OYO addresses unanswered issues though art

September 27, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Some Swakopmunders oppose plastic bag ban

≪ Previous: Defence hits back at AG audit

$

0

0

OYO addresses unanswered issues though art The OYO dance troupe, born in 2008, builds on the African concept of storytelling. It tells stories without using words.

It questions issues around gender, discrimination and teenage pregnancy. It appeals to the heart, not the intellect, and encourages people to reflect on the situation presented and how it affects them.

“Trapped investigates feelings when one of the two partners in a relationship doesn't want to be in that relationship,” explains choreographer Philippe Talavera. “Many people question why gender-based violence is so prominent in Namibia. I think it is the wrong approach. The approach should be why are so many people unhappy in their relationships in Namibia? If you are happy with your life, if you love your partner, would you hurt her? No, but if you feel you are in a relationship because you have to, to conform to societal norms, and feel trapped, then, yes,” says Telavera.

Trapped will performed in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on invitation by the Prince Claus Fund and Pantropical. The Prince Claus Fund supports, connects and celebrates artists and cultural practitioners where cultural expression is under pressure, and safeguards cultural heritage where it is under threat. Pantropical is a frenzied club series focusing on rough-edged tropical music, contemporary club music, outré rural folklore, global bass and more. Pantropical balances the new with the trailblazers of old, seeking out authenticity and new movements.

“It is a great honour for OYO and for the three dancers selected,” explains Talavera. “It is a very progressive venue, something we don't often see in Namibia. They will not only have a chance to perform their work but also see the work of others and connect with people around the world. This is extremely exciting,” he said.

The performance will be happening at the same time as the Windhoek International Dance Festival, spearheaded by the College of the Arts, where the rest of the OYO dance troupe will perform.

“Working on Trapped was exciting for me as it caters to a different audience and I could therefore push the dancers beyond their comfort zone. I hope we will be able to also present the piece in Namibia at some stage,” said Talavera.

Staff Reporter

---

Some Swakopmunders oppose plastic bag ban

October 10, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Rand, banking stocks rally as new finance minister announced

≪ Previous: OYO addresses unanswered issues though art

$

0

0

Some Swakopmunders oppose plastic bag ban The idea of doing away with the use of plastic shopping bags has been welcomed by some community members of Swakopmund, however, others are strongly against it, referencing the country's tough economic situation.

The opposing community members stressed that buying environmentally friendly shopping bags would be more expensive and that proper research should be done before implementing this regulation.

“Economic times are tough now; everything [price] including food has gone up, so having to buy our own shopping bags or paying for plastic bags would just add to the burden we are already faced with,” one community member expressed.

This sentiment follows an announcement by Swakopmund municipality health services general manager Clive Lawrence during a community meeting on Monday evening that doing away with plastic bags is the municipality's effort to reduce the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment.

“An awareness campaign will kick off this month and implementation will be promoted until the regulation has been gazetted,” Lawrence noted.

He added that the campaign is to encourage residents and/or visitors to use environment-friendly bags or face levies on the use of plastic bags within the jurisdictional area.

Lawrence added that the termination of plastic bags is a long-term goal, but the current focus will be reducing its use to promote the utilisation of re-usable and biodegradable bags, which are already available in shops.

“This is also an opportunity for small and medium enterprises to take up by making re-usable bags and turning it into a business or a joint venture with the municipality.”

The by-law on the ban plastic bags would be the first for a town in Namibia.

NAMPA

Rand, banking stocks rally as new finance minister announced

October 10, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Africa in brief

≪ Previous: Some Swakopmunders oppose plastic bag ban

$

0

0

Rand, banking stocks rally as new finance minister announcedFormer resigned South Africa’s rand climbed to a session best on Tuesday. The investor community is sad to see minister Nene go but they are also very happy to see Tito Mboweni come in because he is well known and well respected in the investment community- Wayne McCurrie, wealth portfolio manager, FNB The pickup comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed former central bank governor Tito Mboweni as finance minister, a move that soothed markets after days of uncertainty.

At 1622 GMT the rand was 1.24% firmer at 14.6825, a touch softer than the session best of 14.6525 after the decision.

Bank stocks rose 1.19% , as investors welcomed Mboweni’s appointment that eased a week of uncertainty.

Ramaphosa said he received and accepted Nhlanhla Nene’s resignation as finance minister on Tuesday.

Nene faced calls to resign after he admitted visiting the Gupta brothers, friends of scandal-plagued former president Jacob Zuma who have been accused of high-level influence-peddling, and failing to disclose the meetings earlier. Zuma and the Guptas have denied any wrongdoing.

