Top Score 7-a-Side kicks off

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Top Score 7-a-Side kicks offFootballers to showcase skill in Oshakati The northern leg of the third edition of the Top Score 7-a-Side tournament kicked off in Oshakati yesterday. The Top Score 7-a-Side tournament hosted by Namib Mills is one of the oldest tournaments in the country and is aimed at providing companies with a platform to engage through sports and create relationships.

This year 20 teams have registered for the tournament - eight fewer than last year.

All matches are played at the Oshakati Independence Stadium, starting at 18:30, besides the semi-final and final matches which will be played on Saturday from 14:00

Fans and supporters are encouraged to show up in numbers to support their favourite teams as they compete for this prestigious title.

Entrance is free.

For this year's tourney, Namib Mills sponsored close to N$210 000, which includes the prize money and the cost of hosting the event.

Speaking at the launch of the tourney, Namib Mills senior brand manager Marne Bouwer said the company was committed to giving back to the Namibian community and investing in sport was one of the ways of doing that.

“Namib Mills is committed to Namibia. This sports initiative aids the company in investing in a vital staple in the development of our country through its sports,” Bouwer said.

Bouwer said hosting the tournament for the third time was a result of the increasing demand from soccer lovers and competing teams.

At the launch of the tourney, the team representatives expressed excitement about the event. A northern media team will be taking part for the first time.

The prizes up for grabs include a floating trophy, N$10 000 for the winning team, N$5 500 for the runners-up, N$3 500 for the third-placed team and N$2 000 for the fourth-placed team.

KENYA KAMBOWE

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Ford to launch new basic SU

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Ford to launch new basic SUPart of China revival effort Ford Motor said on Wednesday it will launch in China early next year a new “entry-level” sport utility vehicle developed jointly with a local partner. You are going to see that in the quality of the ride, the technologies offered, and the vehicle’s design- Peter Fleet, Chief of Ford’s Asia-Pacific and China region This is happening as the US automaker attempts to revive its slumping business in the world’s biggest auto market.

The Ford Territory, developed with Jiangling Motors Corp (JMC) and available in three powertrain choices including a plug-in hybrid version, is intended to close a gap in its China strategy.

The new SUV is one of the 50 new or redesigned vehicles Ford has said it plans to launch in China starting this year and through 2025, which include the redesigned Ford Focus car due to hit showrooms later this year.

It will make it possible for Ford to compete with indigenous Chinese automakers such as Geely and Great Wall Motor that are pumping out hot-selling compact SUVs with competitive quality and lower price tags.

Ford did not discuss on Wednesday a specific pricing strategy for the Territory, but two individuals familiar with the new car said it will likely have a price tag of around 150 000 yuan (US$21 990.27).

The car puts the company in a segment it has never competed in before and which is witnessing surging demand from smaller, but fast-growing interior cities across China that indigenous Chinese automakers have capitalised on to grow rapidly.

“Clearly this’s been a difficult year for Ford in China. But this new vehicle is part of our growth plan that will improve our business in China and return us to profitability and set us on a growth trajectory again in China,” Ford’s Asia-Pacific and China chief Peter Fleet told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

“This isn’t going to be an instantaneous turnaround of our business in China, but you’re going to see a series of actions, a series of products and a series of moves that will return us to being a very successful growth business in China.”

Sales Slump

Ford’s business in China has been faltering since last year. Its vehicle sales tumbled 25% in the first half of 2018 from the same period a year ago to 400 443 vehicles, which led to a second-quarter pre-tax loss of US$483 million for its China operations.

According to consultancy LMC Automotive, it was Ford’s biggest first-half percentage decline in sales volume since starting operations in China in 2001.

Ford blames its weak China business on an aging model line-up that is awaiting an overhaul.

The sales slump is also exacerbated by the impact of China’s trade tensions with the United States, a problem that has hit Ford’s premium brand Lincoln hard since all Lincoln cars sold now in China are imported from the United States and face a 40% tariff Beijing levies on US-made cars in retaliation for US trade actions.

Profitability Boost

Fleet said the new SUV, which will be available in gasoline, so-called mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, has been designed as an entry vehicle “for younger families in emerging cities” of China.

The Dearborn Michigan-based car maker needs a product such as the low-priced Territory because the company is “running a scale business” and needs to expand its market share and revenue base, he said.

Ford officials indicated late last month that an array of sport utility vehicles it plans to launch in China next year and in 2020 will give the company what one described as a “real boost” in China.

To compete in the market for low-priced, no-frills cars, Ford’s competitors such as General Motors and Nissan Motor Co have created local China-only brands of their own, such as Baojun and Venucia, respectively. Those brands complete head on with the likes of Geely and Great Wall’s Haval.

Ford is now coming up with such entry-level cars within the Ford brand and is likely to offer more models in the future to meet demand for no-frills cars.

“This vehicle has been engineered to Ford DNA standards. You are going to see that in the quality of the ride, the technologies offered, and the vehicle’s design,” Fleet said.

Ford has “no need or desire” to offer the Territory as part of “some other new brand”, Fleet said.

-Nampa/Reuters

Shilunga a ganithilwa miilonga onga kansela gwaShakati

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Shilunga a ganithilwa miilonga onga kansela gwaShakati Onesmus Shilunga okwa ganithilwa miilonga onga oshilyo shelelo lyondoolopa yaShakati mOmaandaha.

Shilunga, ngoka a longa nale onga mayola gwondolopa ndjoka okwa ganithilwa miilonga onga kansela nokuthitika omwaka ngoka gwa li po gwa etithwa keso lyaJohannes Shilongo momasiku 17 Juli. Shilunga oye a li a landula ko momusholondondo gwongundu yoSwapo, na osha pitikwa ongundu opo a ye pehala lyaShilongo.

Shilunga okwa ganithilwa miilonga kuMangestrata Cynthia Matiti, miipathi yookansela yakwawo naaniilonga yelele lyondoolopa oshowo oshigwana.

Shilunga natango okwa hogololwa a ninge oshilyo shokomitiye yelelo lyondoolopa yaShakati pehala lya kaliwa komulandulwa gwe.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Ha katomeno koondoongi moNamibia

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Ha katomeno koondoongi moNamibiaUutomeno woondoongi itawu popilwa Uuministeli womidhingoloko owa tindi eindilo lya ningwa opo ku tungwe okatomeno koondoongi mondoolopa yaKahandja. Oompangela dhokutota po okatomeno koondoongi mOkahandja hoka ta ka kala andola taka tomo oondoongi 100 mesiku, odha yiwa moshipala konima shoUuministeli wOmodhingoloko wa tindi eindilo lyuunzapo wokupula komeho noompangela ndhoka.

