.

If there is space in Windhoek, the Grootfontein, Tsumeb and Otavi (GTO) producers can also deliver their maize directly to Windhoek, but the office of the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) must be notified in advance.

According to the NAU, for the next two weeks however, GTO producers cannot deliver to Windhoek as there is no space.

The NAU will notify the GTO producers as soon as they can proceed again with delivery to Windhoek.

The pooling system, which means that producers will be paid every two weeks as Namib Mills mills the maize, was also discussed and alternative options will be looked at next year to improve the process of payments.

The price formula for determining the maize prize for floating years was also discussed in depth and further consultations with all role players will take place before finalising it by October this year. Members are requested to contact the respective regional representatives to get background and to give input.

During the meeting, the cultivation of alternative crops, such as sesame seed and chickpeas, was also under discussion and studies are being planned to determine if it is an option for Namibia.

STAFF REPORTER

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Make mine rare

August 7, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Make mine rareGlobal beef markets are strong Driven in part by health scares related to pork and poultry, along with increasing disposable income, the world market for beef is doing well.

While the Namibian food basket has become more expensive mainly due to the increase in fuel prices, Meatco says it is still in a fairly good space, because its products target people that cannot afford the high-value products.

“In terms of products, Meatco is doing significantly better compared to last year and all indications are that the trend will continue as prices will be stable and moving sideways, and in some markets upwards,” said marketing and sales executive, Cyprianus Khaiseb.

According to Meatco, the major factor driving demand in the global beef market is the rise in disposable income for consumers across the world.

The company says the rise in urbanisation is another major factor impacting the beef market across the world.

“Moreover, beef is high in protein, thus the increase in awareness of high protein consumption is met by beef.”

In addition, food safety issues such as pathogen detection problems and chemical residues in meat products like poultry and pork have increased the demand for beef across the world.

According to Meatco the notable gap between demand and supply of beef due to its limited production because of several environmental and political factors is one of the major factors restraining the demand for the beef market globally.

The increase in beef prices in developed markets due to limited supply from North America is another restraining factor of the beef market.

According to Meatco there is little to no economic crunch in the foreign markets. For now, they still remain stable markets with little inflation in sight.

Asia Pacific is dominating the global beef market due to the increasing consumption of beef in countries such as India, China, and Japan.

China is the world's largest market for beef. Improving lifestyles of the consumers residing in China due to a significant rise in disposable income is the major factor fuelling the growth of the beef market in China.

The Middle East and Africa also account for a major part of the market share for the global beef market. Countries such as Brazil and Argentina are also expected to show strong growth during the forecast period.

In terms of Meatco's export markets like the lucrative Norwegian market, Meatco is on track as it had supplied 66% of the 1 300 tons by the end of June.

The rest of the quota will move as per the production schedule.

According to Meatco the demand for red meat is growing globally with emerging markets (middle class) having more disposable income to consume beef.

“This is a positive trend and statistics that will only help Meatco and other beef manufacturing entities to grow their business,” Khaiseb said.

STAFF REPORTER

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AfDB loans 20 million euros to Cabo Verde

August 7, 2018, 4:00 pm

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AfDB loans 20 million euros to Cabo Verde STAFF REPORTER

The African Development Bank and Cabo Verde have signed a 20 million euro loan agreement to revitalise the economy of the West African coastal island.

The loan, signed 2 August 2018 in Abidjan, is part of a two year programme of up to 40 million euros to be disbursed in two equal instalments in 2018 and 2019. The funds will help the new Cabo Verde Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development (2017-2021), which the bank is supporting through its private sector competitiveness and local economic development programme.

"This programme aims to strengthen the contribution of the private sector and local entities to growth and job creation," said Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, the bank’s director-general for West Africa. "It will help to facilitate business activity and competitiveness, will accelerate local development and will increase the contribution of decentralisation to growth."

"The signing of this agreement is very important for the consolidation of the Cabo Verde economy. The private sector competitiveness and local development programme will help to put our country's growth on a sound footing." Inácio Felino Rosa De Carvalho, Cabo Verde’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, said in response.

Carvalho added that the support would lead to an improved quality of life for the people of Cape Verde.

The Cabo Verde government has invested heavily in infrastructure in recent years in a bid to diversify the economy of the island. The challenge now is to empower the private sector to drive further growth, job creation and poverty reduction.

The Bank's active portfolio in Cabo Verde, is worth over 85.4 million euros, disbursed to energy and transport projects as well as water and sanitation, agricultural and governance sectors.

The Republic of Cabo Verde is composed of 10 volcanic islands and eight islets located in the central Atlantic Ocean, some 450 kilometres west of Senegal. It has a land area of 4 033 square kilometres, and 700 000 square kilometres Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). The population is estimated at 500 000, 55.7% of whom are located on the main Santiago Island.

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Letshego encourages productive lending

August 7, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Letshego encourages productive lendingLaunches “Improving Life” campaign Letshego Namibia articulates on its clear strategic intent of developing solutions that drive sustainable impact in communities. It helps us to understand how customers utilise their loans, which in turn assist us to introduce products that addresses their needs- Nicolaas Esterhuyse, CEO, Letshego Micro Financial Services

STAFF REPORTER

The business commits to encouraging responsible financial behavior. The Improving Life campaign which was launched on Friday targets customers who borrow towards financing education, health, property investments as well as to Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME).