Bonds were also firmer, with the yield on the benchmark paper due in 2026 down 4 basis points 9.22%.

“Tito brings strength to the position. He is not afraid to go up against other ministers and he also understands the importance of fiscal consolidation which is crucial at this moment,” said Nazmeera Moola of Investec.

Moody’s, the last of the top three rating agencies to have Pretoria’s debt at investment grade, is set to release its latest review on Friday.

In the equities market, the Johannesburg all-share index and the Top-40 index struggled to hold on to gains registered immediately after the appointment of Mboweni, despite the rally by banking stocks.

The All-share inched 0.06% lower to 54,187 points and the blue-chip ended the session 0.15% weaker at 47,970 points.

First Rand gained 1.95% to 62.09 rand, while Absa Group rose 1.54% to 148.61 rand. Capitec Bank Holdings firmed 1.44% at 991.38 rand.

“The investor community is sad to see minister Nene go but they are also very happy to see Tito Mboweni come in because he is well known and well respected in the investment community,” FNB Wealth portfolio manager, Wayne McCurrie said.

“The state president has shown that he will act against any indiscretion that impairs the integrity of his appointees in cabinet,” he said.

-Nampa/Reuters

Africa in brief

October 10, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Ancestral land commission gains traction

≪ Previous: Rand, banking stocks rally as new finance minister announced

$

0

0

Africa in brief Buhari asks lawmakers to approve US$2.79 bln Eurobond

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday asked lawmakers to approve the issuance of a US$2.79 billion Eurobond, in a letter read in the upper chamber of parliament.

He said he wanted the Eurobond to be issued in the international capital market for the “implementation of new external borrowing” that had already been approved in the 2018 budget to help finance the budget deficit and to fund infrastructure projects.

-Nampa/Reuters

Ghana reshuffles executives at cocoa industry regulator

Ghana has replaced three deputy chief executives at the cocoa industry regulator, Cocobod, promoting Cocoa Health and Extension director Emmanuel Opoku to the role of deputy chief executive for operations, government sources told Reuters.

Opoku, who had served in the Research, Monitoring and Evaluation unit of Cocobod, replaces Nana Oduro Owusu, whose contract has been terminated, two sources told Reuters.

It is not clear what may have led to Oduro’s removal. “The new appointments took effect from October 1 in a letter issued from the President’s office,” one source said.

Emmanuel Agyemang Dwomoh, head of the Cocoa Research Institute is now deputy chief executive for Agronomy and Quality Control, replacing Yaw Adu-Ampomah, who has been reassigned as advisor to the minister of agriculture.

The President also appointed Emmanuel Ray Ankrah as deputy chief executive for finance and administration to succeed William Mensah, who has retired, the sources said.

-Nampa/Reuters

IMF lowers South Africa's economic growth forecasts

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday cut South Africa’s economic growth forecasts for this year and next, as it urged implementation of reforms to improve policy certainty and the efficiency of state-owned companies.

Having stagnated for a decade, Africa’s most industrialised economy slipped further in the second quarter by entering recession for the first time since 2009. In response, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a plan to shift government expenditure and launch an infrastructure fund.

The IMF now expects South Africa’s economy to expand 0.8%, down from a forecast of 1.5% in July. It is expected to grow 1.4% in 2019, down from a previous estimate of 1.7%, the Fund said in its latest World Economic Outlook report.

-Nampa/Reuters

Ancestral land commission gains traction

October 10, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: SME Bank liquidation appealed

≪ Previous: Africa in brief

$

0

0

Ancestral land commission gains traction OGONE TLHAGE

A commission to deal with the contentious issue of ancestral land claims and restitution is expected to be set up swiftly, after President Hage Geingob asked that the terms of reference be forwarded to his office before the end of next week.

“I will announce in due course a commission that will look into the matter of ancestral land and restitution.

“It is critical that the terms of reference of the commission are well crafted to guide the work of the commission to be focused on the tasks at hand,” Geingob said.

The commission will be headed by a retired judge or eminent person supported by five experts, with secretarial support from the Law Reform and Development Commission (LRDC).

“In this regard, the attorney-general, in consultation with the minister in the presidency, is directed to come up with draft terms of reference, and proposed candidates to be appointed as commissioners. This must be submitted to me by 16 October,” said Geingob.

He instructed that the commission’s work should be evidence-based and enriched by international experience on this matter.

Geingob said on Monday that the issue of ancestral land claims should be studied and discussed further, The Namibian reported.