Uuministeli owa gandja omatompelo guuhupilo wiinamwenyo mbyoka uuna kwatotwa ongeshefa yokatomeno kiinamwenyo mbyoka.

Shoka osha landula ekaleko lyokutunga okatomeno koondoongi mOutjo ndyoka lya ningwa momwedhi Februali, moka kwa li taku pangelwa opo ku dhipagwe oondoongi 70 mesiku.

Opoloyeka ndjoka oya kalekwa sha landula sho omapekaapeko ga holola kutya iinamwenyo yoludhi ndyoka oyi li pondjele yomwaalu guli pevi moshilongo naashoka otashi ka tula moshiponga omwaalu gwiinamwenyo mbyoka moshilongo.

Uuministeli womidhingoloko nOmatalelepo owa tseyithile oAgrinature Investment and Trade kutya okatomeno kopangeshefa koondoongi otaka tula moshiponga ehupo lyoludhi lwiinamwenyo mbyoka.

Omaiyuvo guuministeli oga faathana naangoka go Quivertree Consulting gomvula ya piti ga ningwa pehala lyoFu Hai Trading Enterprises, ehangano ndyoka lya li lya hala okuninga okatomeno koondoongi mOutjo. Omakonaakono ngoka ga li ga ningwa oga holola kutya ope na oonzo dha ngambekwa ngele tashi ya kiinamwenyo mbyoka nakape na uuyelele nomapekaapeko gothaatha kombinga yondjele yomwaalu gwiinamwenyo mboka. Shoka oshili uupyakadhi uunene kutya opoloyeka ndjoka otayi vulu okutula moshiponga omwaalu gwiinamwenyo mbyoka nokuhanagulapo woo oludhi lwiinamwenyo mbyoka moshilongo, pauyelele mboka wa gandjwa komunambelewa gwoQuivertree Consulting, Svenja Garrard pethimbo a tseyithilwa oshigwana muFebruali. “Ehulithepo lyoludhi lwiinamwenyo mbyoka moshilongo otashi gumu nayi oonkalamwenyo dhaakwashigwana aathigona unene aakiintu naanona,” olopota yoQuivertree Consulting ya holola.

Quivertree Consulting oya popi natango kutya otashi ka kala epuko enene okupitika opoloyeka ndjoka yi pule komeho omanga inaku gandja uuyelele womondjila.

Alex Mayers gwoDonkey Sanctuary moUnited Kingdom, ngoka a talelepo Namibia omvula ya piti na okwa li kunkilile kombinga yongeshefa yoshipa shondoongi, okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun oshiwike shika kutya uuministeli otawu pandulwa komukalo ngoka wa ungaunga noshikumungu shoka, nokupata omiyelo omanga nokuli inaku ningwa eyonagulo lyasha.

Okwa gwedha po kutya oDonkey Sanctuary oya mono omaupyakadhi ogendji ngoka ga etithwa kongeshefa yoludhi ndoka, ngaashi etulo moshiponga lyonkalo nawa yiinamwenyo, onkalonawa yaantu mboka yiikolelela kiinamwenyo mbyoka, enyateko lyomidhingoloko, uulunga, elongitho lyomeya li li pombanda, omiyonena dhiinamwenyo na ope na ompito onene Namibia a taalele onkalo ndjoka ngele okwa pitikwa uutomeno woondoongi moshilongo.

MuFebruali, Quivertree Consulting okwa gandja omusholondono gwomagwedhelepo ngoka taga vulu okutalika kombinga yopoloyeka yoludhi ndjoka moshilongo.

Oya popi kutya okwa pumbwa okuningwa omayalulo ga manguluka gomwaalu goondoongi moshilongo.

Oshitiyali okwa pumbwa okuningwa omapekaapeko kombinga yoondando nelongitho lyiimaliwa metekulo lyiinamwenyo mbyoka.

Hugunina omauyelele okuzilila momapekaapeko ngoka oga pumbwa okulongithwa, okutala komaupyakadhi ngoka taga vulu okuholoka po onga oshizemo shopoloyeka ndjoka.

Okwa gandja woo omagwedhelepo opo epangelo li kale tali gandja ookota dhokomvula ngaashi hashi ningwa koshikondo shoohi.

Onkundana kombinga yoopoloyeka dhuutomeno woondoongi odha etitha oompata oonene moshilongo kwa talika woo kompumbwe onene yoshipa shoondoongi momalanditho gChina. Yamwe oya kunilile kutya oshipa shondoongi ngashiingeyi osha fa omayego goondjambangele tashi ya kongeshefa yopauyuni.

Oshipa shoka ohashi longithwa moChina nokunduluka omuti gwopamuthigululwakalo hagu ithanwa 'ejiao', onyama nayo oya simanekwa noonkondo.

Oompata ndoka odha holola kutya omolwa ompumbwe yoondoongi moChina, ngashiingeyi opoloyeka ndjoka otayi nanenwa momalanditho gopashigwana.

Shoka osha etitha uutile konkalo nawa yaakwashigwana mboka yiikolela moondoongi oshowo onkalonawa yiinamwenyo mbyoka.

Namibia Sun okwa tseythilwa kutya kape na we oompangela dhimwe po dhokatomeno koondoongi dhapewa uuministeli.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Omuhwahwameki gwonkalo yoshigwana aatoto ongundu yopolotika

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Omuhwahwameki gwonkalo yoshigwana aatoto ongundu yopolotika Gumwe gwomaahwahwameki yoonkalo dha taalela oshigwana na olundji oha longitha ooprogramma dhoradio ngaashi Ewi lyamanguluka, Kennedy Iilonga, ota kongo eyambidhidho lyoshigwana sho a totopo ongundu ye tayi ithanwa National Empowerment Party of Namibian nenge National Empowerment of Poor People in Namibia ndjoka aniwa tayi kalelepo aathigona moNamibia.

Iilonga okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya okwa kwatwa kedhilaadhilo okutota ongundu yopolotika, konima sho omupresidende Hage Geingob a tindi oku mu pa otendela yokutunga ondama yomevi yokupungula omeya monooli yaNamibia.