Letshego continues to drive the development of solutions that are responsive, solves customer’s needs and reward productive financial behaviour. In testament to this, Letshego launched their third “Improving Life” campaign, a customer engagement and competition rewarding productive loan use by Letshego customers that also drives financial inclusion. Since launching the Improving Life Campaign in 2016, Letshego Namibia have received over 7300 stories from customers across Namibia over the past two years and is encouraging more customers to join.

Through this campaign, customers are invited to share their stories on how they have used Letshego financial solutions to sustainably improve their lives and the lives of people in their communities, through a competition where they stand to win a productive asset. Letshego customers are given the opportunity to win productive assets worth N$100 000 where five winners will be selected by an independent panel of judges. The campaign runs for three months until 31st October 2018.

In order to enter the competition, customers obtain entry forms from any of our access points across the country, provide an account of ways that they used their funds productively and then submit their entries to participate in the competition. Entries are then reviewed and ten finalists are shortlisted by the executive management team, following which, an independent panel of judges select the top 5 winners.

Letshego Micro Financial Services’s chief executive officer Nicolaas Esterhuyse said: “Letshego Namibia embraces a customer centric change culture and understands the importance of solving for the needs of its customers. The Improving Lives campaign does exactly that. It helps us to understand how customers utilise their loans, which in turn assist us to introduce products that addresses their needs.”

The Improving Life Campaign forms part of the Group’s continued commitment to become a leading African inclusive finance group and has been rolled out across the other ten countries and consumer markets where the Letshego Group operates. Through the campaign, Letshego has been able to gain insights that have spurned them to develop more appropriate solutions, whilst also encouraging customers to borrow for productive rather than consumptive purposes. In addition to the Improving Life Campaign, Letshego has invested N$400 000 over the past two years towards financial literacy for its customers through workshops held across the country with their strategic partner, Financial Literacy Initiative (FLI).

Letshego’s philosophy rests on creating financial inclusion through providing simple,appropriate and accessible solutions to its customers, especially to people who have historically been excluded from the formal financial sector. Kali added that they will continue to promote and drive financial inclusion and improve financial literacy for all Namibians. Their 2017 social impact survey for 2016/17 revealed that 79% of Letshego Bank Namibia customers used their loans for productive purposes. Itself, an amazing feat of accomplishment.

Letshego Namibia’s mission is to increase financial inclusion within the Namibian economy by leveraging digital innovation. They provide financially inclusive solutions to over 52 000 borrowers and now offer deposits, savings and payment solutions through their recently launched LetsGo All-in-1 account that will significantly enable customers to access broader financial solutions.

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Alweendo sticks to his guns on fuel storage

August 7, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Alweendo sticks to his guns on fuel storage

OGONE TLHAGE

Energy minister Tom Alweendo feels that if any entity should manage the strategic fuel storage facility in the port of Walvis Bay, it should be the oil and gas parastatal, the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia.

The N$5.6 billion facility, which is still under construction, is expected to be handed over to the government next year January and should expand current storage capacity from 14 days’ supply to 30 days’.

The facility is 95% complete, according to the minister.

“Given that Namcor is our national oil company, it makes perfect sense that Namcor will be the operator of the facility on behalf of the government.

“The operator will need high-level technical skills to operate the facility and Namcor will need some time to build the requisite skills,” Alweendo told Namibian Sun.

“The project is now 95% completed and if all goes well handover will be in January 2019. Given the complex nature of the project it is not unusual to experience some delays.”

According to him, Namcor would be able to run the facility by recruiting skilled personnel or acquiring a technical partner to assist with the building of technical skills.

Swiss company Vitol had in the past made an unsolicited bid to the government to operate the fuel storage facility.

Vitol is alleged to have offered US$1 per year to rent the facility for ten years. In addition, Vitol also offered to pay the government N$160 million as part of the transaction.

The Namibian newspaper in February reported that Vitol SA had proposed to operate the storage facility for a maximum of ten years, but it was open to a 15-to-20-year deal.

According to the report, the Vitol offer was made in November 2017.

Vitol submitted the proposal to finance minister Calle Schlettwein, who forwarded it to the cabinet for consideration, The Namibian reported.

Vitol would offer only 30 cubic metres (or 30 000 litres) of the total 70 000 cubic metres petroleum storage space to the government for emergency uses.

The rest of the storage space, 69 997 cubic metres, would be used by Vitol. This meant that Vitol would use 99.9% of the facility, which was built to store Namibia's strategic petroleum reserves.

Vitol also promised to supply 19 000 cubic metres of diesel and 12 700 cubic metres of unleaded petrol to Namibian fuel stations, a proposal described by a source as a move that would hand the Swiss company 45% of the Namibian fuel market.

The fuel storage facility will be the largest in the country, and the first to be 100% owned by the government.

Alweendo also briefly touched on a request by Namcor to have 50% of its fuel import mandate restored.