“We will interrogate this matter extensively to ascertain what legal and policy reforms will help bolster our efforts to give redress to communities which may have been subjected to many injustices, which dispossessed them of both their ancestral land and dignity. The proposal for a commission of inquiry to look at this matter features prominently, and deserves further interrogation,” he was quoted as saying after the country’s second national land conference last week.

According to Geingob, there are constitutional limitations to redressing some of the ancestral land claims, adding that there is a need for an expansive interpretation of the constitution.

“There is also no constitutional limitation on freedom of speech, and I encourage robust debate where the right to freely express oneself is exercised with the duty to respect the rights of others.

“One thing we all agree on is that the pursuit of solutions to this important matter cannot take place at the expense of infringing upon fundamental rights and freedoms contained in the constitution,” Geingob said.

SME Bank liquidation appealed

October 10, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Land conference weapons unacceptable - Ndeitunga

≪ Previous: Ancestral land commission gains traction

$

0

0

SME Bank liquidation appealedPlethora of irregularities claimed The Zimbabwean shareholders of SME Bank say other options should have been considered instead of closing the “tool of upliftment”. CATHERINE SASMAN



The Zimbabwean Metropolitan Bank and World Eagle Properties have appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn the High Court order that placed the looted SME Bank in liquidation.

The two entities claim there was a “cumulative effect” of irregularities, non-compliances and abuses of Bank of Namibia (BoN) procedures in the process of placing the SME Bank in liquidation.

The legal representatives for MetBank and World Eagle, Sisa Namandje and advocate Anthony Bishop, argued that the provisions of the Banking Institutions Act, as well as relevant provisions of the Companies Act, were neither interpreted by the High Court nor applied by the BoN.

They claimed the BoN had “elevated” the operation of the Companies Act and the Banking Institutions Act to a position superior to that of the Namibian constitution, and thereby failed to pay sufficient attention to constitutional imperatives.

They said the SME Bank’s liquidation cannot be viewed as “ordinary” because the bank was created as a “tool of upliftment” for the previously disadvantaged and was aimed at raising the living standards of Namibians.

Therefore, MetBank and World Eagle Properties - minority shareholders in the SME Bank - stated that no liquidation order ought to have been given.

They argued that a liquidation order should only have been brought by the SME Bank itself, one or more creditors or members or the Master of the High Court.

Alternatively, they said, the SME Bank should have been placed under provisional judicial management and that the Namibian government, which has a 65% shareholding, should have explained why an order for the recapitalisation of the bank was not possible or viable.

Alleged non-compliances

Namandje and Bishop said there were various prejudicial non-compliances in terms of the Companies Act, which they said were wrongfully rejected by the High Court.

They said the application for the final liquidation was first lodged with the Master of the High Court before it was issued to the registrar of that court, saying this meant that the entire High Court application was a nullity.

They also said the liquidators of the SME Bank, David Bruni and Ian McLaren, had not been properly appointed, and the BoN had run roughshod over provisions of the Banking Institutions Act too.

They added that when the liquidators were appointed the BoN had failed to designate a banking expert to assist them, and that all decisions taken by Bruni and McLaren were therefore invalid.

The appeal was heard by judges Sylvester Mainga, Dave Smuts and Elton Hoff on Tuesday.

Land conference weapons unacceptable - Ndeitunga

October 10, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: It will be the end of the road

≪ Previous: SME Bank liquidation appealed

$

0

0

Land conference weapons unacceptable - Ndeitunga The police chief, Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga, yesterday praised the work of his officers at the second national land conference, where close to 50 weapons ranging from a shotgun to knives were confiscated.

Ndeitunga said 14 pistols, one hunting rifle, a shotgun, two pangas, 26 knives, three traditional knives and one can of pepper spray were intercepted during last week's five-day conference.

He warned that those carrying weapons to the next peaceful public gathering would not get their weapons back.

“This is unacceptable. It is incomprehensible for people to go to a conference armed, especially with high-profile dignitaries in attendance. We are not saying they had any intention of doing anything, but we simply cannot allow this.”

Ndeitunga praised the police officers for their “duty and vigilance” and said they should continue their hard work.

The licensed firearms were kept for the duration of the conference and returned to their owners after the event. One firearm was found to be unlicensed and was not returned. Ndeitunga said the intentions of these weapon-carrying participants were not known.

“In this respect, we would like to inform the nation that at any event, assembly or gathering, no weapons are allowed to be carried or possessed by public members,” he cautioned.