Okwa tsu omuthindo kutya okushi shi kutya uupyakadhi ka wuli momupresidende ihe omaagandjimayele ye, mboka ihaye mu pitika a pulakene aathigona.

“Otu na uupyakadhi monooli moka aathigona kaye na omeya gokulongitha momagumbo gawo nogiimuna yawo. Onda shangele omupresidende ombaapila tandi pula opo ndi pewe otendela yokutunga ondama yomeya ndjoka tayi longithwa mokugongela omeya okupitila muuministeli wekandulepo lyoluhepo,” Iilonga a popi.

“Onda lombwelwa kutya kape na iimaliwa yokutula miilonga oprogramma ndjoka, nongele okwa monika iimaliwa otaye ke tu tseyithila kombinga yotendela yopoloyeka ndjoka.”

Okwa popi kutya okuza mpoka kape na shoka sha ningwa nomuleli okwa tindi okupulakena kuye.

Okwa tsikile kutya aathigona onkene taya mono iihuna noonkambadhala dhe okupopya nomupresidende odha ndopa.

“Onda tokola okutota po ongundu ompe yopolotika ndjoka tayi ka tala konkao yekandulepo lyoluhepo nuulingilingi moNamibia. Onda dhidhilike kutya aathigona inaya gamenwa moNamibia. Oyo taya tidhwa mooskola, kaye na evi naanona yawo kaye na mpoka taya uka uuna ya ndopa ondondo onti 10 nenge ondondo onti 12. Omolwaashoka onda kala tandi ningi omaindilo opo ndi tsakanene nomutse gwoshilongo ngame ndi mu pe omayele kombinga yonkalo ndjoka ya talela oshigwana, ihe omaindilo gandje agehe inaga yamukulwa.”

Iilonga okwa popi kutya ngashiingeyi oyiipyakidhila nokushangitha ongundu kokomisi yomahogololo ano oElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), sho kwa tegelelwa omahogololo guupresidende oshowo gopashigwana momvula twa taalela.

Okwa tsikile kutya omashangitho giilyo ogeli metifa na oku na einekelo kutya otaya kaadha omwaalu giilyo ngoka gu li po onga iipumbiwa opo ongundu yi vule okushangithwa noECN.

Okwa popi kutya monena ongundu ndjoka oya shangitha nale aantu ye li po 2500.

Iilonga okwa popi kutya otaya kakutha ombinga momagohololo na oshi li momake gaahogololi ya tokole, na okwa holola kutya ota kala oshilyo shoSwapo.

“Ngele otwa sindana omahogololo guupresidende nogopashigwana ngoka twa tegelela omvula twa taalela, itatu ekelehi Presidende Hage Geingob. Ota kala omupeha presidende omanga ngame tandi kala presidende. Otwe mwiinekela natango noonkambadhala dhe okukondjitha oluhepo,” Iilonga a popi.

ILENI NANDJATO

Company new sin brief

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Company new sin brief Toshiba posts record profit

Japan’s Toshiba Corp reported a record quarterly net profit on Wednesday, thanks to the US$18 billion sale of its flash memory chip business earlier this year to a consortium led by US private equity firm Bain Capital.

But the conglomerate did not say where its future growth will come from without full ownership of the prized chip business. Its remaining main businesses such as energy and social infrastructure are struggling to fill the void left by the chips unit that accounted for 90 percent of its operating profit last year.

-Nampa/Reuters

Samsung Group pledges US$22 billion spend

Samsung Group will invest 25 trillion won (US$22 billion) over three years in artificial intelligence, 5G mobile technology, and electronic components for autos, and the biopharmaceutical business, Samsung Electronics said on Wednesday.

The investment is part of a broader 180 trillion won package South Korea’s biggest business group is planning to spend over the period to create jobs and secure new growth areas, as its core semiconductor and smartphone businesses weaken.

-Nampa/Reuters

iPhones are not listening in on consumers

Apple Inc told US lawmakers on Tuesday that its iPhones do not listen to users without their consent and do not allow third-party apps to do so either, after lawmakers asked the company if its devices were invading users’ privacy.

Representatives Greg Walden, Marsha Blackburn, Gregg Harper and Robert Latta wrote to Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook and Alphabet Inc chief executive Larry Page in July, citing concerns about reports that smartphones could “collect ‘non-triggered’ audio data from users’ conversations near a smartphone in order to hear a ‘trigger’ phrase, such as ‘Okay Google’ or ‘Hey Siri.’”

-Nampa/Reuters

Snap's strategy shifts win over advertisers more than users

Snap Inc on Tuesday received a vote of confidence from a billionaire investor and reported record revenue from outside North America, factors that helped soften the blow of its first-ever drop in daily users.

The social media company said its shift toward a self-serve model for advertisers was paying off and blamed a redesign of its app for denting user numbers. Still, analysts expressed concern that advertisers and users prefer Facebook Inc’s Instagram app over Snapchat.

-Nampa/Reuters

Fox posts offer document for Sky deal

Twenty-First Century Fox Inc on Tuesday posted an offer document and form of acceptance for its 14 pounds a share offer to buy UK’s Sky on Tuesday.

Fox now intends to implement Sky’s acquisition by way of a takeover offer rather than a scheme of arrangement, as described in the Companies Act 2006, with the deal conditional on 75% or more Sky shareholders accepting the offer.

-Nampa/Reuters

Billions for biodiversity

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Billions for biodiversity The value of ecosystem services in Namibia exceeds N$13 billion per year, while the biodiversity expenditure is slightly more than N$1 billion annually.

This is according to environment minister Pohamba Shifeta, who was speaking at a high-level briefing session on biodiversity finance in Windhoek this week.

Several presentations were made by the ministry during the briefing session that focused on demonstrating the value of nature, showing the baseline expenditure on biodiversity in Namibia and future needs and potential biodiversity financing solutions.

Shifeta said the event was important to inform the broader debate taking place around the costs and benefits of nature conservation and environmental protection in Namibia.

According to him the government must know the value of nature, who benefits from it and the type of returns it is generating. He said this was vital to inform for the planning and budgeting processes.

“To fully achieve the targets of our Second National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, it is estimated that we need to double the level of investment in biodiversity.”

Shifeta said these findings would guide their decision-making on matters such as upgrading of park infrastructure and park entrance fees.