The mandate was revoked in 2010 after Namcor became technically insolvent. The idea to restore the mandate was pushed by then chairperson of Namcor, Johannes !Gawaxab.

Should Namcor succeed in its bid to have the mandate restored, it would be responsible for importing up to 50% of Namibia’s fuel needs.

Alweendo said his ministry had not yet received a formal request from Namcor.

“Namcor has not as yet formally requested the restoration of its import mandate. When they do so the government will look at the measures that Namcor has put in place to avoid the pitfalls experienced the last time when they had the mandate,” he said.

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Husab workers complain about treatment

August 7, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Husab workers complain about treatmentCompany says it values its multi-cultural environment The uranium-mining company has denied claims of unfair and discriminatory practices made by Namibian workers.

CATHERINE SASMAN

Swakop Uranium (SU), the Namibian-registered company that owns the Husab Mine in the Erongo Region, has denied claims that its Namibian workforce is being treated differently than their Chinese counterparts.

Some Namibian employees at the company have alleged that the company’s policies and procedures are not applied equally to all employees, claiming that there is “a lot of injustice and inconsistency”.

The Namibian employees, preferring anonymity, claimed that there is no transparency in the company, and that Chinese nationals have their own meetings on the progress at the company while Namibians are left in the dark.

“Double standards exist between Chinese and Namibian employees. Chinese employees are allowed to sleep on duty while it is a serious offence for Namibians to do so,” the sources claimed.

They also claimed there are no Namibian understudies being trained or guided by Chinese expatriates.

“Instead, it is usually the other way round where Namibians have to train the Chinese expatriates,” one charged, saying Chinese employees’ qualifications are often dodgy.

They said the salaries are inconsistent and that their housing allowances are not competitive with other mining companies.

Husab staff in November last year petitioned the management over similar complaints, but the vice-president of human resources at SU, Percy McCullum, shrugged of the claims as hogwash.

He said the company embraces a multi-cultural environment as one of its core values.

“The successful interaction and integration of the various cultures has nurtured a unique culture in which employees from both countries learn from each other in the work environment and socially with great agility to breed a high-performance culture of diligence, discipline and dedication,” McCullum said.

SU is co-owned by majority shareholder China General Nuclear (CGN), the China-Africa Development Fund (CAD Fund) and Epangelo Mining.

STAFF GROWTH

The construction of the mine started in 2012 and when it started with its operations in 2014, it had 30 permanently employed workers.

Over a period of four years the staff complement grew to 1 619 and about 500 contractor employees that are working at the Husab site.

McCullum said the company is the biggest single employer in the mining industry in Namibia and that it is in fact supporting the national agenda of the Namibian government to alleviate poverty and unemployment.

He said roughly half of the employees are from the youth and unemployed categories. Many of the staff, he said, were recruited from other mining houses and other industries. He said the company usually receives hundreds of applications for vacant positions that are advertised.

McCullum contended that the company does have a competitive salary structure and an official grading system.

“The salaries are benchmarked annually against major companies within the various industries. SU remunerates employees based on levels of experience and other factors impacting on the role. Job descriptions are in place for each role, outlining employees’ duties and responsibilities,” he insisted.

He said CGN, as the majority shareholder, does maintain “reasonable control measures” to guarantee the safety of the operations and return on its investment.

CGN has seconded 35 Chinese employees to SU. This constitutes about 1.8% of all SU employees.

McCullum said these employees are fully integrated into the company’s operations, are highly educated and trained in management and operational systems and provide strategic, financial and technical direction alongside the local management.

TRAINING

McCullum said the company had put in place a comprehensive training and development structure to provide training to Namibians, particularly previously disadvantaged Namibians, in technical and non-technical fields.

He said the company had spent over N$231 million over a three-year period to train operators and artisans, and in other capacities.

During this year (2018) 17 graduates that have completed their three-year training, were appointed into substantive roles to build the leadership pipeline, McCullum said.

Women represent 35% of the graduate placements. For 2019 the company intends to offer formalised training programmes to 16 graduates, again with a focus on previously disadvantaged citizens.

Husab has an estimated 20-year lifespan, which McCullum said offers job security and continued economic and social contributions.

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GlaxoSmithKline appoints new CFO

August 7, 2018, 4:00 pm

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GlaxoSmithKline appoints new CFOHSBC's Iain Mackay got the post GlaxoSmithKline has named Iain Mackay from global bank HSBC as its new chief financial officer. He is a strong leader with a track record of driving cost, cash and capital allocation discipline to deliver strategy- Emma Walmsle, CEO of GSK

This marks another key appointment by chief executive Emma Walmsley as she reshapes the top team at Britain’s biggest drugmaker.

Mackay, 56, will leave HSBC at the end of the year and join GSK on January 14 2019, when he will become CFO designate, the pharmaceuticals group said on Tuesday.

The phased move allows for a transition period from January and the end of March 2019, during which GSK’s current finance chief, Simon Dingemans, will hand over the ropes before Mackay takes on full responsibility from April 1.