Be respectful

Ndeitunga took further aim at what he described as disrespectful behaviour, including hate speech and insults, by some participants in a protest against the land conference at the start of proceedings last week.

“This is not acceptable in a democracy. You are allowed to criticise leaders and the system, but do it responsibly. Being a law-abiding citizen means you are accountable and respectful. Democracy does not mean chaos, it does not mean anarchy.”

He emphasised that he is not against “people criticising those they voted into power, but we should do it in a constructive and respectful and educative way”.

He said some of the 100 demonstrators used the peaceful occasion as a platform to incite hate speech and insult leaders and elders.

“We know people are frustrated, but we should use public platforms in a responsible way. Because when you are a public figure, how you articulate yourself on the issues needs to be done responsibly. You are listened to by children, by university students, who are going to be our leaders of tomorrow.”

The demonstration was led and attended by various pressure groups, political parties and leaders and civil society organisations, who dismissed the land conference as a sham. Ndeitunga said criticism of leaders is part and parcel of democracy, but added that such criticism comes with responsibility and accountability.

“It should be in the interest of the nation and of people, and not based on individual interests. It should educate people.”



Public menace

Ndeitunga also warned the so-called struggle kids to stop blocking roads with stones or throwing them at motorists, who he said are not linked to their issues.

“They are causing an inconvenience to people who have nothing to do with their problems. This is unacceptable. We are not saying they don't have a genuine case or genuine problems, but don't take out your frustrations on people who have nothing to do with those frustrations.”

Ndeitunga emphasised that the group should address their problems in a responsible way, and immediately stop putting the lives of others in danger.

He said the police have repeatedly warned the group and are continuously removing individuals or rocks from roads, but it cannot continue. He said complaints are increasingly pouring into police quarters from residents of the Brakwater area, who have reported harassment, rocks in the road and fires allegedly started by the struggle kids.

JANA-MARI SMITH

It will be the end of the road

October 10, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Students advocate for consumer rights

≪ Previous: Land conference weapons unacceptable - Ndeitunga

$

0

0

It will be the end of the road The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has announced that for some years now, they have raised their security concerns with local authorities, but to date nothing has been done.

If Namibia fails this security audit, every single airport in the country fails because the airspace of Namibia fails.

By implication, international airlines currently landing at Hosea Kutako, bringing tourists with foreign currency, will no longer fly to Windhoek or anywhere else for that matter. Air Namibia will no longer be able to fly to international destinations, save maybe for Angola and countries like Mozambique, who too have no ICAO rating.

The consequences of this will be catastrophic for the country.

It is said that at Tuesday's high-level emergency meeting, neither Air Namibia nor the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) were present.

We simply cannot afford this type of lackadaisical attitude towards our tourism industry, which in these tough times is the only industry that is still performing. Thousands of jobs will be lost. Our smaller lodges, and possibly some bigger ones, will collapse. Our conservancies, who rely on international trophy hunters, will collapse. In fact, our entire hunting industry will collapse.

Do we really understand the repercussions of failing this security audit?

Yes, we can withdraw as a signatory and member country, but this will help us nothing. Zip. Nada.

Jobs, related, direct and induced, stand at roughly 102 000 in the tourism industry. If we work on an average of eight to ten dependents per wage earner, we are looking at a lot of people.

Tourism is one of those golden geese. Other countries, those richer than us, want to come and see our open spaces and animals. They bring forex - lots of it. They buy souvenirs, they eat and they travel. They tell others.

They fly here.

In 2018, tourism contributed 3% of total GDP directly, and the total contribution towards GDP is 14%. This is according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Can we honestly afford to lose that?

---

Students advocate for consumer rights

October 10, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Mboweni’s appointment: Namibia’s baby

≪ Previous: It will be the end of the road

$

0

0

Students advocate for consumer rights NDAMA NAKASHOLE

A group of final-year law students at the University of Namibia (Unam) find it worrying that Namibia does not have a consumer rights law in place and that customer is not king in Namibia.

As a result, Lon Fuller Associates, which is a group of 15 final-year law students, hosted a consumer rights seminar on 29 September.

In an interview with Market Watch last week, the group’s spokesperson, Michael Hamukwaya, said they had noted with great concern that because of the absence of this law, local consumers are taken advantage of.

They gave an example of an investigative article done in South Africa where companies produce items such as honey with misleading labels creating the impression that the honey is 100% pure.

“Imagine being in Namibia and you are buying this with an impression it’s 100% natural as some people use it for medication… in the absence of a consumer protection Act, it is bad for the consumer. However, South Africa is different because there they have a consumer protection Act,” he said.