It would also influence decisions on how to best re-invest environmental levies in environmental protection, how to upgrade waste management infrastructure and how to ensure the financial sustainability of the community-based natural resource management programme.

“Doubling the level of investment in biodiversity will be no easy task given the current economic climate, but we must come up with innovative solutions to make this a reality.”

Dr Cristiana Pasca Palmer, the UN assistant secretary-general and executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said without biodiversity and its provisions and services there would be no development.

“For urban and rural communities, and for different regions and countries, the connections to and dependencies on biodiversity are felt differently. Yet, overall, without the ecosystem benefits we are used to enjoy, people everywhere will be affected. Finding alternatives for these benefits is either extremely costly or simply impossible.”

Palmer said in Namibia, 30% of the population is dependent on natural resources for their livelihood, showcasing the strong links between natural capital and poverty eradication.



ELLANIE SMIT

Teamwork key to job creation targets

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Teamwork key to job creation targetsLofty goals set in second programme Women and youth will take centre stage in the second decent work programme Namibia and the ILO signed this week. A second decent work programme developed by Namibia and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to boost jobs, especially for Namibian youth and women, and to improve social work protections, as well as strengthening social dialogue and industrial relations, was signed on Tuesday.

At the signing of the memorandum of understanding on Namibia's second decent work country programme (DWCP), Guy Rider, director-general of the ILO stressed that successful implementation of the programme requires cross-cutting input, not only from employers and employees, but government.

“We know that creating effective employment policies and generating jobs, requires elements that include training, education, industrialisation, finance, and planning. I think this coordination across government is going to be an important ingredient in implementation and an important precondition of success.”

Ryder said crucial to the success of the DWCP over the next five years is an emphasis on shared responsibility. “The efforts of the ILO alone will not get the job done. National ownership and national commitment is of fundamental importance.”

He said the second programme contains a number of elements that were carried over from the first DWCP, and emphasised that jobs remain a priority “for very obvious reasons”.

Ryder noted that while much has been achieved around the first DWCP with Namibia “the fact that we are still faced with unacceptably high levels of unemployment indicates that we have an unfinished job to do.”

He said the second programme was developed in line with lessons learned from the experience on the first Namibia DWCP and it will continue to be a learning process.

The ILO director-general noted that some might accuse the second Namibia DWCP of being over-ambitious.

“My answer to that is that it is not realistic to be less ambitious, because this programme meets the needs of the moment.”

Labour minister Erkki Nghimtina at the signing said teamwork will be key to the success of the implementation of the programme, which he said could markedly address the high rate of youth unemployment.

He said teamwork is not only required with the ILO but between all Namibians, including unions in order to benefit the youth.

Tim Parkhouse of the Namibia Employers Federation (NEF) said the high level of unemployment in Namibia, which stands at 34% currently, should mobilise everyone to work together.

“We've seen the reports of how many people are now unemployed, and if we don't address that together over the next five years, then we will have failed.”



Three are key

Labour permanent secretary Bro-Mathew Shinguadja explained yesterday that the programme was designed with input from government, employers and workers representatives who debated on the issues resulting in the current programme.

He said the key targets and outcomes linked to priority concerns, attached to feedback and evaluation guidelines to ensure timely implementation, are based on a “win-win approach”.

The DWCP is based on three key priorities, the first which is listed as coordinating and maximising employment creation, with one outcome under this target stated as achieving “decent employment and economic opportunities for all, especially youth and women”.

The second priority target is to strengthen social dialogue and industrial relations, which among several outcome goals, intends to strengthen collective bargaining processes and to improve labour dispute prevention and resolution systems.

The third priority is the promotion of social justice at work places, and stated outcomes under this target include analysing the findings on a national living wage, and the ratification of conventions on maternity protection, domestic workers and family responsibility.

JANA-MARI SMITH

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Facebook asks big banks to share customer details

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Facebook asks big banks to share customer detailsEffort confirmed Facebook has asked major US banks to share customer data to allow it to develop new services on the social network's Messenger texting platform, a banking source told AFP on Monday. A critical part of these partnerships is keeping people's information safe and secure- Facebook Facebook had discussions with Chase, JPMorgan, Citibank, and Wells Fargo several months ago, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous.

The Silicon Valley-based social network also contacted US Bancorp, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news.

Facebook, which has faced intense criticism for sharing user data with many app developers, was interested in information including bank card transactions, checking account balances, and where purchases were made, according to the source.

Facebook confirmed the effort in a statement to AFP, but said it was not asking for transaction data.

"Like many online companies with commerce businesses, we partner with banks and credit card companies to offer services like customer chat or account management," Facebook said.

The goal was to create new ways for Messenger to be woven into, and facilitate, interactions between banks and customers, according to the reports. The smartphone texting service boasts 1.3 billion users.

"The idea is that messaging with a bank can be better than waiting on hold over the phone - and it's completely opt-in," the statement said.

Citigroup declined to comment regarding any possible discussions with Facebook about Messenger.

"While we regularly have conversations about potential partnerships, safeguarding the security and privacy of our customers' data and providing customer choice are paramount in everything we do," Citigroup told AFP by email.

JPMorgan Chase spokeswoman Patricia Wexler directed AFP to a statement given to the Wall Street Journal saying, "We don't share our customers' off-platform transaction data with these platforms and have had to say 'No' to some things as a result."

Wells Fargo decline to address the news.

Privacy worries

Messenger can be used by businesses to help people keep track of account information such as balances, receipts, or shipping dates, according to the social network.

"We're not using this information beyond enabling these types of experiences -- not for advertising or anything else," Facebook explained in its statement.

"A critical part of these partnerships is keeping people's information safe and secure."

But word Facebook is fishing for financial information comes amid concerns it has not vigilantly guarded private information.

Facebook acknowledged last month that it was facing multiple inquiries from US and British regulators about a scandal involving the now bankrupt British consultancy Cambridge Analytica.

In Facebook's worst ever public relations disaster, it admitted that up to 87 million users may have had their data hijacked by Cambridge Analytica, which was working for US President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in May he was rolling out privacy controls demanded by European regulators to Facebook users worldwide because "everyone cares about privacy."

The social network is now looking at cooler growth following a years-long breakneck pace. Shares in Facebook plummeted last week, wiping out some US$100 billion, after the firm missed quarterly revenue forecasts and warned growth would be far weaker than previously estimated.