GSK previously announced in May that Dingemans, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker who joined in 2011, would be retiring next year. Since Dingemans will only leave at the end of March 2019, he will continue to be responsible for delivering on 2018 financial results.

Dingemans will not receive any severance payment and Mackay will similarly not get any special payment to mark his arrival, a company spokesman said.

The change provides a further opportunity for Walmsley to stamp her imprint on GSK as she tries to boost sales and improve productivity, especially in the core pharmaceuticals division.

Walmsley, who took over in April 2017, has already appointed a new head of pharmaceuticals in Luke Miels and a new head of drug research in Hal Barron, as well as making Karenann Terrell head of digital operations.

While banking is very different to pharmaceuticals, Walmsley said Mackay would bring valuable experience as the finance head of another complex global organization within a highly regulated industry.

“He is a strong leader with a track record of driving cost, cash and capital allocation discipline to deliver strategy. These capabilities will be vital as we continue to implement our innovation, performance and trust priorities for the benefit of patients and shareholders,” she added.

He also has some experience in healthcare as a trustee of the British Heart Foundation. Before HSBC he was at General Electric, Schlumberger Dowell and Price Waterhouse.

Mackay will be replaced at HSBC by Ewen Stevenson, currently chief financial officer of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

-Nampa/Reuters

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Let us share the land

August 7, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Let us share the land The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) is to a certain extent implying that the willing-seller, willing-buyer land reform principle has not failed. At the weekend, the union, which largely represents the interests of white commercial farmers, took on government, saying only statistical evidence would determine whether the willing-seller, willing-buyer principle has failed or not. This unfortunate affirmation is laughable at most. To be quite frank, it does not surprise us that some white farmers are finally coming out of their cocoons by openly discussing the land problems of this country. For many years now some of these privileged farmers have been sitting on their fences and ignoring pleas of government and the previously disadvantaged majority to share some of their arable land with them. It goes without saying that some of them exploited the willing-seller, willing-buyer policy, by inflating land prices whenever government was given the first right of refusal to purchase farming units. In fact government must tell us how many offers has it rejected from white farmers. We are similarly finding ourselves confronted by this land conundrum because most privileged farmers capitalised on government's lackadaisical approach to the land question in that they too, just like the political powers that be, failed to get sustainable solutions to this urgent problem. If willing-seller, willing-buyer, was not a spectacular failure, why are the majority still landless? And how many actually felt the need to make amends to this growing reality? The bottom line is that the constitution was written and adopted as the pillar of restorative justice. And that has not taken place. Clearly not! It cannot only protect absolute land, property and business rights of the former oppressor. Where is the restorative justice that was fought for?

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More dagga at Keetmans school

August 7, 2018, 4:00 pm

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More dagga at Keetmans school

Police in the //Karas Region on Monday confirmed that a plant, which was removed from the PK de Villiers boys' hostel by the Namibian police last month, was a cannabis plant.

The //Karas crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Chrispin Mubebo told Nampa on Monday the confirmation came after laboratory tests.

“We sent the plant to Windhoek for lab tests and the test came back and it is positive, it is a dagga (cannabis) plant,” he said. However, Mubebo said the police cannot arrest anyone as there is no proof as to who was responsible for planting the illicit substance.

“The plant cannot automatically be linked to the school learners as it could have been planted by somebody from outside the hostel,” Mubebo added. He said he spoke to the school principal and told him to report any learners that could be possible suspects. Police investigations into the matter continue.

NAMPA

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Southern RED to be operational this year

August 7, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Southern RED to be operational this yearConsultations continue The CEO of the Electricity Control Board is positive that a regional electricity distributor for southern Namibia will still see the light this year.

Consultations with municipalities in the south, the Electricity Control Board and the ministry of energy seem to indicate that the Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (Sored) may be established before the end of the year.

ECB CEO Foibe Namene told Namibian Sun that consultations were continuing and that the RED was close to reality.

“The Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Electricity Control Board are optimistic that Sored will be established and become operational this year,” said Namene.

According to him, the consultations have led to the establishment of a technical committee and a shareholders' committee to drive the establishment of Sored.

“These committees have been meeting on a monthly basis since 2017 and are expected to continue their meetings to achieve the abovementioned goal,” Namene said.

The establishment of the Southern RED came about as a result of an electricity distribution industry summit in 2014. The exit of the Southern Electrical Company (Selco) gave renewed impetus to the establishment of the regional distributor. Last year, Namene said: “The Southern RED will come into effect this year or early 2018 and this is very important to the EDI reform since the process had been ongoing for a very long time.”

Highlighting the advantages of regional electricity distributors, Namene said that REDs have been effective at refurbishing and replacing aged assets and managed to contain and reduce network losses.

“The REDs' contribution to the supply of electricity throughout Namibia has undoubtedly been a success,” said Namene.

“RED business operations are viable and shareholders receive dividends. For local authorities and regional councils it further means that they can be assured that their electricity functions are performed by a competent entity, with the capacity to provide good quality electricity services at required standards to their consumers.”

