Quantcast
Channel: Namibian Sun
Viewing all 36395 articles
Browse latest View live

Thousands put hope in fishing

0
0
Thousands put hope in fishingThousands put hope in fishingBipa overrun by company registration applications A scurry for company registrations ensued ahead of the deadline for fishing rights applications, which closed on Friday. The Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa), the government agency registering companies, saw an unheard-of spike in registrations of companies towards the end of last week, as hopeful Namibians scurried to make Friday's deadline for fishing rights applications.

Bipa's spokesperson, Ockert Jansen, said long queues had lined up since last Wednesday in a last-minute rush to get companies registered.

Meanwhile, frustrated members of the public have complained about bottlenecks at Bipa.

Jansen said with the unprecedented influx of applications for registration, the lines at times got congested.

“We have received more applications than Bipa can cope with. We have not been able to register all companies but we have been in contact with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to inform it of the backlog we are currently experiencing,” Jansen said last Thursday.

He said applicants that registered companies before the deadline for fishing rights would receive letters from Bipa, which they could attach to their fishing rights applications.

These letters attest to the fact that applications were received on time and that the founding documents will be transmitted directly to the fisheries ministry upon approval of fishing rights applications.

“Registering a company is a process. It normally takes about three to five days to register a close corporation but due to the influx our turnaround period takes longer,” Jansen said.

Although it has not yet been ascertained how many applications for registration of companies relate to fishing rights applications, Bipa experienced a 40% to 50% increase month-on-month.

On average around 3 000 applications are received by Bipa per month.

Between June and August it received a total of 26 911 applications to have companies registered.

That translates into 4 411 for May, 6 776 in June, 7 384 in July and a whopping 8 340 in August.

Jansen said most applications were to register Ptys, which takes longer due to the legalities involved.





The fisheries ministry announced in May that all Namibians could apply for the available 96 fishing rights in nine fishery subsectors. When it first made the announcement, the ministry said the deadline for applications would be the end of July.

It announced that all applicants should have a registered Pty Ltd company or be a member of one. The requirements further stipulated that applicants should have a fishing vessel.

However, while announcing the extension of the deadline last month, fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau, capitulated under increasing pressure regarding the Pty Ltd stipulation.

He said people owning companies, close corporations and trusts, as well as natural persons, would now be eligible for fishing rights, but would be required to convert to a proprietary limited company “before the issuance of fishing rights”.



Open up

Days before the deadline, the Namibia Informal Sector Organisation (NISO) said while it welcomed the fishing ministry's invitation to the Namibian population, many aspiring rights holders were confronted with monumental costs to have companies registered.

It said this was compounded by the general ignorance of challenges in the fishing industry.

NISO said the fisheries ministry should review the practicality of its stated vision to have more participation by ordinary Namibians in the sector.

“We have in mind representative bodies such as civil society organisations, business organisations or chambers, corporate companies, employers' federations,” said NISO secretary-general Veripi Kandenge.

Kandenge also proposed “workers' protective trusts”, which he said would be ideally funded through contributions from all rights holders.

NISO also asked for a further extension of the deadline for applications.

Fisheries ministry spokesperson De Wet Siluka said last week he was not aware of any requests for another extension of the deadline.

Siluka said most applications were submitted in Windhoek, while other regions were relatively quiet. At the time he was unable to give an indication of the number of applications the ministry had received.

CATHERINE SASMAN

One dead on B2 highway

0
0
One dead on B2 highwayOne dead on B2 highway A man died when his car overturned 15 kilometres from Arandis on the road to Usakos on Monday night.
According to Chief inspector Daniel Gurirab of the Erongo police, the accident was caused by reckless driving.
“The only occupant, McHeinrich Tjivikua, a 38-year-old male Namibian citizen, who was the driver of an Audi A4, lost control over the vehicle and the vehicle left the road and overturned. The deceased was thrown out of the vehicle and died on the spot. The vehicle caught fire and burnt,” said Gurirab.
ADOLF KAURE

Bank Windhoek sponsors training clinics

0
0
Bank Windhoek sponsors training clinicsBank Windhoek sponsors training clinics SPORT REPORTER

The 2018 Bank Windhoek and Marathon Sugar training clinics for athletes and coaches will be held in Windhoek tomorrow and Friday and in Swakopmund on 10 and 11 September.

While athletes and coaches are trained over a two-day period in each town, the coaches' forum, presented by the Namibia National Olympic Committee, will be held specifically for coaches, parents and teachers on Saturday at SKW in Windhoek.

International coach, Ans Botha, will give a special presentation at the forum.

The training clinics, which were presented by the late Quinton Steele Botes, still continue and are made possible with the generous support of sponsors Bank Windhoek, Marathon Sugar and Coca-Cola.

Top South African coaches, Charley Sthormenger and Lynly de Beer will conduct the coaching clinics. “The purpose of the clinics is to empower all coaches countrywide to work with athletes at ground level, transfer their knowledge, discover new talent and develop athletes so that they compete on national level,” Bank Windhoek said in a media release.

The clinics are presented in various regions of Namibia. In 2016 they presented in the north, in 2017 they were held in Hardap and this year they will take place in Erongo.

For more information contact Leoni at leonivr123@gmail.com or 081 127 1193.

Hindjou, Uri-Khob back Warriors

0
0
Hindjou, Uri-Khob back WarriorsHindjou, Uri-Khob back Warriors Former Brave Warriors stars Johannes 'Congo' Hindjou and deadly left-footer Gervatius 'Gerros the Bomber' Uri-Khob are backing the team, as they gear up to take on Zambia in a 2019 Afcon qualifier on Saturday.

During his heyday, Hindjou who is the current mayor of Okahandja, was known to score goals when they counted for the national team.

He has 69 Warriors caps to his name.

The midfielder represented his country at the 1998 Afcon tournament and played for Liverpool Okahandja, as well as Civics FC.

He won the Namibia Premier League with both clubs before retiring in 2007, after a spell with African Stars. He also later coached Okahandja Spoilers and Eleven Arrows.

“This is a do-or-die match. You know your strengths and weaknesses, so work on them before the match and good luck to all the players and coach. I will see you all at the field on Saturday,” Hindjou said.