Shares in the social network have regained some ground, and rose 4.4% to close at $185.69 on Monday.

-Nampa/AFP

Muundjua talks land

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Muundjua talks landHolds firm on ancestral claims Journalist Jemima Beukes sat down with local historian and patron of the Ovaherero Genocide Committee Festus Muundjua to hear his views on the upcoming land conference. Muundjua is a former member of the Public Service Commission and a member of both Swapo and the Ovaherero Traditional Authority. Jemima Beukes: What are your views on the upcoming land conference?

Festus Muundjua: The outcome seems predetermined and designed to create new opportunities for government's majoritarian base to benefit from the expropriated lands previously owned by affected communities below the red line. There are three types of land ownership in Namibia, the geo-political ancestral areas formerly known as 'Kaokoland', 'Ovamboland', 'Kavango' and 'Caprivi', the commercial farmland, ill-gotten and predominantly owned by white Namibians and the 'reserves', for which none of the inhabitants has a title deed. This land, according to the constitution, belongs to the state. Why should the state own reserves? Why not relinquish them to the inhabitants and bestow title deed rights to them?



JB: Would this not require a constitutional amendment?

FM: Self-enslavement instruments like our constitution and some of the articles under it are clearly meant to protect the ill-gotten property rights of exterminators, expropriators at gunpoint without compensation, to me, are not worth having. Article 131 is a recipe for a perpetual self-infliction, because it lacks a consideration for restitution for the rights of the dispossessed. So, if things were done in all sincerity and in consideration of those who lost their erstwhile property to colonialism, one should not hide behind constitutional technicalities and get away with murder.



JB: How would you suggest the amendment is done to address the land issue?

FM: I would suggest ill-gotten land and/or other property must be confiscated without compensation and, where possible, be restored to the original owners. Otherwise, I cannot understand how one could legalise or bestow a legal right to anyone on robbed, plundered and fraudulently acquired property? I won't even use the word 'stolen' in the case of the Ovaherero and Nama lands, because their properties were not stolen, as such, but were confiscated through the barrel of the gun. The constitution must be amended to stipulate that parliament may legislate for the prohibition of land ownership by non-Namibians and their Namibian proxies and legislate for expropriation of ill-gotten ancestral land without compensation. Otherwise, land conferences will be money-wasting events to create new opportunities for the neo-land usurpers and will not address the real issues of colonial land dispossession. Those who say they fought for the liberation of the land are not truthful. They only fought for the hoisting of the flag and jobs for themselves and their kith and kin. The people who fought for the land and lost it through the genocide are the Ovaherero and Nama.



JB: In your view, what would happen to those who forfeit what you call 'ill-gotten land'?

FM: Well, I wish the same question would have been asked of them when they took our ancestral land, but that would be wishful thinking. I would say that they should now try to make ends meet with the trans-generational accumulated wealth from our ancestral land, minerals, marine resources and our cattle.



JB: And what about those that may not have enough?

FM: You say, 'if they don't have enough …?' Our forebears were not left with even less; they were literally left with nothing and laws were made to prohibit them from owning livestock of any kind. So, think of that as well. As I have said they have accumulated wealth and are amongst the richest of the world. The trans-generational poverty of the black people we see today is directly linked to the original crime of genocide and land dispossession, so don't ask me about the hypothetical 'poverty 'of white people today.



JB: What do you want to see coming out of the land conference?

FM: First of all I think government must release the much sought-after master list of those settled on government farms.

Almost invariably, all regions have a land problem, unique to themselves and may not have the same demand as the Ovaherero, Nama and Damara people claiming ancestral land. Government should therefore treat each region separately. People should not cross regional borders to grab the land of others. I say so, because what have the people like those from the north of the red line got to do with expropriated land of the Ovaherero, Nama and Damara?

Which Ovaherero, Nama, Damara, would be allowed to meddle in land feuds in the north of the country? And why would the government want people from the north, beyond the red line, also to participate in discussions about ancestral lands of others since their ancestral lands have not been expropriated? This is not just a rhetorical question; it must be answered.

Questions like these should be answered sincerely and not simply or sarcastically be brushed aside as 'tribalistic'. Tribalism is what this government is busy with when it comes to the land question, especially when it refers to the ancestral land of the Ovaherero and Nama.



JB: Do you think with all the criticism, the land conference should be held at all?

FM: Well, I have a strong hunch that there will be no positive outcome for those dispossessed during genocide. It may be ideal to hold two sessions - one for the representatives of people north of the red line and another for those south of the red line and then compare the outcome or resolutions.

Those from the south of the red line cannot be any- and everybody, but must hail from those who have lost their ancestral land through colonial expropriation.

Heavyweight government representation is not necessary, because they had an opportunity to rectify the wrongs of the past the first-ever national conference but they did nothing.

It is conflict of interest to have cabinet members as part of the conference resolution exercise and then again as approving authority.



JB: Do you think Namibians will ever solve this land issue?

FM: No, judging from the way government is in cahoots with the German government, I have my doubts. I would rather have the involvement of people who have no vested interests or hidden agendas to also benefit from what should otherwise be for the beneficiation of those who have lost their land.

Examples of successful land reform abound in the world and we should learn lessons from some of these. We can learn from Cuba, Zimbabwe, Australia, China and also South Africa. They haven't yet solved their land problems, but they seem intent.

Our second land conference should not be a replica of the Berlin Conference where decisions about the African continent were taken, but without the participation of the Africans. That is why we say: 'It cannot be about us, but without us; anything about us without us is against us.' That is for those who lost their land.

Stuck in low growth environment

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Stuck in low growth environmentNamibian economic commentary After a promising start to 2018, the second quarter was a bit of a damper as we’ve seen the general outlook for Southern Africa and world economies deteriorate somewhat. “Conclusion of large scale mining and infrastructure projects, worrying figures being released by wholesale and retail trade, public administration and fishing as well as soring public debt we seem to be stuck in low growth environment for the medium term” BASSON VAN ROOYEN

The headlines have been filling up with negative developments on the international front which has weighed negatively on local emerging markets in general. Our currency did not go unscathed through this period where we saw the Namibia dollar weaken from 11.82 to 12.70 against the US dollar this quarter.