OGONE TLHAGE

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Northern aquifer probe raises stakes

August 7, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Northern aquifer probe raises stakes

The latest information available on the Ohangwena aquifer known as KOH II, shows that it holds four times the amount of water than was originally estimated and that it is twice as large.

New evidence presented on the aquifer yesterday indicates that it can hold 20 billion cubic metres of water while in 2013 it was estimated to hold five billion cubic metres.

The aquifer covers 5 170 square kilometres while 2013 parameters indicated it was roughly 2 500 square kilometres big.

Bertman Swartz, the deputy director of geology at the agriculture ministry, presented the new evidence that has been found with core drilling on the Cubango megafan. The new knowledge on the aquifer was discovered when geologists from Germany and Namibia cut a continuous core in the centre of a huge sedimentary fan known as the Cubango megafan which comprises a former gigantic river delta in the north of Namibia.

A megafan, simply put, is a large base of sediment deposited by a flowing river than fans out from a mountainous area.

According to Swartz a core borehole was drilled to a depth of 400m.

“The cores obtained from this drilling were the basis for a detailed lithological (rock) description and the analysis of the sediment of the aquifer.”

Swartz said that is now known that the actual recharge of the aquifer is 635 000 cubic metres, while this was previously not known. This figure was estimated for the 2011/2012 season, one of the best in recent memory.

Furthermore the average depth of the aquifer has been identified at 235 metres, while it was previously thought to be a little deeper at 250 metres.

For every metre the water level in the borehole dropped, yields were between 0.28 and 5.29 cubic metres per hour. The average was calculated at 1.4 cubic metres per hour.

“We were able to answer a lot of unanswered questions about the aquifer,” he said.

Elaborating further on the groundwater project in northern Namibia and the drilling at the Cubango megafan, Swartz went into the background and objectives of the projects.

He said access to safe, fresh water is the main limiting factor for the economic and social development of Namibia.

“Surface water is mainly restricted to four perennial rivers at the northern and southern borders, and damming of ephemeral rivers inland. Therefore groundwater, as in many arid countries, plays a vital role for the supply of wide areas in Namibia.”

According to him most of the population in the central northern areas of Namibia, and of the Cuvelai Etosha Basin, is currently supplied with drinking water by a pipeline system conveying water into the basin from the Kunene River, via the Calueque Dam in Angola. Swartz said intermittent droughts and floods and population growth has led to an increasing demand and has increased pressure on the existing water resources.

Between 2007 and 2014 the project identified and delineated a vast multi-layered groundwater system, the Ohangwena Groundwater System (OGS), with its main aquifers KOH I (Kalahari Ohangwena I) and KOH II (Kalahari Ohangwena II) .

“The Ohagwena Groundwater System is a high-yield aquifer system with a significant volume of stored potable water,” said Swartz.

He said as part of the technical cooperation between Namibia and Germany, the German government provided financial and technical support to the project, which started in 2014 as a follow-up to the project that ran from 2007 to 2014.

The target was to provide fundamental information on the groundwater potential, protection and sustainable utilisation of the Ohangwena Aquifer System to Namibian decision-makers and especially to the department for water and forestry.

“For a full understanding of the aquifer system, it was essential that the properties of these aquifers and aquitards (a bed of low permeability which runs along an aquifer) were well understood, thus good drilling and coring of the system was proposed.”

These results enable a detailed conceptual model of the aquifer system to be developed and to support the development of a numerical groundwater model to calculate scenarios of future water supply.

He also explained that the main goal of the project is to provide fundamental information on the groundwater potential, protection and sustainable utilisation of the Ohangwena Groundwater System (OGS).

It also aims to determine the potential of the Ohangwena Aquifer System and to provide information on the effect of water supply scenarios from that resource.

The groundwater monitoring network in the region permits immediate assessment of the aquifer's status under production conditions.

Swartz concluded that groundwater can be considered as a secure back-up supply option for the region if developed accordingly.

He added that the protection and sustainable use of the resource requires careful monitoring and very close cooperation with all stakeholders.

“A trans-boundary approach is the best way towards sustainability.”

A sound legal framework must also be in place along with joint efforts of all stakeholders to protect the resource.

Agriculture deputy permanent secretary Abraham Nehemia added the aquifer is a valuable resource to the Namibian people, as it ensures water security for the people, withstanding its proper management.

Hydro-geologists will now be able to draw conclusions about production capacity of the aquifer, as we proceed into the utilization of this very important resource, Nehemia said.

ELLANIE SMIT

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No donkey abattoirs in Nam

August 7, 2018, 4:00 pm

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No donkey abattoirs in NamEnvironment ministry stops Okahandja abattoir The environment ministry has rejected an application for the establishment of a donkey abattoir at Okahandja.

Plans for a donkey abattoir at Okahandja with a slaughter rate of 100 animals a day were quashed after the environment ministry rejected an environmental clearance application, citing concerns for the species' survival if exposed to commercial slaughter.

This follows the cancellation in February of a planned donkey abattoir at Outjo, where around 70 donkeys were planned to be killed each day. That project folded after a study indicated a high risk that Namibia's donkey population could be obliterated at the proposed off-take rates.