According to him, consumers in Namibia can’t stand up for their rights without legal recourse and because of this, one always has to go to the Namibian constitution.

“If you bought that from a supermarket, you must be able to hold them accountable. Where else can you go?” he said.

Because of this, the students brought to the seminar officials from different industry regulators and invited members of the public to engage with them.

Hamukwaya said although there are regulating bodies such as communications regulator CRAN, Namibia does not have a unified consumer protection Act.

“Some organisations such as CRAN …a consumer can approach them if MTC does not satisfy them. They first have to approach MTC. They are more of the mother body. Same with the banking sector, where a consumer first have to approach the bank and if the bank does not help, then they have to approach the central bank,” he said.

He also said that the ombudsman has a huge role to play. The Namibian Standards Institution (NSI) is another big player in the consumer rights segment.

“There are still things that we can do while we are waiting for an Act,” he said, adding that the information they got from the trade ministry is that the consumer protection policy is with parliament.

For a good cause

As part of their final-year project, the Unam law students were divided into groups and instructed to carry out a project that focuses on giving legal assistance to the community.

“Anywhere where we can impact the community in a legal way,” said Karin, another group member.

“We have decided to go for consumer rights. As a consumer you have several rights that are supposed to be accorded to you,” she said.

According to her, they chose this route after watching a South African investigative report on companies mislabelling products as pure honey.

“The concern in Namibia is that we don’t have an Act in place that protects a consumer from those types of things. We want to see why the government has not come up with an Act,” she said.

Hamukwaya said a consumer rights Act is as important as a labour Act.

“Imagine having to work in a country which does not have a labour Act,” he said.

Data

In a few weeks’ time, the group will release the results of a survey they carried out as part of their project.

The group set up stands at Unam, China Town and Khomas Grove Mall where they asked consumers questions.

“A while ago I met someone who said they bought a machine at China Town and when they got home it was not working and when they took it back the following day, they were apparently told that it was none of the seller’s business,” Karin said.

“That is why we hose China Town as one of the places where we could place our stand to hand out questionnaires,” she added.

The questions included whether the consumer knows where to go in case their consumer rights have been violated and whether they are aware of their consumer rights.

Giving back

The project was made possible by an FNB cash donation of N$5 000, a PPS cash donation of N$2 000, and a TV set from Lewis furnishers. The Western Suburbs rugby club let them host the seminar in its hall for free.

Using the remaining funds, the group donated two pallets of bricks to Upliftment Project Namibia (UPN), an organisation aiming to improve the standard of early childhood education in impoverished communities.

Through UPN, the bricks were donated to United Hope for Development Pre-Primary School in Havana, Katutura.

Mboweni’s appointment: Namibia’s baby

October 10, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: 'I want my baby's bones'

≪ Previous: Students advocate for consumer rights

$

0

0

Mboweni’s appointment: Namibia’s babyLocal analysts weigh in The appointment of a new finance minister in South Africa was received positively by the economy of Namibia too but external effects remain a major factor to look at. Any positive changes or improvement in economic growth in South Africa will be of benefit to the Namibian economy- PSG Namibia NDAMA NAKASHOLE

At this stage, the strength of the rand is highly influenced by South African politics and the perception of its economic stability by local and foreign investors.

Also, the Namibian dollar’s one-to-one peg with the rand means that the local economy is directly affected by changes in perceptions of the South African economy.

These were some of the comments made by PSG Namibia yesterday in reaction to new developments in South Africa, where the finance minister was replaced by a former central banker on Tuesday evening.

After the news broke of Nhlanhla Nene handing in his resignation letter on Tuesday following confessions of links to state capture, the rand fell to below 15.00 to the US dollar.

Later in the evening, Ramaphosa said he had accepted Nene’s resignation and the rand recovered to 14.75 following the appointment of Tito Mboweni, a former central bank governor.

The Namibian economy and government income are dependent on the state of the South African economy, through SACU revenues and others, PSG emphasised in its commentary.

“Any positive changes or improvement in economic growth in South Africa will be of benefit to the Namibian economy,” the firm said, adding that a drive by President Ramaphosa to fix the South African economy and clean up his government would assist a recovery in the Namibian economy.

PSG added: “The South African rand is influenced by perceptions of the government’s reliability and potential to spur economic growth and when perceptions are positive, then investor, business, and consumer confidence in South Africa should rise, strengthening the rand.”

PSG said even though the rand’s initial reaction to the South African finance minister swap was a positive one, its strength soon dissipated also owing to several external factors.