Inflation seems to have moved past the lowest point in February/March when Namibian Statistics Agency recorded inflation at 3.5% y-o-y and has been slowly moving up since then to the 4.0% recorded in June. The big drivers for the positive trend have been education which is up almost 10% y-o-y and transport which is up over 7%. With the South African VAT hike this year and record fuel prices, as well as our own 25c/l hike in fuel levy we expect inflation to continue on a gradual walk up into the 5 to 6% range in the next 18 months.

On the interest rate side it seems the Namibian Monetary Policy Committee has taken to again holding a bit of a buffer over the South African rate after the South African Reserve Bank cut the South Africa rate by 0.25% in March and we did not follow the move, we’ve been effectively matching the SA rate since early 2016. The reason given to keep the rate on hold was communicated to prop up the level of foreign reserves and support local economic growth. On the South African side the swap market is projecting the next move on the rates to be upwards in the region of 0.25% in the next 6 months, which seem to make this a very shallow rate cut cycle from the South African Reserve Bank.

The local growth numbers continues to disappoint with the first quarter GDP number released for Namibia showing a further contraction to our economy of 0.1% and brings the last 8 quarters, or 2 years, of our economy being in a recessionary environment. Bank of Namibia is still projecting an overall GDP growth figure of around 0.6% for 2018 citing a more supportive global economy, contained local inflation, accommodative monetary policy and low base effect created with the depressed figures. Unfortunately with the worries in the construction industry, conclusion of large scale mining and infrastructure projects, worrying figures being released by wholesale and retail trade, public administration and fishing as well as soring public debt we seem to be stuck in low growth environment for the medium term.

Market review

The last quarter was quite a negative one for the locally listed shares on the Namibian Stock Exchange with almost all locally listed shares ticking down. Both banks, FNB and Capricorn Investment Groups dropped over 3%. The asset manager Namibia Asset Management dropping 7% and lone property company, Oryx, down 1%. This brings the total index return for the second quarter to -0.9%. The dual listed shares did not fare much better and the Overall Index including the dual listed shares was down 4.3% for the quarter.

As expected the South African Equity market has had a volatile 2018 so far and although the year to date return (6 months) is down around 1.7% for the All Share Index. At one stage in March the market was down around 8% on the year to date numbers while for the last quarter markets delivered a return of 4.5% mostly propped up by the resources sector.

The general trend of strengthening yields we’ve seen up to March has been effectively reversed this quarter when we saw the Namibian 10 year yield move back up from 9.97% to 10.83%, the same levels as during the uncertainty experienced during the run up to Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment as South Africa's President. The result of this was that local bond index contracted around -1.1%, underperforming cash which delivered 1.9% over the same period.

Basson Van Rooyen is the portfolio manager at Sanlam Investment Management.

Look beyond retrenchments, mines minister says

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Look beyond retrenchments, mines minister says The minister of mines, Tom Alweendo, feels that mining companies should not automatically consider retrenchments when they are struggling but should also look at other options such as reduced production times and salaries.

He says when commodity prices are low, as is now the case in the uranium sector, industry stakeholders should consult openly and with trust to avoid job losses.

“Unfortunately the uranium price is still depressed, now at about US$24 per pound, especially when compared to US$65 per pound in 2011. This makes it very difficult for the uranium mines. In such situations all relevant parties, which include the government, employees and their employers, need to engage effectively in alleviating the problem,” he said.

Alweendo emphasised that retrenchments should not be seen as the only viable option for struggling mining companies and that other avenues should be explored.

“Retrenchments should not be the first option; other options could be reduction of time worked or reduction of salary. But this can only happen when there is mutual trust between the parties.”

According to him, his ministry will work towards improving working conditions for miners.

“The ministry for its part will continue to improve the framework under which mineral exploration takes place; the more minerals are discovered, the better for employment in the mining sector,” he said.

The Mineworkers Union of Namibia recently expressed its displeasure at the loss of 800 jobs caused by the closure of the Langer Heinrich uranium mine.

“The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) Southern Region has learned with extreme shock that our mining industry is going onto its knees. Retrenchments and outsourcing are becoming the order of the day,” the union said in a strongly worded statement.

“It is becoming normal that every day and every month people are continuously losing their jobs. The current trend is becoming worrisome to us and it needs to come to an end. The reasons these capitalists keep on sending young Namibians to the streets are not good enough or are even unreasonable. In most cases it is just for the sake of maximising their profits and cutting wage bills.

“Most of the retrenchments in the mining industry are not based on economic reasons but rather a strategy for companies to maximise their profit and cut salaries,” the union charged.

OGONE TLHAGE

Chilling evidence led in murder trial

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Chilling evidence led in murder trialShots went off during tussle, accused claims Former policeman Lazarus Oscar Awaseb has testified in the High Court that his gun went off by accident while he was trying to take it back from the deceased. A former police detective who was stationed at Gobabis vividly described the struggle that took place over a pistol which he tried to wrest from the hands of the deceased before the fatal shot.

Lazarus Oscar Awaseb, 50, was testifying in the High Court in his murder trial, charged with the killing of Odilo Rathebe Motonane, 18.

He told the court he initially went to try and resolve a fight he had had earlier with his girlfriend, Mildred Hoases, which was caused, he said, by her demanding to be given money immediately.

He testified that she told him, “Jou t***l, wat wil jy vir my sê?” He added that she continued to utter profanities when he refused to give her money and that was why the fight ensued.

He said he wanted to sort it out.

“When I went to her room I wanted to talk to her to harmonise our relationship,” he said, and denied that he went there to kill Motonane, saying he did not know the young man was there.

Motonane was shot and killed on 22 March 2016.

Awaseb testified that Motonane confronted him when he arrived. He told the court Motonane was Hoases's former boyfriend.

Motonane opened the door and asked what he was doing there, he said, and further, instructed him that he was not to enter the house.

“I moved forward and he moved towards me and raised his hand as if he wanted to grab me by my neck, but he pushed me. I fell and in the process my service pistol fell to the ground,” Awaseb testified.

Awaseb faces charges of murder and attempted murder, read in conjunction with Combatting of Domestic Violence Act, with alternative charges of negligent discharge or handling of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

According to the State, Awaseb shot Motonane in the back. The State charges that the shooting was motivated by jealousy after Awaseb found Motonane with his girlfriend.

Awaseb is also charged with attempted murder in that he shot and wounded Hoases.

It is alleged that Awaseb attempted suicide after the incident by shooting himself in the chest, but he survived.