Uri-Khob was a prolific striker, who served the national side between 1992 and 1998, including at the 1998 Afcon tourney, where he managed to score two goals in a 3-3 draw with Angola.

“I played with most of the guys who are in the technical team. I trust them and I also have trust in the players' capabilities. Hopefully I will also be at the field on match day,” Uri-Khob said.

Hindjou is the Warriors most capped player, while Uri-Khob is the all-time top scorer with 12 goals.

The match will kickoff at 16:00 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium. Tickets are on sale for N$50 at Computicket outlets inside Shoprite and Checkers stores countrywide, as well as Football House in Katutura.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Glory beckons for Namibia

0
0
Glory beckons for NamibiaGlory beckons for NamibiaSamoa in the way of World Rugby tourney final spot Namibia's under-20 rugby team will face Samoa today in Romania, as they seek to make the final of the 11th edition of the World Rugby U-20 Trophy. Namibia will face Samoa today in their third group match of the World Rugby U-20 Trophy, currently taking place in Romania.

The team has put on some dazzling displays so far, after beating hosts Romania 55-26 with an excellent display of attacking rugby, and then thumping Hong Kong 85-10 in their second match.

This has given the team and country hope that they can in fact make it to the final of the competition.

Head coach Henry Kemp said Samoa is a physical side, who enjoy using their strength.

“Their line formation is also good and they might use this against the Namibian side as we have struggled with this,” Kemp said via WhatsApp.

“They are also unpredictable, but our speed and ball handling skills is better. We just have to make a turnaround when given the chance.”

Kemp added they will play the high-tempo game they played against Romania and Hong Kong.

“The team spirit is high and the boys are looking forward to challenge Samoa,” he added.

In Pool A, Namibia leads the way on 10 points, with Samoa second.

The Namibians have a superior points scored vs points conceded ratio. Romania and Hong Kong have no points.

In Pool B, Fiji leads with 10 points, followed by 2017 runner-ups Portugal with six, while Uruguay sits on five points and Canada on two.

The winners of the tournament will be promoted to the World Rugby U-20 Championship in 2019.

The Namibian team is as follows: André Rademeyer, JT Basson, Patrick Schickerling, Adriaan Ludick, Wynand Breytenbach, Peter Diergaardt, Gerbus van Wyk, Oderich Mouton (captain), Jacques Theron, Denzo Bruwer, Warren Ludwig, Gerswin Mouton, Elmarco Beukes, Rudi Pretorius and Chad Plato (vice-captain).

The replacements are Eloff du Plessis, Chris Swanepoel, Gerhard Opperman, Adriaan Venter, Gilad Plaatjies, Hanreco van Zyl, Delron Brandt and Darryl Wellman.

The match kicks off at 12:00 Namibian time and will also be live streamed live from Bucharest on worldrugby.org, as well on World Rugby's Facebook and Twitter pages.



LIMBA MUPETAMI

Take it seriously - Kasaona

0
0
Take it seriously - KasaonaTake it seriously - KasaonaSenior player gives pep talk ahead of Cosafa champs Brave Gladiators stalwart, Mamie Kasaona, says the players should keep in mind that their lives can change dramatically, if they do well at the Cosafa women’s championships. Former Brave Gladiators captain, Mamie Kasaona, says younger players should grab the chance to shine at the upcoming Cosafa women's championships.

Kasaona, who has played football for two years at Gemania Hauerhorst and Welhemsfield FC in Germany and captained the national side since 2011, says the tournament can open doors for the players.

“Think about your future and what a tournament of this magnitude might do for you. The coach picked you for a reason, so believe in your capabilities,” she said.

“There are scouts always looking for new players. I encourage you all to use this opportunity well. I know some players are naturally gifted and the rest need to rely on hard work, but work towards making it to the South African women's premier league, which will soon become professional, and then take it one step at a time.”

The team will travel to Port Elizabeth on 10 September for the Cosafa tourney, which starts on 12 September and will reach its crescendo ten days later. The Brave Gladiators will take on Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Uganda in their group.

Kasaona said the team has a number of young players, but miracles happen every day on the field of play.

The former captain also made it clear she has not quit the team, but decided not to be part of this year's Cosafa tourney, as she has private engagements lined up that could possibly clash with her participation.

“I didn't want the players to depend on me, just for me to pull out of the team during the competition. I will make an official announcement soon about my future. But I don't want people to say that I have retired,” she explained.

Head coach, Brian Isaacs, said in the absence of a league, the Gladiators have been playing friendly matches against under-15, 17 and 19 SKW players, adding they realised a lack of game time cost the team during last year's tournament.

With the absence of foreign-based players such as Zenatha Coleman, Annoushka Kordom and Vewe Kotjipati, Isaacs had no choice but to bring in a few u-20 players.

This gave the younger players exposure, while pushing the senior players to perform to the best of their abilities, he said.

The Gladiators will play their first match on 13 September against Zimbabwe.

They will face Uganda on 15 September and finish off the group stages by playing Swaziland on 17 September in their final Group C match.

The tourney's group action will conclude on 18 September and in the semifinals are set for 20 September.

The winners of Group B winners will play the best runner-up from the group stages, while the Group A winners will face the Group C winners. The bonze and gold medals matches will be contested on 22 September.



LIMBA MUPETAMI

Shilongo Leather Works ya sindana omapapa momauliko gaNgwediva

0
0
Shilongo Leather Works ya sindana omapapa momauliko gaNgwedivaShilongo Leather Works ya sindana omapapa momauliko gaNgwediva“Kasha li oshipu okuthiga po iilonga mbyoka hayi ku pe ondjambi yokomwedhi okuya mongeshefa ndjoka tayi shongola” Konima sho ya tameke ongeshefa yawo moomvula dho 1980, ngashiingeyi ongeshefa yoShilongo Leather Works oya koko nokuninga ongeshefa yofamili ndjoka hayi nduluka iilongomwa ya longwa miipa. Ongeshefa ndjoka ngashiingeyi yi na aaniilonga ya thika po 53, oya sindanapo omapapa gaali lyo 'best manufacturing' oshowo 'made in Namibia' momauliko giipindi ngoka opo ga hulu mondoolopa yaNgwediva.