SA economics

According to PSG Namibia, emerging markets are not in favour at this time in a general sense, given global economic growth and political uncertainty. Ramaphosa is taking the necessary steps to prove that he is serious about ‘cleaning up’ his cabinet from corrupt individuals, but the relief from this move yesterday was short-lived, the firm further said.

“Markets reacted positively to the news of Tito’s appointment, with the rand and the banks rallying as the news broke. Be that as it may, Tito’s appointment is no panacea for the economy’s challenges.”

It will take longer for the president’s plays to speak for themselves, it said.

“SOEs remain a major risk and require urgent action, while fiscal constraints restrain ability to stimulate the economy. Tito (Mboweni) needs to ensure that government spending remains well managed and that SOEs are better managed and convince locals and foreigners that he is capable of this,” PSG further said.

Confidence

A local economist and analyst at Cirrus Capital, Dylan van Wyk, yesterday said the fact that the rand picked up was an indication of confidence in new finance minister Mboweni.

“In my opinion this is an indication that the appointment of the former South African Reserve Bank governor reflects confidence in the new minister, who is a veteran in financial affairs,” Van Wyk said.

Mboweni has been in the private sector for nearly a decade since his departure from the SA Reserve Bank, and according to Van Wyk, this “makes it likely that he would not be prone to linkages to state capture”.

“He is 59 years old, which means he is still young enough to serve beyond the next elections,” he added.

Unlike Nene’s previous replacement, Mboweni might actually serve a full term as finance minister, Van Wyk said.

In her commentary yesterday, Standard Bank Namibia economist Naufiku Hamunime yesterday said: “With SA growth prospects having been revised downwards by both the World Bank and the IMF - on the back of a poor performance in the agriculture sector and rising inflation, the new finance minister’s most important immediate task will be to reassure markets and credit rating agencies that the country is committed to fiscal discipline when he presents the medium-term budget statement on October 24.”

'I want my baby's bones'

October 10, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Aviation safety in shambles

≪ Previous: Mboweni’s appointment: Namibia’s baby

$

0

0

'I want my baby's bones'Exhumed body sparks fear An open grave is causing fear and tension in the Ondonga community while the police wait for DNA results to confirm the identity of the exhumed remains. The community of Ondonga is shocked by the exhumation of a child's body that was buried over 18 years ago, after the deceased child's father turned up claiming that there had been foul play and his child was still alive.

The police say the results of a DNA test to confirm the dead child's parentage is still pending. In the meantime the grave remains open - a situation that is upsetting and causing fear among the family and the entire Ondonga community because of their traditional beliefs.

The family spokesperson, Fillip Nghidengwa, told Namibian Sun that in February 2000 at his house in Windhoek, his niece Cornelia Weyulu gave her child, Johannes Tuhafeni (3) to her aunt, Ndahambelela Namatwi, to take care of because the mother was job hunting and it was difficult to do it with the baby.

Namatwi took the child to her village at Eyambeko in the Onkumbula area of the Oshikoto Region. In June that year the baby fell ill and died.

Because of the remoteness of the area, the baby was buried the following day without a death certificate.

“That day when the child fell ill, it was a Sunday and plans were to take him either to Onamishu or Onkumbula clinics, which are all situated about 15 to 20 kilometres away. Clinics do not operate during weekends or after hours. Later at night the child got a high fever and unfortunately he died,” explained Nghidengwa.





“During those years it was hard to get a vehicle in those areas and one has to travel to Omuthiya for all services such as making phone calls. That night we informed the village headman, who advised us to bury the body the following day. No death certificate was issued.”

Nghidengwa said the next day two people were sent to Omuthiya to make phone calls to inform people in Windhoek of the sad news. He said the two were sent early in the morning but only reached Omuthiya around 15:00.

“People from Windhoek went to the north for mourning, including the child's mother and the grandmother [father's mother]. The father did not go, but he was in Windhoek at the time,” he said.

In April this year the father, Johannes Hamukoto, turned up claiming that the child was not dead and that there had been foul play.

He approached the Omuthiya police station for the body to be exhumed and a DNA test to be conducted. The body was exhumed on 18 April.

“It is now seven months since the body was exhumed and that grave is still open. We are now getting pressure from the traditional authority asking what we are going to do with the grave that is still open, which they claim is taboo,” Nghidengwa added.

Hamukoto refused to comment. The Oshikoto regional police commander, Commissioner Armas Shivute, told Namibian Sun that the situation was complicated and he did not have much to say.

“The complainant [Hamukoto] has not received the DNA outcome yet,” said Shivute.