According to the State, Awaseb was in unlawful possession of the gun and ammunition.

Prior to the killing, Awaseb allegedly damaged a home theatre system, DVD player and television set owned by Hoases sometime between 18 and 22 March. In this regard, he faces a charge of malicious damage to property.

Awaseb yesterday told the court that Motonane had grabbed the pistol after it fell, cocked it and aimed it at him.

“I grabbed the hand he was holding the pistol with and told him he [must let go of] the pistol because we could get hurt but he did not say anything,” he maintained.

While he was trying to wrest the pistol from Motonane a shot went off, he said. Another shot went off and at this time, Awaseb said, Hoases shouted and ran out of the house.

“I do not know how many shots went off in the process but it was more than one,” he testified.

He was also wounded in the process, he said.

“Then Motonane fell to the ground and I had the gun in my hands. I lost consciousness and later woke on the bed with the gun beside me.” He was later taken by an ambulance to the hospital.

The trial continues before Judge Dinnah Usiku. Cliff Litubezi prosecutes while Miese Tjiture appears for Awaseb.

FRED GOEIEMAN

Who is fooling who?

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Who is fooling who? Just recently agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb expressed disappointment with the low market share of local grown agricultural produce. Like many ministers before him, !Naruseb couldn't fathom the fact that locals had to contend with a market share of just over 40% compared to foreign imports flooding the country, mostly from neighbouring countries like South Africa. For many years now, Namibian producers have been getting the short end of the stick as the lack of stringent import restrictions resulted in foreign producers to flood the local market, leaving local farmers without a secure and ready local market. At the moment only a handful of retailers source agricultural produce locally and this is despite the fact that government has invested millions in green schemes and fresh produce hubs nationwide. It is, however, to our disappointment that we have learnt that government has not provided funds to the Agro Marketing and Trading Agency to allow it to buy mahangu from northern farmers this year. In 2010 AMTA bought 240 tonnes of mahangu, followed by 742 tonnes in 2011, 504 tonnes in 2012, 175 tonnes in 2013, 486 tonnes in 2014, 61 tonnes in 2015 and 1 500 tonnes last year. The fresh produce hubs are the only formal market for mahangu and we can only imagine the anguish felt by producers who have consistently come to the party by producing bumper harvests for the local market. How do we expect farmers to continue producing food if the authorities are not consistently supporting them and run the risk of turning fresh produce hubs into white elephants? It clearly defies all logic for government to cry foul over the foreign-dominated local market for Namibian agricultural produce, while at the same time it is failing to honour its commitment by supporting home-grown farmers. The ministry of agriculture and other important role players must find an immediate solution to this mess.

No refunds for NSFAF students

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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No refunds for NSFAF studentsTuition fees still paid in full Students will have to pay a portion of their study fees after the first year as part of the government's austerity measures. 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 yesterday, 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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Nam: Land of beer and honey

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Nam: Land of beer and honey Jo-Maré Duddy – Namibia quenched its thirst with 108 litres of beer per capita in 2016, making it the country that guzzled the second most beer per person in the world.

According to the latest stats released by the Kirin Beer University in Japan, only the Czech Republic had a higher per capita consumption. The African country closest to Namibia was the Seychelles, where 90 litres per person were drunk in 2016.

The Kirin Beer University uses 633 ml as a benchmark for a bottle of beer. According to this, Namibia’s per capita consumption was 170.6 bottles of beer in 2016. That translates to an average of about 300 ml of beer per person every day.

In 2015 and 2014, Namibia was the fifth biggest beer drinking country per capita in the world. In 2013, it held the spot for second biggest.

In terms of total consumption, Namibia doesn’t feature on Kirin’s radar.

The country drank 250 000 kilolitres of beer in total in 2016, way below the 41.77 million kilolitres of China, the top consumer for the year. In Africa, 13.47 million kilolitres of beer was drunk. Worldwide, 186.89 million kilolitres - equivalent to approximately 295.2 billion 633ml bottles - were enjoyed.

Beer consumption in Africa grew for the sixth consecutive year, with an annual increase of 2.6% in 2016, Kirin says.

Mahangu producers have no market

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Mahangu producers have no marketAMTA is not buying the staple grain this year The only formal market for mahangu, the Agro Marketing and Trading Agency, has not received any money from the agriculture ministry to buy mahangu from northern farmers this year. Since the beginning of June many mahangu producers in the north have flocked to the Agro Marketing and Trading Agency (AMTA) to sell their surplus, but they were turned away because the trading agency is apparently not buying mahangu this year.

A source at AMTA told Namibian Sun that they usually procure mahangu on behalf of the agriculture ministry, but this year the ministry had not allocated it any money nor issued instructions to that effect.

Farmers started registering their interest to supply mahangu to AMTA in May this year. AMTA usually offers N$5 400 per ton or N$5.40 per kilogram for mahangu.

Farmers who have done good business with AMTA for the past eight years are unhappy, saying they worked extra hard this year to produce a bumper harvest in the hope that the agency would buy their surplus.

AMTA's Meke Namindo confirmed that they were expecting a high volume of mahangu and maize this year following an increase in the number of suppliers and production volumes.

She declined further comment, referring all questions to the agriculture ministry.

The ministry did not respond to questions.

“Last year I sold about 300 tonnes of mahangu to AMTA and this motivated me to work harder. This year I doubled the production and I notified them in May that I had mahangu to sell,” said Setson Absalom.

“To my disappointment after the harvest they (AMTA) told me that they were not buying mahangu this year. Very disappointing, because this was my only hope.”

AMTA has mahangu and maize silos at Tsandi, Okongo, Omuthiya, Rundu and Katima Mulilo where farmers take their products.

In 2010 AMTA bought 240 tonnes of mahangu, followed by 742 tonnes in 2011, 504 tonnes in 2012, 175 tonnes in 2013, 486 tonnes in 2014, 61 tonnes in 2015 and 1 500 tonnes last year.

Last year AMTA's operational manager for national strategic food reservation, Wilhelmina Handunge, told Namibian Sun that since they started buying mahangu from producers in 2010, the highest volume was last year when they bought

1 500 tonnes of mahangu from farmers in the Zambezi, Kavango East and West, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Oshana and Omusati regions.





She said farmers had improved the quality of their produce to the standard that AMTA was looking for.