Following a review of the proposed Okahandja abattoir, the ministry of environment and tourism in April informed Agrinature Investment and Trade that that commercial slaughter of donkeys would result in significant risks to the species' ecological existence and socio-economic value.

The ministry said the review uncovered “numerous uncertainties relating to the species' existence, which in turn limits the proposed project's sustainability.”

The ministry's concerns are similar to findings from a scoping study undertaken by Quivertree Consulting last year on behalf of Fu Hai Trading Enterprises, the company that had planned to start a donkey abattoir at Outjo.

That study found that “the resource is limited and there is no accurate census data or research on their natural breeding rates and population changes. This indicates a risk that the project could lead to the unsustainable off-take of donkeys, which would decimate the natural population,” Quivertree Consulting's Svenja Garrard informed the public in February.

Wiping out the species would in turn have a “detrimental impact on the livelihoods of poor communities, in particular those of women and children,” Quivertree Consulting found.

Quivertree Consulting concluded “that it would be negligent to recommend that the project receive approval until more accurate data had been obtained.”

Alex Mayers of the Donkey Sanctuary in the United Kingdom, who visited Namibia last year to warn against the risks of the donkey skin trade, yesterday told Namibian Sun that the ministry should be applauded for its “responsible, evidence-based and professional response to the issue, and for resolutely closing the door to this trade before any damage is done.”

He added that the Donkey Sanctuary had seen “the horrendous effects of the donkey skin trade, including issues of animal welfare, livelihoods, pollution, biosecurity, unsustainable utilisation, thefts, high water use and links to illegal wildlife crime, and we were gravely concerned that Namibia would face the same issues.”

Data first

In February, Quivertree Consulting issued a list of recommendations that could address concerns around the trade in Namibia.

They emphasised the need for an independent donkey census before commercial slaughter was allowed.

Secondly, research should be conducted into prices to incentivise the breeding of donkeys for slaughter.

Lastly, the data from these studies should be used to determine whether the socio-economic risks could be mitigated.

It was also proposed that the government should consider issuing an annual quota similar to the fishing industry.

New ivory

News about the planned donkey abattoirs last year created widespread debate on the issue and intensified focus on the high demand for donkey skins in China, which has led to a thriving donkey skin market.

Some have warned that “donkey skins are the new ivory”.

Donkey skins are processed in China to produce 'ejiao', which is used as a traditional medicine. The meat is also considered a delicacy.

Critics of the trade have warned that due to low availability of donkeys in China, demand has fuelled international trade, and in turn, a thriving black market.

The global trade has raised serious concerns about donkey welfare and the livelihood of rural communities.

Namibian Sun was informed that no other donkey abattoir proposals have been submitted.

JANA-MARI SMITH

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Golden six months for Otjikoto

August 8, 2018, 2:30 am

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Golden six months for Otjikoto

B2Gold Corp’s Otjikoto Mine produced 80 177 ounces of gold in the first six months of this year, 3% above budget.
“The Otjikoto Mine in Namibia built on its strong first quarter performance with a similarly successful second quarter, producing 40 678 ounces of gold, approximately in-line with budget and comparable with the first quarter of 2017,” B2Gold said in its latest financial results.
For full-year 2018, the Otjikoto Mine is expected to produce between 160 000 and 170 000 ounces of gold.
B2Gold Corp, the majority shareholder in Otjikoto, is listed on the Overall Index of the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX). It closed at N$32.93 on Tuesday.
Read the full report tomorrow in Market Watch.

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Iipumbu unhappy with unhygienic conditions at Oluno SME Park

August 8, 2018, 6:34 am

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Iipumbu unhappy with unhygienic conditions at Oluno SME Park Deputy Minister of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development, Lucia Iipumbu yesterday urged traders operating at the SME Park at Oluno in Ondangwa to keep their stalls clean so that they can retain customers.
During a consultative meeting with traders to share ideas on opportunities and challenges in business, she bemoaned the lack of hygiene at the Namibia Development Corporation SME Park and said traders refuse to clean their stalls.
“It is unhygienic. No customers want to buy products from a dirty place,” Iipumbu said.
She added that the government has done its part by providing the parks and it is now up to the traders to keep them clean, but they do not want to use the money they make from the stalls to buy cleaning materials.
Iipumdu further said five stalls are not in use at the moment as some of the traders are not willing to pay the monthly rental fee.
The rental fee ranges from N$200 to N$ 450.
Oshana Regional Councillor for the Ondangwa Urban Constituency, Elia Irimari convened the meeting.
One of the participants, Willem Amutenya said the meeting was the first of its kind to be held in Ondangwa.
NAMPA

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Iipumbu unhappy with unhygienic conditions at Oluno SME Park

August 8, 2018, 6:36 am

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Iipumbu unhappy with unhygienic conditions at Oluno SME Park