Eyambeko village is situated in the Amuteya District of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, and according to Vilho Kamanya, the dismissed traditional leader of Amuteya, Nghindengwa approached him regarding the pressure he is getting from the traditional leaders.

“I advised him to follow up with the police as to how far the investigation is. Traditionally it is a taboo when a grave ... is opened; it is associated with more deaths in the community,” Kamanya said.

Nghidengwa has now approached the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority to help them trace the Hamukoto family regarding the open grave.



ILENI NANDJATO

Aviation safety in shambles

October 10, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Former ambassador under fire for cultural 'taboo'

≪ Previous: 'I want my baby's bones'

$

0

0

Aviation safety in shambles International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO officials have made it clear that as things stand, the Namibian aviation industry in general, and not just Hosea Kutako International Airport, fails to meet international safety standards.

They say a list of concerns was repeatedly submitted, but over the years there has been no progress or action from the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) and government agencies such as immigration control and the police, who are managing the passenger screening at the airport.

An emergency cabinet meeting was called on Tuesday to discuss the matter and what action needs to be taken. Should Namibia fail to meet international aviation safety standards it would be detrimental to the country, and particularly the tourism industry, as its airspace would be regarded as unsafe.

This was revealed during an urgent high-level meeting organised by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (Fenata) after serious concerns were raised that Hosea Kutako may fail an international security audit. Tuesday's meeting was attended by representatives of the tourism industry, government officials and ICAO experts. ICAO will conduct a security audit at Hosea Kutako in November.





According to a statement issued by the chairman of Fenata, Bernd Schneider, and co-signed by AOPA, the dire situation Namibia finds itself in can be blamed on the NAC's lack of action over the years.

Schneider said even though all efforts were made to ensure the participation of the NCA and Air Namibia at the meeting, neither was present.

Schneider explained that the ICAO officials visited Namibia to ensure that the country complies with international aviation safety and security standards.

“Failure to comply with these standards will result in the Namibian airspace being deemed unsafe for international travel. The direct and immediate consequence of such a finding is that international airlines such as Qatar airways or KLM will no longer fly to Namibia and at the same time the national airline in all likelihood will be prohibited to fly to international destinations,” the statement reads.

According to Schneider ICAO officials made it clear at the meeting that Namibia in general, and not only the airport, would fail the required safety standards.

Many of the existing shortcomings were highlighted during the last audit three years ago, when Hosea Kutako Airport was downgraded because of concerns about its firefighting capacity.

Schneider says many of the concerns have not been addressed since then, even though clear guidelines were given on how to ensure compliance with international aviation safety standards and regulations.

“The complete failure to address the concerns raised and the total inaction, especially from the NAC, has prompted ICAO officials to set a deadline as to when clear progress has to be demonstrated.” According to Schneider failure to meet this deadline, which is set for the end of November, would result in a non-compliance report from ICAO officials.

“This will have catastrophic and far-reaching consequences not only for the tourism industry, but for the entire Namibian economy. Non-compliance will also have the effect that all airports in Namibia will be affected, not only Hosea Kutako International Airport.”

Schneider says the ICAO officials made it clear that aviation safety should not be a once-off effort to pass an upcoming audit, but needs to be continuous.

On the positive side, the ICAO officials mentioned that many of the concerns raised can be easily rectified.

According to him the deadline implies that clear and visible progress must be made to ensure aviation safety in the long term. He says many of the shortcomings cannot be fixed within a couple of weeks, but it would be seen as a clear sign of commitment to aviation safety if some action was taken before the deadline.

“This is something that has not happened in the last few years,” he points out.

Schneider says upon receiving the news of the possibly disastrous outcome of the upcoming safety audit, Fenata last week made the government aware of the looming crisis.

This resulted in immediate action, with the cabinet discussing the matter at an emergency meeting on Tuesday.

“We call on the NAC to immediately and without delay address the well-documented concerns and recommendations by the ICAO experts and to ensure that Namibia remains accessible to and from international destinations,” Schneider says.

He says the Namibian tourism sector, represented by Fenata and AOPA, will work closely with the government to avert this looming crisis.

“We will continue to act as watchdogs and will act immediately and decisively to ensure that Namibians as well as any visitors to Namibia can rely on the fact that Namibia adheres to and complies with general safety and security standards at the highest level and remains a generally safe destination.”

The NAC is holding an airport security exercise today at Hosea Kutako. This exercise will involve various agencies such as the airlines, the police and several emergency services.