Sakeus Shilongo pamwe nomukulukadhi gwe Slma oyo ooyene yongeshefa ndjoka ya tameke momvula yo 1986 na oya koko pamwe naanona yawo.

Selma okwa hokolola ondjokonona yongeshefa yawo ndjoka tayi shambula sho ye yi tamekele megumbo mOvenduka, moka ya tsakanene lyotango omanga taya longa onga aaniilonga yomomagumbo.

“Sho nda tsakanene naSakeus okwa li omuunilonga gwokomake na okwa li owala eetwa megumbo moka nda li handi longo. Pethimbo ndyoka okwa li nale ka ningi omiya oshowo oondjato dhiimaliwa dha longwa miipa.”

“Okwa li ha landitha iinima ye mbyoka momapandanda gaVenduka lumwe komwedhi. Okwa li ha ningi iinima iiwanawa ihe kali e shi nkene e na okulanditha iilongomwa ye mbyoka,” Selma a popi.

Okwa tsikile kutya kakele kiilonga yomegumbo mbyoka a li ha longo okwa li woo ha landitha iikwatelwa yomookombitha oshowo iinima yilwe naasho ya tameke ekwatathano lyawo naSakeus okwa tameke temu kwathele mokulanditha iinima ye mbyoka ha nduluka miipa. Selma okwa tsikile kutya konima sho ya hokana okwa wayimine ongeshefa yomusamane gwe.

Okwa popi kutya petameko kasha li oshipu molwaashoka okwa li e na okondolola yiiyemo yongeshefa yawo. Konima ayehe oya tokola okuthiga po iilonga yaw nokuwayimina ongeshefa.

“Kasha li oshipu okuthiga po iilonga mbyoka hayi ku pe ondjambi yokomwedhi okuya mongeshefa ndjoka tayi shongola. Pethimbo tandi longele aatiligane oya longo ndje nkene ndi na okukwata nawa iiyemo nokupungula. Shoka osha kwathelendje uunene mongeshefa na ope na aantu yamwe mboka yali haya dhilaadhila kutya otandi kodhilile unene iimaliwa yaSakeus. Omolwa ongeshefa yetu nonkalo yetu onda tokola okugamena iiyemo yongeshefa yetu ”

Konima sho ya kala taya landithile momapandanda okwa totwa endiki lyoWindhoek Craft Centre konima yemanguluko na oya kala taya landithile mpoka. Epangelo lya tumu wo Sakeus koKenya opo a ka mone omadheulo gokunduluka iilongomwa okuza miipa.

Monena Shilongo Leather Works oha nduluka iilongomwa oyindji mwakwatelwa oongaku oshowo oondjato. “Ongeshefa oya koko nomonena otu na oostola ne, Ongwediva, Okahandja oshowo oostola mbali dhi li mOvenduka. Otu na woo ekwatathano naalandithi yalwe mboka haya landitha iilongomwa yetu nopondje yoshilongo.”

“Otwa tameke owala petameko kutse yene. Inatu mona nando ekwatho lyiiyemo okuza koshiputudhilo shontumba nenge kepangelo. Otwa kala tatu pugula iimaliwa yetu niiputudhilo ya yooloka. Otatu pandula woo epangelo sho lya kala hali ningi omahwahwameko giipindi yetu piituthi ya yooloka na osha etitha tu vule okumona ookastoma okuza pondje yoshilongo.” Selma okwa popi kutya omauliko giipindi nago oga kwathele mekokeko lyongeshfa yaawo.

Okwa popi kutya ohaya kutha ombinga konyala momamuliko agehe giipindi moshilongo nomomvula yo 2011 oshowo 2012 oya kutha ombinga momauliko giipindi moZambia , naashoka oshe ya kwathele okuninga omahwahwameko giilandithomwa yawo pondje yoshilongo.

Okwa popi kutya kehe ethimbo ta kutha ombinga momauliko giipindi, iiyemo yawo yokomvula otayi londo pombanda. Okwa popi kutya oyana oya koka na oyali haya yambidhidhwa kiiyemo yongeshefa ihe ngashiingeyi otaya yambidhidha mekoko lyongeshefa. Yane yomaanona yawo yahamano oye li oshitopolwa shelelo lyongeshefa.

Thomas ngoka e li omwiindjinia keithano okuli menindjela gwongeshefa na oha yambidhidhwa kumumwayina Naftali, ngoka e li menindjela gwofakitoli oshowo Jona ngoka e li meenindjela gwoompugulilo naFiina ngoka e li omunambelewa gwobusiness administrator.

“Kasha li oshipu okweeta aanona mboka mongeshefa. Petameko oya li haya longitha pambambo oonzo dhongeshefa nokuihumbatela pamukalo kagu li mondjila aniiloga. Onga omukomeho gwongeshefa onde ya longo nokukwashilipaleka kutya otandi ya ihumbatele onga aaniilonga ihe hangaashi aanona yandje. Mboka itaya longele kumwe onde ya tidha miilonga nokukala owala naamboka taya kwathele ongeshefa yi koke. Monena mboka yiitula mo mongeshefa otaya longo nonando tse katu po,” Selma a gwedha po.

ILENI NANDJATO

Omayovi ye na omukumo mookota dhokukwata oohi

0
0
Omayovi ye na omukumo mookota dhokukwata oohiOmayovi ye na omukumo mookota dhokukwata oohi Ehangano lyoBusiness and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa), ndyoka li li oshiputudhilo shepangelo mokushangitha ookampani olya mono omwaalu omunene gwoongeshefa tadhi shangithwa okuya pehulilo lyoshiwike sha piti, sho AaNamibia oyendji taya longekidhila opo ya vule okwaadha esiku lyahugunina lyokuninga omaindilo gookota gokukwata oohi.

Omunambelewa omupopiliko gwoBipa okwa popi kutya oya mono omikweyo omileeleka mEtitatu lyoshiwike sha piti, sho aantu yahala okulongitha ompito ya hugunina ya shangithe oongeshefa dhawo.

Aakwashigwana yamwe oya nyenyeta woo kutya ehangano ndyoka otali ende kashona mokushangitha oongeshefa. Jansen okwa yamukula kutya shoka osha holoka omolwa omwaalu omunene gwomaindilo ngoka ya mono ihe oya ningi ekwatathano nuuministeli woohi noonzo dhomomeya opo ye ya tseyithile kombinga yuupyakadhi mboka.