Deputy Minister of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development, Lucia Iipumbu yesterday urged traders operating at the SME Park at Oluno in Ondangwa to keep their stalls clean so that they can retain customers.
During a consultative meeting with traders to share ideas on opportunities and challenges in business, she bemoaned the lack of hygiene at the Namibia Development Corporation SME Park and said traders refuse to clean their stalls.
“It is unhygienic. No customers want to buy products from a dirty place,” Iipumbu said.
She added that the government has done its part by providing the parks and it is now up to the traders to keep them clean, but they do not want to use the money they make from the stalls to buy cleaning materials.
Iipumdu further said five stalls are not in use at the moment as some of the traders are not willing to pay the monthly rental fee.
The rental fee ranges from N$200 to N$ 450.
Oshana Regional Councillor for the Ondangwa Urban Constituency, Elia Irimari convened the meeting.
One of the participants, Willem Amutenya said the meeting was the first of its kind to be held in Ondangwa.
NAMPA

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Nudo lawsuit sees second delay

August 8, 2018, 7:08 am

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Nudo lawsuit sees second delay

The hearing of an urgent application in which Nudo Secretary-General Meundjuu Jahanika is challenging the legitimacy of Ester Muinjangue and her faction as leaders of the party, has been delayed for a second time.
Initially, the hearing was scheduled to start before High Court Deputy Judge President Hosea Angula on 01 August this year, but could not proceed because lawyers representing Muinjangue and her faction were unable to file their clients’ answering papers before the Registrar of the High Court on time.
The hearing was then postponed to 8 August 2018 to allow the legal representatives to file their answering papers.
However, the hearing once again could not go ahead today because the Muinjangue faction approached Judge Angula in his chambers last Friday, asking for a postponement until 21 August to be allowed more time to properly consult other people in connection with the legal battle.
The case is now finally set down for a hearing on 21 August as per an agreement reached by the two factions on the same day.
The application in question emanates from Muinjangue’s disputed actions when she declared herself the winner after a heavily contested congress held on 26 May 2018.
In the matter, Jahanika along with Asser Mbai (current Nudo party president), Hariki Maundu, Vetaruhe Kandorozu (presidential aspirant) and Eunice Kaijere (applicant) want the congress to be declared null and void and devoid of any consequences for want of compliance with the party’s constitution.
The group also wants any other purported outcomes that may have arisen as a consequence of the congress to be declared null and void.
Furthermore, they are seeking a court order to restrain and ban Muinjangue and her faction from conducting themselves as office bearers in terms of the Nudo constitution or otherwise on account of the purported 26 May elections.
The group wants Muinjangue and her group to stay away from the party’s head office, as well as to vacate and give back possession and control of Nudo’s boardroom.
The respondents in the legal wrangle are Muinjangue, Peter Kazongominja, Kapukatua Kuvare, Joseph Kauandenge, Joseph Uapingene, Fanuel Haukambe, Nokokure Veii, Daniel Maekopo, Uahimisa Kaapehi, Vincent Kahua, Kavendjii Tjahuha, Vetondisa Tjijenda and Ruth Kanguatjivi.
NAMPA

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No refunds for NSFAF students

August 8, 2018, 9:11 am

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No refunds for NSFAF students

The Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation has resolved to do away with refunds that students whose studies are funded by the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) receive from tertiary institutions, effective immediately.
The minister, Itah Kandjii-Murangi, while addressing close to 300 students who petitioned her ministry today, said this was an austerity measure and that any remaining funds after the NSFAF had paid a student’s tuition fees would go towards the financing of other students’ studies.
“We cannot continue to pay for continuing students fully every year as first-year students also need to be paid for, unless continuing students want to keep all the money for themselves and put others’ education in jeopardy,” the minister stressed.
The students from the University of Namibia (Unam), Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) and the International University of Management (IUM) demanded that the minister assure them that the contract between students and NSFAF, signed in 2015, stipulating the payment of 100% of tuition fees and 80% of non-tuition fees, be honoured.
According to the students in their petition read by Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) vice-president Bernard Kavau, a new contract breaching these terms agreed upon by NSFAF and students in 2015 was drafted, meaning that students would now need to add a certain amount to the fixed non-tuition N$17 000 grant given to all funded students.
“The N$17 000 is not enough and most of us will not be able to afford the remaining amount in order to settle our tuition and non-tuition fees, which may lead to some of us not writing examinations and getting our results,” the students said.
They demanded that this contract be terminated as soon as possible and should the minister fail to advocate for this, she too should terminate her contract as minister.
Kandjii-Murangi however informed the students that NSFAF had indeed fulfilled its promise to the students, adding that it had paid the students’ full tuition fees, although cases may arise in which students are required to use their own money to supplement the tuition and non-tuition fees paid by NSFAF due to the differences in fields of study.
The minister urged the students to understand the current situation and help meet the government halfway, until such time the government is back on its feet.
The students however vowed to continue their demonstration in front of the government office park buildings, until a new contract is drafted, or they revert to the terms of the old one.
NAMPA

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Shalulile doubtful for Zambia clash

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Shalulile doubtful for Zambia clash Brave Warriors attacking player Peter Shalulile could miss Namibia's crucial game against Zambia, coach Ricardo Mannetti has announced.

The Brave Warriors will host Zambia on 8 September in a crucial 2019 Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Cup of Nations qualifier.