The Ohangwena regional councillor for Okongo constituency, Fanuel Ndadi, said some farmers had approached his office, asking when AMTA would start buying mahangu. Ndadi said did not know what was delaying AMTA.

“If AMTA fails to buy mahangu this year it is going to be a waste of mahangu. I know that they do not buy all of the mahangu farmers have, but what they buy makes an impact because this is the only formal market for mahangu we have,” Ndadi said.

According to the Namibia Agronomic Board, mahangu, which is also known as pearl millet, is a subsistence rain-fed cereal crop which is the major staple food for over 50% of the Namibian population.

Mahangu is highly adapted to low rainfall and the prevailing soil conditions in the north-central regions and the Kavango. For many years, small-scale farmers have survived on the low yields obtained from mahangu.

Mahangu farmers in Namibia are amongst the few peoples in Africa who have successfully developed an integrated food-storage system where they can store their grain in storage baskets made of wood strips for up to five years.

On the recommendation of the NAB, mahangu was gazetted as a controlled crop on 15 May 2008. This ensures that from 1 July every year, no permits are granted for the import and export of mahangu until the entire local harvest is sold, guaranteeing a free market within the boundaries of Namibia. During this time, mahangu is marketed and sold in line with a production-cost-related floor price.

The Mahangu Development Plan for 2010 to 2013 was implemented to support the development of the mahangu sector in Namibia. The aim of the plan was to foster a rapid and efficient production and marketing system for the development of the crop.

ILENI NANDJATO

Hands off the beef industry

August 8, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Hands off the beef industry The government must not interfere in the marketing of cattle by implementing export restrictions and closing Namibian borders.

This may result in another fiasco in the livestock industry, reminiscent of the sheep marketing scheme.

This the view of the executive manager of the Namibia Agricultural Union, Roelie Venter, who said export restrictions would neither generate economic growth nor create jobs.

In an exclusive interview with Namibian Sun, Venter said on average about 200 000 weaners are exported annually, the same number as the cattle slaughtered locally.

He said there has been a drastic shift from slaughtering cattle at export abattoirs to opting for slaughter at local abattoirs. According to him this shift was caused by a drop in the producer price.

“The perception being created that more farmers are exporting cattle is not true. More cattle are being slaughtered at local abattoirs because of under-recoveries.”





Venter said the fact that the government was now pushing for a cattle scheme and considering closing the borders for cattle exports was causing panic among farmers.





“The industry does not want interference in the marketing of cattle. This must be prevented at all costs. Take for example what happened to the sheep marketing scheme and the fiasco it turned into.”





Venter said the push to close the borders for cattle exports would also have a huge impact on communal farmers, as two thirds of the weaners sold at auctions are from communal farming areas.

According to Venter a sustainable and profitable livestock industry needs internationally competitive export abattoirs to market to South Africa and the rest of the world. “But it also needs a local slaughter market for Namibian consumers and a live export market to SADC.”

The restriction of exports would not generate economic growth for Namibia.

“The control of weaner exports to SADC negatively affects primary cattle production and will have similar effects to what happened in the sheep sector,” Venter said.

Furthermore, an alignment of export abattoirs to the market supply should be done to put the industry on a sustainable growth path.

In his view, the sheep marketing scheme must be abolished and local abattoirs should be developed to improve their export competiveness to SADC. An open market should be ensured to export livestock to SADC.

Statistics provided by the union show that the annual number of cattle slaughtered locally have remained at about 200 000 for the past two decades, slightly dropping during 2006 to 2012, but recovering by 2014.

According to Venter roughly 67% of cattle offered were slaughtered locally between 1990 and 2017.

Furthermore, statistics indicate that cattle slaughter has shifted to B- and C-class local abattoirs and away from export abattoirs.

From 2015 to 2017 a drop from 120 000 to 80 000 in cattle slaughter numbers can be seen at export abattoirs, whereas the throughput at local abattoirs increased slightly from 90 000 to 100 000.

“Producers must already compete with the best producers in the world in a competitive market. Profitability is low, with a return on investment lower than 3% per year,” said Venter.

He explained that it is currently much more profitable to be in weaner production compared to the slaughter market. A weaner producer can make a profit of N$43 by selling a 220kg animal at N$31.74kg.

However in the slaughter market a producer who raises a weaner to an ox for slaughter makes a loss of N$21, selling a 260kg carcass at N$41.20.

“A producer has to look at where he or she will make the most profit.”

Venter further pointed out that net-importing industries such as dairy, poultry, pigs, grain and vegetables all experienced growth and investment which improved diversification and reduced risk in these industries.

He believes different growth strategies are required for net importers and net exporters.

He said the challenge is to grow the agri-export industries and not to close the borders.

“The two industries are totally different and exports should not be limited.”

Venter further explained the economic importance of the livestock value chain and said there are 17 000 employees in the industry with 75 000 dependants and in 2017 it earned N$3 billion in foreign exchange.

ELLANIE SMIT

King Elifas ordered to give oral testimony

August 9, 2018, 2:01 am

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King Elifas ordered to give oral testimony Judge Maphios Cheda this morning granted an order that Ondonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas give oral testimony in the Oshakati High Court in the matter in which his dismissed councillors are challenging their firing. Cheda has ordered the legal teams to set a date within 14 days on which the king would be required to testify. In July last year, King Elifas ordered the dismissal of the traditional councillors. They are former traditional authority chairperson Peter Kauluma, former spokesperson Joseph Asino, the senior headman for the Ondangwa district, John Walenga, former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya, Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili. The dismissed councillors remain the gazetted traditional leaders of the Ondonga community and they are currently operating from Onethindi as community court justices and assessors, under the justice ministry.
ILENI NANDJATO

Bakkie collides with elephant

August 9, 2018, 7:26 am

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Bakkie collides with elephant A double-cab bakkie collided with an elephant on the Nkurenkuru – Rundu main road early Wednesday morning.
Deputy Commissioner Andreas Shilelo of the Kavango West police said the accident happened at Namavambi village at around midnight.
Shilelo said the bakkie, with two occupants, was travelling from Nkurenkuru to Rundu when it hit the elephant.
The driver, who sustained serious injuries, was transported to the Rundu state hospital.
The elephant left the scene and its condition is unknown.
Shilelo said Namavambi community members had told the police that they had seen about seven elephants in the area.
He said the ministry of environment and tourism was tracking the elephants.
KENYA KAMBOWE