Okwa tsikile kutya mboka ya shangitha oongeshefa dhawo omanga esiku lya hugunina inali thikana otaya mono oombaapila okuza koBipa ndhoka taya vulu okutula momaindilo gawo gookota dhokukwata oohi. Ombapila ndhoka otadhi popile kutya omaindilo gawo gokushangitha oongeshefa oga yakumulwa pethimbo na otaya kala manithwa pethimbo mpoka uuministeli tawu ka zimina omaindilo gawo.

“Eshangitho lyongeshefa omulandu omule. Ohashi kutha omasiku gatatu sigo gatano okushangitha ongeshefa yoclose corporation ihe omolwa omaindilo ogendji ngoka twa mono otashi kutha ethimbo ele.”

Nonando inaya popya kutya oya mono omaindilo ga ngapi, oya mono eyo pombanda lyoopresenda 40 okuya po 50 momwedhi. Konyala ohaya mono omaindilo 3 000 kehe omwedhi..

Pokati ka Juni naAguste oya mono omaindilo geli 26 911 omanga muMei omaindilo 4 411 mmwehi June omaindilo 6 776 omnga muJuli omaindilo 7 384 nomowedhi Aguste oya mono omaindilo geli 8 340 .

Jansen okwa popi kutya omaindilo ogendji otaga shangithwa ooPTYs ndhoka hadhi kutha ethimbo ele.

Uuministeli woohi noonzo dhomometa owa tseyitha muMei kutya AaNamibia ayehe otaya vulu okuniga omaindlio guuthemba wuumwene wokukwata ookota dhoohi geli po 96. Sho kwa ningwa etseyitho ndyoka esiku lya hugunina lyokuninga omaindilo oya li pehulilo lyaJuli. Okwa tseyithwa kutya aaningi yomaindilo oya pumbwa okukala noongeshefa dha shangithwa onga ooPty Ltd. Omolwa ethimbo ele tali kuthwa okushangitha oongeshefa ndhoka, okwa li kwa tseyithwa kutya omaludhi goongeshfaa adhihe otaga vulu okuninga omaindilo ngoka.

Sho ku na owala omasiku omashona esiku lya hugunina li thikane, oNamibia Informal Sector Organisation (NISO) oya taambako ehiyo lyuuministeli woohi opo oshigwana shi ninge omaindilo ihe oya nyenyeta ondando yokushangitha oongeshefa ndhoka.

NISO okwa popi kutya uuministeli nawu talulule omilandu dhawo opo aakwashigwana yalwe ya vule woo okuninga omaindilo ngoka, mwakwatelwa omahangano galwe ngaashi ngoka gaakwashigwana, nomakalelipo gaaniilongo noshotuu, pahapu dhamushanga gwoNISO, Veripi Kandenge.

NISO okwa pula esiku lyahugunina lyokuniga omaindilo guundululwe komeho natango.

Omupopiliko guuministeli woohi, De Wet Siluka okwa popi kutya ke na ontseyo kombinga yeindilo ndyoka lya ningwa opo omasiku guundulule komeho.

Siluka okwa popi kutya omaindilo ogendji oya yamukulwa mOvenduka, omanga iitopolwa oyindji yamwena. Ina vula okugandja omwaalu gwomaindilo ngoka ya mono.

CATHERINE SASMAN

Youth just want to fight leaders – Uutoni

0
0
Youth just want to fight leaders – UutoniYouth just want to fight leaders – UutoniAccused youth of unwillingness to work The minister of youth Erastus Uutoni has lashed the young people in Ohangwena saying they only want to fight their elders in government. Youth minister Erastus Uutoni has expressed his disappointment with Ohangwena youth, after they failed to get the Onehanga Youth Irrigation Project off the ground, which government had funded to the tune of N$3.5 million.

Uutoni said youth these days do not want to work for themselves, but rather want to spend their times fighting their leaders.

Uutoni said the project had the potential to improve the livelihoods of many youth in the region, through employment-creation and income-generation activities.

A few years ago, the youth ministry gave N$1 million towards the project, which was used to fence-off and de-bush about 40 hectares of land and install boreholes, while the Social Security Commission (SSC) pumped N$2.5 million into the initiative.

This project failed to get off the ground and was abandoned in 2015.

Youth in the region are accusing National Youth Council (NYC) regional coordinator, Olivia Valungameka, of being responsible for the failure and abandonment of the project at Onehanga in the Okongo constituency.

“I am very much disappointed. The government gave you money to start a project, but you failed to seize that opportunity and failed to get it off the ground. This was supposed to be one of the successful youth projects in your region that could solve many social challenges facing the youth in the region,” Uutoni said on Monday, while addressing youth at Eenhana.

“If government gave you money to establish a project and you failed, what else do you want the government to do for you? You were supposed to come to the ministry and ask for help when you were struggling. We could have helped you and your project.”

Youth in the region earlier told Namibian Sun that Valungameka had acted on her own, without taking technical advice from the youth ministry - a situation that led to the project's downfall and abandonment in 2015.

It was reported that the agricultural project was established after a regional youth forum secured land at Onehanga village from the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority.

However, the abandoned project has now become a grazing area for local farmers.

Situated approximately 43km east of Okongo, the project was supposed to compromise of small-scale horticultural production, including the growing of cabbage, carrots, beetroot and onions.

“The project was initiated by the NYC for Ohangwena youth through the Ohangwena Youth Forum to produce fresh produce and generate income. About 50 youth were involved in the project since work commenced in 2013, but later things did not go well, as Valungameka refused to listen to anybody,” said a source, who chose to remain anonymous.

The source said further the youth ministry provided financial and technical support, while the SSC also supported the project financially and assisted with its management.

“The youth ministry gave N$1 million to the project to fence and de-bush about 40 hectares and also to establish boreholes, while the SSC gave N$2.5 million, which was used to construct two blocks with three bedrooms each, but the structures have not been completed.

“We had plans to plant summer crops such as tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, pumpkins, butternuts, green peppers, cucumbers, cabbage, maize, mahangu and sorghum,” the source added.