Namibia and Zambia will renew their rivalry at the Sam Nujoma Stadium with their qualification for the 2019 African Cup of Nations on the line.

The Brave Warriors coach has admitted that he's worried about the fitness of star striker Shalulile, who is nursing an ankle injury.

“We take this game seriously and we remain focused but our plans might be derailed as Peter is still a doubt and might not be back in time for that match.

“He is and has been very important for our cause thus far but this is football and we need to accept whatever and plan differently,” Mannetti said.

The coach has been working with locally based players ahead of the Zambia clash and indicated that he was happy with their progress.

“The boys are really pushing themselves hard and they understand that a place in the AFCON qualifiers team is on the line and they are putting in their best as expected.

“That is very impressive and kind of makes it easy to work with them because they have that personal motivation to get into the team,” Mannetti said.

NFA

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Great hopes for hot Hotto

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Great hopes for hot Hotto

Namibian football analysts believe Deon Hotto stands a good chance of winning the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) player of the season award if he remains consistent.

The Bidvest Wits player has started the 2018/19 South African Premier Soccer League firing on all cylinders for his new club.

Hotto scored on his debut for Wits and assisted a goal in their first league match, which ended in a convincing 3-0 win over Free State Stars a week ago.

He continued his blistering form with a brilliant goal from outside the box against Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday, which left South Africa's number one goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune, stunned.

Hotto was voted man of the match in the club's 3-1 victory over the glamour boys.

Wits have signalled their intention of winning the league early on and local pundits hope that Hotto can be the catalyst in many of their future matches.

Brave Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti says Hotto's form is a good omen for the national team, given that they have an important match against Zambia to play.

“Hotto's goal against Kaizer Chiefs reminded me of the time he made his debut against Nigeria back in 2013 when he scored against Africa's best - it gave me goosebumps.

“Again, he marked his arrival on Tuesday scoring against one of the best teams in African club football.

“All he needs to do is to remain focused and emulate that form he currently has with the national team,” Mannetti says.

Local football expert Isack Hamata also speaks highly of the player.

“He has been very impressive in his first two matches for Wits. The reason they bought him is to give them width and speed,” Hamata says.

Hamata believes that Hotto's powerful shots from all angles could also count in his favour throughout the season.

He believes the tricky winger has adapted very well to his new team.

Hamata points out, however, that the challenge for Hotto and for Wits is to make sure that the player remains consistent throughout the season.

“As a Namibian, I pray that he continues to deliver the goods for Wits and that he comes in contention for Wits player of the season, and possibly also PSL player of the season.”

Hotto, who can operate at left-back and in an advanced position, played all of Celtic's league matches last season, scoring once against his former club Golden Arrows in January.

The Swakopmund-born player made 35 appearances in all competitions for the Telkom Knockout finalists in 2017/18.

Hotto first went to South Africa when he joined Golden Arrows from the Namibia Premier League's African Stars before signing for Bloemfontein Celtic and now Bidvest Wits.

“He is really doing great and I just hope that he can remain consistent and not get carried away by the media attention he gets.

“Hotto has always been a dangerous player and I believe he can do great things if he remains focused,” says Tigers coach Woody Jacobs.

Hotto recently told Kickoff magazine that his recent form was the result of following his manager's instructions.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

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Use your prize wisely: Indongo

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Use your prize wisely: IndongoBig sports night on the cards Former boxing world champion Julius 'Blue Machine' Indongo has urged the winners at this year's Namibia Sports Awards to use their prize money wisely.

Julius Indongo was the motivational speaker at the launch of the 15th edition of the 2018 Namibia Sports Awards in Windhoek yesterday.

The event, themed 'All-star Night Driven by Passion to Win', attracted the who's who of the local sports fraternity and raised pledges of close to N$25 million.

“I did not dream of my achievements or receive them on a silver platter; it is through hard work and God's grace.

“Remain humble and continue working hard, but don't forget to use your money wisely and plough back into the community,” Indongo said.

Indongo won the sportsman of the year award in 2017 and won N$100 000. He added the sports star of the year award, winning N$200 000 more.

The minister of sport, Erastus Uutoni, said in his speech that nothing is possible without help from others.

“We have all done this together. I have just been in the ministry for six months but I have fallen in love with it.

“The year 2017 was a memorable one. Athletes won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Australia. My wish is that athletes continue to ride on this new wave of achieving awards,” Uutoni said.

He said their achievements would reflect the spirit of Team Namibia.

The minister also urged sport federations to do away with favouritism and to select athletes on merit.

“Let's leave corruption and work on managing sports well,” Uutoni said.

The categories up for grabs this year include the sports star of the year, sportsman and sportswoman of the year, NamPower sportsman and woman of the year with disability, junior sportsman and sportswoman of the year, NamPower junior sportsman and sportswoman of the year with disability, sports team of the year, coach of the year, umpire/referee of the year, Namibian sports journalist of the year, and development programme of the year.

These categories recognise individuals, men, women, athletes with disabilities, national and international participants, national federations, schools and the media.

This year's awards are sponsored by MTC, NamPower, Tafel Lager, Namibia Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Energy, Standard Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers and The Namibian newspaper.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

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