ILENI NANDJATO

Tantalite retrenchments ruffle feathers

0
0
Tantalite retrenchments ruffle feathersTantalite retrenchments ruffle feathers The Mineworkers Union (MUN) has urged government to revoke the mining licence of the Namibia Tantalite Mine for failing to temporarily suspend a retrenchment exercise, as requested by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).

The request was issued to the mine's CEO Larry Johnson, who went ahead and retrenched all 49 workers at the Warmbad mine on Friday.

The mine announced in June that it would retrench the 94 out of a total 105 employees because of a water shortage and lack of production at the mine.

An agreement on severance packages took about two months as MUN and the mine struggled to reach an agreement.

In a statement on Monday, Johnson said the mine “sadly announces the retrenchment of some of its employees”, adding that the company “did all it could before having had to take the difficult decision to retrench”.

“I assure that we have first and foremost followed the labour laws and used third-party labour experts as well as legal practitioners that are resident experts in labour to ensure that we followed the entire process,” Johnson stated. He further said negotiations were done and concluded in good faith with MUN.

“The mine would like to express its sincere gratitude to all the employees for their time and commitment at the mine,” he said.

However, MUN regional organiser, Elvis Bekele on Monday expressed: “The MUN is very disappointed with the conduct and disrespect of the CEO of this mine after the MME requested him to suspend the retrenchment exercise for further engagement with the ministry in a meeting to take place on 10 September 2018.”

He explained that the parties where still negotiating on alternatives to save the jobs at the mine and made clear that the MUN cannot tolerate such behaviour from investors who undermine the highest authority in this country.

“In this country we cannot work with investors who do not respect our government, the law of this country and the Namibian people at large, we are not going to entertain that at all, this is total nonsense,” Bekele stressed.

In a letter dated 30 August 2018 to the CEO and seen by this news agency, the MME requested Johnson for a meeting on 10 September 2018 for him to elaborate and for government to fully understand the retrenchment exercise the mine intends to undertake. “In the meanwhile I request that you suspend the retrenchment proceedings until we have engaged,” reads the letter.

Upon enquiry, Johnson said that he was not aware of the letter from MME and only became aware of it on Monday after his personal assistant told him.

“I was not aware of it until Monday when my PA told me. Due to a death in the family, I am out of office, and yes I did accept to attend the meeting because I respect the government,” he added.

The mine earlier announced that it would recruit a skeleton crew consisting of 10 to 20 people once the retrenchments were done.

NAMPA

Nawa-Mukena's fraud case bogged down

0
0
Nawa-Mukena's fraud case bogged downNawa-Mukena's fraud case bogged down The legal matter in which MultiChoice Namibia is suing to recover over N$2 million from former employee Manga Nawa-Mukena has been stalled.

Nawa-Mukena's legal counsel, De Klerk, Horn and Coetzee Inc., has withdrawn from the matter.

A status meeting was held yesterday before Judge Shafimana Ueitele to determine the way forward, as Nawa-Mukena's witness statements had not been filed as per court order. It is up to her to decide whether to represent herself or appoint new counsel.

MultiChoice, in its papers before the court, has named Namflex's pension preservation, provident preservation and retirement annuity funds as further respondents in the matter, saying the only relief sought from Namflex was the deduction of the benefits due to Nawa-Mukena.

Nawa-Mukena was employed as a marketing manager for DStv and GOTV from 1 April 2013 to 17 March 2017. MultiChoice told the court that she had presented 80 invoices to the company, purportedly received from an entity called 'Kundana' during the last three years of her employment.

The invoices were for advertising services and a bank account number for payment was provided. All invoices were for the attention of Nawa-Mukena. She also provided the registration number of the company.

According to MultiChoice, she “wilfully misrepresented that there existed an entity by the name of Kundana (Pty) Limited and that weekly advertising services were rendered by it.”

From April 2014 to early 2017, MultiChoice made payments on 85 invoices for advertising, totalling N$2 088 171.

The bank account number, according to MultiChoice, belonged to Nawa-Mukena.

She was criminally charged with fraud and is currently awaiting trial.

MultiChoice told the court that in terms of section 37 of the Pension Funds Act, Namflex was entitled to deduct the amounts due by Nawa-Mukena to the company. It also informed the court that it had advised Namflex of Nawa-Mekena's “theft, dishonesty and fraud or misconduct” and had requested the company to withhold payment to her until judgement is rendered the matter.

MultiChoice demands its N$2 088 171, plus 20% interest per year, as well as the costs of the suit.

Francois Erasmus and Partners appeared for MultiChoice.

YANNA SMITH

Company news

0
0
Company newsCompany news De Beers will allow buyers to reject cheap diamonds

De Beers is allowing its diamond buyers to refuse some lower-quality stones at its sale this week, according to people familiar with the situation.

It’s a rare move by De Beers, which is famous for requiring buyers to take what’s offered, and highlights the weak state of the low-end diamond market. The diamond miner made a similar gesture in 2016, when India’s move to ban high-value currency notes depressed demand.

Prices for cheaper stones, which are often small and low quality, have fallen in recent years. The market has been hurt by too much supply, lower profit margins in major cutting centers such as Surat in India and the depreciation of the Indian rupee.

-Fin24

Disney World workers reach agreement on wages

Walt Disney World workers have reached a tentative agreement with parent Walt Disney Co regarding wages, union body International Brotherhood of Teamsters said on Friday

The union said the tentative deal will be voted on next week and a contract will be in effect until October 1 2022 if approved.

If ratified, Disney World workers will receive a minimum of US$4.75 in wage increases over the lifetime of the contract, with everyone at the resort getting a minimum increase of US$2.50 by March 6, 2019.

-Nampa/Reuters

Electric Mercedes opens German assault on Tesla

Mercedes-Benz is set to unveil its much-anticipated electric SUV on Tuesday, marking the start of a German onslaught against Tesla’s dominance of the fast-growing market for premium battery cars.

Daimler-owned Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen’s Audi and Porsche divisions are all gunning for the US$52 billion Californian upstart, with early publicity efforts emulating its tech-industry halo.

-Nampa/Reuters

In India, Google races to parry the rise of Facebook

Google retains only a slight lead over Facebook in the competition for digital ad dollars in the crucial India market, sources familiar with the figures say, even though the search giant has been in the country far longer and has avoided the controversies that have dogged its rival.

Facebook’s success has shaken Alphabet Inc’s Google, led by an Indian-born CEO, Sundar Pichai, who has made developing markets a priority.

Google officials in India earlier this year were alarmed to learn that Facebook Inc was likely to generate about US$980 million in revenue in the country in 2018, according to one of the sources. Google’s India revenues reached US$1 billion only last year.

-Nampa/Reuters

Bidvest grows earnings

The Bidvest Group has upped headline earnings by 11.9% to R4.1 billion, while headline earnings per share (HEPS) increased by 11.1% for the year ended June 30, 2018, it announced on Monday.

In a stock exchange announcement, the trading, distribution and services group said HEPS had jumped from 1 108.2 cents in 2017 to 1 231.2 cents in 2018.

Bidvest also said revenue increased by 8.4% to R77 billion, from R71 billion in the previous reporting period, while trading profit grew by 8.2% to 6.5 billion.

"[These were] strong result[s] in a volatile market characterised by weak economic growth and consumer spend, as well as significant business and political uncertainty," Bidvest said.

-Fin24

Meat Board adjusts sheep scheme

0
0
Meat Board adjusts sheep schemeMeat Board adjusts sheep schemeThe closure of Brukarros main cause Lamb and mutton producers were left in the lurch with the closure of Brukarros Meat Processors near Keetmanshoop. The Meat Board of Namibia has been forced to make adjustments to the local slaughtering requirement of the sheep marketing scheme following the recent closure of Brukarros Meat Processors outside of Keetmanshoop.

According to the Meat Board, the closure of Brukarros has left only Natural Namibian Meat Packers in Aranos as an export abattoir for sheep, while Farmers' Meat Market in Mariental slaughters only 500 sheep for the local market, once a week.

Last year, Farmers' Meat Market announced and informed its stakeholders that it will close the abattoir due to financial difficulties.

According to the Meat Board, however, the Mariental abattoir has since 13 August been registered to slaughter for export, three days a week.

The Meat Board of Namibia therefore had to adjust the sheep marketing scheme because producers do not have the opportunity to build up a quota at local abattoirs and market in South Africa.

The scheme, which was introduced to stimulate value addition to sheep and sheep products locally, currently works to export a ratio of 1:1. Therefore for every sheep that producers want to export to South Africa they also have to slaughter one locally.

The Meat Board said the new adjustment that has been implemented will be valid until 15 November this year and implies that a producer who has slaughtered at Brukarros Meat Processors during the past six months while the abattoir was still operational, can export a similar number of animals.

The Meat Board, in collaboration with the industry, has been tasked with developing a long-term proposal for the growth of the sheep industry, including both producers and abattoirs, and at the same time assess the impact of the long-term proposal on the different sectors.

The Meat Board has also allocated the unused Norwegian beef quota from Brukarros to Meatco. This step was necessitated and took place in agreement with Brukarros. Meatco will therefore be responsible for exports of 1 530 tonnes of beef, of which 982 tonnes of beef (64.2%) have already been exported by Meatco to Norway this year.

The Meat Board also said that it has approved the conditions of the registration procedures at operating abattoirs in Namibia to accommodate age-classification at C-class abattoirs.

Age classification will describe the age of the animal at the time of slaughter and will be indicated on the carcass in the form of a stamp. Such age classification can only take place under the supervision of the Meat Board while it will maintain the right to suspend the registration of such a producer if any age classification, or other inconsistencies, are found.

Abattoir operators wishing to participate and implement age classification should apply in writing to the Meat Board.

A person to be trained on age classification should be identified by the abattoir operator. Such a person must be registered and certified by the Meat Board on an annual basis, and registration will only be valid for the abattoir at which the staff member is employed at the time of certification. Age classification stamps bearing a unique abattoir code will be provided by the Meat Board to the abattoir operator at the cost of the abattoir operator.

ELLANIE SMIT

Time for caution!

0
0
Time for caution!Time for caution! Agribank Namibia has advised farmers to take caution against plant poisoning in livestock with the upcoming seasonal changes.

In a media statement, Agribank's technical officer within the Agri-Advisory Services Division, Erastus Ngaruka, said poisonous plants mostly emerge during the spring months, from September to October and when pastures are in poor condition or overgrazed.

He said animals were vulnerable to poisonous plants due to hunger, inexperience and accidental consumption.

Farmers should thus guard against animals eating any available plant to satisfy their daily needs due to depleted valuable forage, particularly during a drought when the rangeland is degraded.

Farmers should also be on the lookout for animals new to an area, or young, which are not familiar to local forages or cannot distinguish the valuable plants from the poisonous plants.

“It is thus advisable to avoid introducing animals to a strange or new grazing area during this time as it is the season the poisonous plants are active,” Ngaruka stated.

Poisonous plants are generally also green this time of year, further luring young and inexperienced animals to graze on them.

NAMPA

White workers protest against black share scheme

0
0
White workers protest against black share schemeWhite workers protest against black share schemeFull strike tomorrow Workers from South Africa’s mainly-white Solidarity union staged a go-slow protest at the petrochemicals firm Sasol on Monday. We are not against the scheme, we just want it to be inclusive of all workers- Dirk Hermann, CEO, Solidarity The strike is over a share scheme offered exclusively to black staff, and said they would begin a full strike on Thursday.

South African companies are required to meet quotas on black ownership, employment and procurement as part of a drive to reverse decades of exclusion under apartheid. Meeting the rules makes a company more likely to qualify for government tenders.

Solidarity has been waging a challenge against racial quotas in the workplace, and lodged a complaint against the policy in 2016 with the UN Human Rights Commission.

Sasol, the world leader in technology that converts coal and gas to fuel, has sold 25% of its local operations to qualifying black employees, a foundation and the black public in a 21 billion rand (US$1.5 billion) deal financed by the company.

It has said the scheme is not a benefit but a mechanism designed to meet the rules on black economic empowerment, and was backed by shareholders.

But Solidarity said the scheme was discriminatory and that it would file a complaint to US regulators. Sasol also operates in the United States.

The union said 6 300 of its members would hold a go-slow at Sasol’s facilities in South Africa, and then strike on Thursday.

“We are not against the scheme, we just want it to be inclusive of all workers. If the company makes it inclusive, the majority will still be black, so we see no need to exclude white workers as this is discrimination,” said Dirk Hermann, Solidarity’s chief executive.

Sasol, which employs around 26 000 people in South Africa, said it was aware of Solidarity’s intent to strike, and that it had made contingency plans.

SHARES SLIP

Sasol’s shares were 1.4% lower at 568.14 rand, with the market expecting the dispute to be resolved without affecting earnings.

A Sasol spokesman said parts of the flagship Secunda and Sasolberg plants, which produce fuel and chemicals respectively, were anyway undergoing scheduled maintenance shutdowns, but that both plants otherwise continued to operate.

The ruling African National Congress said in a statement that it was concerned by the “obsession with perpetuating racial polarization” triggered by Solidarity’s protest.

Solidarity’s Hermann said the union was not promoting racism and had backed schemes at AngloGold Ashanti and iron ore mining firm Kumba that treated white and black workers equally.

But it was in court challenging an empowerment scheme at the cement firm PPC that grants each black worker twice as many shares as a white worker.

Herman said Solidarity had also challenged a similar scheme at South Africa’s biggest mobile operator, Vodacom, but had been hampered by its low members’ roll at the firm.

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, which mediates in labour disputes, ruled that Solidarity did not have a legal right to challenge Sasol’s scheme in court, but could push its cause through industrial action.

“We expect Sasol to come to the negotiating table,” Hermann said.

-Nampa/Reuters

Sun International close to exiting Nigeria

0
0
Sun International close to exiting NigeriaSun International close to exiting Nigeria South Africa’s Sun International expects an investigation into a shareholder dispute at its Nigerian operation to be completed shortly, paving the way for the casino and hotel operator to finally exit that market, it said on Monday.

Sun International, which reported a 46% decline in half-year earnings hurt by subdued growth and one-off costs, bought a 49% stake in the Tourist Company of Nigeria (TCN) in 2006, becoming the largest single shareholder.

However, that deal has been disputed by some of the Ibru family, a fellow shareholder in TNC, which prompted various parties including Sun International and Nigeria’s Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) to appoint consultants Deloitte to investigate.

Sun International then said in 2016 it planned to exit Nigeria, where some other South African countries - including telecoms operator MTN - have faced problems doing business.

“Deloitte is expected to complete its investigation of the shareholder dispute shortly. Once the Deloitte investigation has been completed, it will pave the way for Sun International to exit its investment in Nigeria,” Sun International said.

The company also said the board of the TCN, which owns and operates the 5-star Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, had been reconstituted, with Nigeria’s SEC appointing two directors.

“The property is sought after given its location so there are potential buyers but Nigeria has been volatile for a while. It starts becoming difficult for investors to have confidence,” said Sun International chief executive officer Anthony Leeming.

Sun International, which also has operations in Latin America, reported diluted adjusted headline earnings per share of 105 cents for the six months to June 30, down from 198 cents in the same period last year, hit by one-off items and a subdued trading environment in South Africa and Chile.

Consumers in South Africa, which contributes 69% to group income, are gambling less as high levels of indebtedness and a recent increase in VAT pressure disposable incomes.

“We have some positive performances such as Times Square (a casino in Pretoria) with some other not performing well, It is going to a be a mixed bag but overall very sluggish growth for the rest of the year,” said Leeming

One-off costs included 12 million rand (US$813 000) of restructuring costs related to the closure of the Sun Nao casino in Colombia.

In March, Sun International announced the closure of loss-making operations, including the Sun Nao and the Fish River Sun casino in South Africa, as well as its International VIP Businesses in both South Africa and Panama.

At 0956 GMT, Sun International’s shares were up 7% at 57.45 rand per share.

-Nampa/Reuters

Six Rundu cops to face hearings in October

0
0
Six Rundu cops to face hearings in OctoberSix Rundu cops to face hearings in October Six Rundu police officers will face disciplinary hearings in October for allegedly failing to respond to desperate pleas for help before the massacre of five family members at the beginning of July.

An internal investigation was launched after allegations surfaced that relatives of the five murder victims had called the police for help.

Multiple calls by the mother and sister of the murder suspect, Jesaya Gabriel Chuhundu (20), were allegedly dismissed by the police, citing a lack of vehicles.

On Sunday, 1 July, Chuhundu allegedly bludgeoned to death his grandmother, Ndongo Ntumba (77); his mother, Ndara Elizabeth Mpande (46); and his three nephews, Musenge Petrus Muruti (6), Hausiku Daniel Kapumburu (4) and Musenge Elias Tjingelesu (3).

The mass murder took place at the Ndama informal settlement at Rundu.

Yesterday, Nampol spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi said disciplinary charges were brought against six police officers – five men and one woman. The proceedings were postponed to October, he said.

He said no further details could be provided for now because of the nature of the internal investigation.

Chuhunda faces five charges of murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act.

He appeared before Magistrate Vivian Ndlovu in July and was refused bail because of the seriousness of the crimes. The case was postponed to 23 November for further investigation and for a mental evaluation of the accused.

In late July, police inspector-general Sebastian Ndeitunga said the findings of the disciplinary hearings would be submitted to him for a decision.

He said he was informed that the Rundu police station had at least three vehicles, but that some or all of those vehicles were “probably attending to other complaints” at the time.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Motorists irked by fuel price hike

0
0
Motorists irked by fuel price hikeMotorists irked by fuel price hike“Ungodly” is how one Windhoek motorist reacted to the news that fuel prices increased by 40 cents a litre at midnight.

The Walvis Bay pump price for petrol is now N$12.95 per litre, for diesel 500 ppm N$13.28 per litre, and for diesel 50 ppm N$13.33.

Namibian Sun took to the streets of Windhoek yesterday to find out how motorists felt about the latest price increase.

“As a result of the fuel price hike, the price of everything must go up at the end of the day. It does not look good and it is not the first time that fuel prices are going up this year,” said Dr Niklaas Fredericks.

“It is ungodly, that is all I can say,” said Frans Basson at the Hochland Park Service Station.

Another motorist, Hamutenya Abraham, said: “It is not nice and I do not feel nice that fuel prices are increasing again. It [fuel price] must come down, we don't have money.”

Taxi driver Hailulu Faustinus said even though taxi fares had increased by 20% last week, the latest fuel price hike would hit the transport sector hard.

Mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo said the government had no option but to raise fuel prices.

“By increasing fuel pump prices, it is not the intention of the government, or petroleum product suppliers, or fuel station owners, to generate more income but to recover the cost already incurred by bulk oil importers to bring fuel to Namibia,” he said.

According to him, the government is still absorbing most of the increases in import costs.

“The full costs will not be passed on to consumers. More than half of each of the products' under-recoveries will be paid by the National Energy Fund to the bulk of oil importers,” he said.

According to him, the ministry studied price movements in the oil industry carefully before announcing fuel price increases.

A service station owner, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the Namibian government was handling the situation well, compared to South Africa. He felt that the increases were fair and said motorists in South Africa were paying much more for fuel.

OGONE TLHAGE

Tourism revenue plunges

0
0
Tourism revenue plungesTourism revenue plungesMore tourists, less spending Spending by international visitors to Namibia has dropped from US$438 million to US$188 million since 2010. Namibia has shown a major increase in international tourism arrivals since 2010, when 984 000 foreign tourists visited in the country, but the amount of money they spend has plunged massively.

In 2010, international tourist receipts earned by Namibia totalled US$438 million, declining to US$307 million in 2016 and further dropping to US$188 million last year.

This is according to the latest edition of Tourism Highlights compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO).

The report says that by 2016, Namibia saw 1.469 million international tourist arrivals. According to the report there was also an increase of 5.8% between 2015 and 2016. However, there was no available data on last year's arrival figures.

Tourist arrivals internationally grew by about 7% last year, according to the report, the highest increase since the 2009 global economic crisis.

Last year's global growth was led by European and African regions, which received arrival increases of 8 and 9%, respectively.

Growth in arrivals was echoed by a strong increase in exports generated by tourism, which reached US$ 1.6 trillion in 2017, making tourism the world's third-largest export sector.

Tourism Highlights 2018 shows that international tourist arrivals reached a total of 1.323 billion in 2017, about 84 million more than the previous year, and a new record.

“The sector has now seen uninterrupted growth in arrivals for eight straight years,” the report said.

Growth was fuelled by the global economic upswing, resulting in strong outbound demand from virtually all source markets.

International tourism receipts increased by 4.9% in real terms to reach US$1.34 trillion in 2017.

In addition, international tourism generated another US$240 billion from international passenger transport services rendered to non-residents. This raised total tourism exports to US$1.6 trillion, or US$4 billion a day, which corresponds to 7% of the world's exports.

“As a worldwide export category, tourism ranks third after chemicals and fuels and ahead of automotive products. In many developing countries, tourism is the top export category.”

Meanwhile, international tourist arrivals to Africa increased by 9% and receipts by 8%, earning US$37 billion for the continent.

Last year 63 million international tourists visited Africa, which is a 5% share of the global market.

With regard to sub-Saharan Africa, strong performance continued in large destinations such as Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritius and Zimbabwe.

The sub-region's top destination, South Africa, reported slower growth in arrivals, although a strong increase in receipts was reported. Island destinations - Seychelles, Cabo Verde and Reunion - all reported double-digit growth in arrivals, benefiting from increased air connectivity.

The report further adds that emerging economies in Asia, central and eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America have shown fast growth over recent years, driven by rising levels of disposable income.

“Europe still remains the world's largest source region for outbound tourism, generating almost half of the world's international arrivals.”

ELLANIE SMIT

Africa briefs

0
0
Africa briefsAfrica briefs Kenya’s petrol dealers strike over new tax

Kenya’s independent petroleum suppliers began an indefinite strike on Monday, demanding the government reverse a widely unpopular 16% value added tax on all petroleum products.

Petrol prices at the pump rose by about 12%, angering many Kenyans who complain of high living costs, after the tax was imposed unexpectedly on Saturday.

“This is in solidarity with all the other Kenyans against the government’s decision. The strike is indefinite until the decision is reversed,” Joseph Karanja, chairman of the Kenya Independent Petroleum Dealers Association, told Reuters.

-Nampa/Reuters

Over US$1bn expected for Lake Chad region

More than US$1 billion in fresh aid will likely be pledged at a conference of donors to the drought-plagued region around Lake Chad, U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said on Monday.

A famine was averted in the region last year largely thanks to international aid, but millions of people in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon were still in dire need of help, Lowcock told reporters on the sidelines of the Berlin conference.

“The crisis is not over. There are still 10 million people who need lifesaving assistance,” he said. “A quarter of the people we are trying to reach are displaced from their homes and the only means of staying alive they have is what is provided by humanitarian organisations.”

-Nampa/Reuters

Nigerian stocks fall to more than one-year low

Nigerian stocks tumbled 2.75% in early trade on Monday to their lowest level in more than a year, dragged down by its biggest listed company, Dangote Cement.

The main share index fell to 33,894 points by 1007 GMT. Dangote Cement, which is majority owned by Aliko Dangote and accounts for more than a third of total market capitalisation, fell more than 7%.

-Nampa/Reuters

Ghana is considering US$50bn century bond

Ghana is considering a century bond worth US$50 billion as part of the West African nation’s plan to secure long-term funding to build critical infrastructure for industrial development, its leader said.

“The Ministry of Finance and economists in Ghana are looking at floating a US$50 billion century bond. This will provide us with the resources to finance our infrastructural and industrial development,” President Nana Akufo-Addo said during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

-Nampa/Reuters

South Africa's rand weaker

South Africa’s rand was more than one percent lower on Monday as global emerging markets remained on the back foot, while stocks were flat in tandem with global markets.

At 1613 GMT the rand was 1.12% weaker at 14.8550 per dollar, after hitting a low of 14.9400.

Turkey triggered a sell-off in emerging market currencies as risk aversion gripped emerging markets.

Turkey’s central bank signalled on Monday it could take action, seen as presaging an interest rate increase at the bank’s next meeting on Sept. 13. Analysts said the central bank may have inadvertently set financial markets up for disappointment if it doesn’t deliver a hefty increase.

-Nampa/Reuters
Viewing all 36395 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images