ELLANIE SMIT

Former ambassador under fire for cultural 'taboo'

October 10, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: More oil hopes dashed

≪ Previous: Aviation safety in shambles

$

0

0

Former ambassador under fire for cultural 'taboo' Onamutayi headman and former diplomat Nicky Nashandi says he is on the warpath against those who have illegally settled in the village.

He caused a stir on Saturday when he destroyed Paulus Ndakalako's homestead at Onamutayi, situated near Onamutenya in Oshikoto's Omuntele constituency.

He claimed this was to teach all land grabbers a lesson.

Nashandi, who represented Swapo in Libya between 1977 and 1989, and was also entrusted by the government with various diplomatic interventions in SADC and elsewhere, accused Ndakalako of being an illegal settler who came to the village in 2011.

According to Ndakalako, who resides in Windhoek, said his caretaker, Jason David, informed him that Nashandi had demolished his house on Saturday.





Ndakalako said when Nashandi was appointed as headman a years ago, his homestead was already established.

“Nashandi came here on Saturday morning when we just woke up. He came with a team of five guys, who started demolishing the homestead and throwing our belongings away,” David said.

“I did not interrupt and I told them to do whatever they want. I went to report the matter to his assistant for help.”

Ndakalako said he was shocked.

He said after he got married, he established the homestead and traditional rituals were performed.

“I did not expect that it would be destroyed in such a way. I decided to put in leave just to go see for myself what had happened. I am very shocked and at the moment I am in consultation with my parents about what should be done,” Ndakalako said.

When contacted for comment, Nashandi confirmed that he demolished the house because it was illegal.

“I wrote them a letter last year in September informing them that the place they are settled at belongs to somebody else and they must vacate it. They could not be bothered and they ignored me.”

Nashandi also claimed that Ndakalako's caretaker was reported recently in connection with an alleged stolen cow, “which just added fuel to the already burning fire”.

“Recently, the rightful owner of the place called me and said he is ready to come and settle on his land. I informed them, but still they could not bother. This is an indication that they are not law-abiding citizens and that irked me to take the action of demolishing their house.”

Nashandi said before he took action, he reported the matter to Kodhi Amoomo, the sub-senior headman for the Onethika district, under the Ondonga Traditional Authority.

Amoomo, however, refuted Nashandi claims, saying he never reported such a matter to him.

“I am disappointed by Nashandi's actions. When this was reported to me on Saturday I thought it was a joke. On Monday I was told to go to see for myself and I asked the police and regional councillor to go assist me. I could not believe what I found here,” Amoomo said.

“As a leader, one could not do this. Traditionally, an established homestead cannot be demolished. What Nashandi has done is taboo. I called him to come and explain to me, but he told me that he was very far, but I am still waiting to hear from him.”

Amoomo said once he meets with Nashandi, he will prepare a report for the traditional authority.

Omuntele police officers, who were on the scene, also wrote a report on the incident.

Ndakalako said after he obtained advice from his elders, he would decide what steps to take against Nashandi.

“This is money lost and vandalism of property. What he has done indicates that he is not afraid of anything and can take whatever comes (his way).”

ILENI NANDJATO

More oil hopes dashed

October 11, 2018, 12:34 am

≫ Next: Fuel, taxi fare hikes cause inflation speed-wobble

≪ Previous: Former ambassador under fire for cultural 'taboo'

$

0

0

More oil hopes dashed Chariot Oil & Gas Limited, the Atlantic margins focused oil and gas exploration company, will plug and abandon the well drilled in Prospect S offshore Namibia after no hydrocarbon accumulation was encountered in the well.
“Whilst very disappointing that we have not established a hydrocarbon accumulation in the prospect, we have learnt valuable information about the reservoir potential of these turbidite systems which form the primary targets across many of the prospects within the Central Blocks portfolio,” Chariot CEO Larry Bottomley said in a statement this morning.
“The well has been safely drilled to a total measured depth of 4,165m to test the stacked targets in Prospect S. The well penetrated the anticipated turbidite reservoir sands, in line with the pre-drill prognosis, however the reservoirs were water-bearing. The data collected will be used to calibrate the existing data sets to understand the implications of the well results on the prospectivity of the surrounding area,” Chariot said.
Chariot is the operator of the Central Blocks licence offshore Namibia. It has a 65% interest, followed by AziNam with 20%, Namcor with 10% and Ignitus with 5%.
The news comes shortly after Tullow Oil said it encountered non-commercial hydrocarbons in its Cormorant-1 exploration well in the PEL-37 licence offshore Namibia, which was subsequently plugged and abandoned.

Fuel, taxi fare hikes cause inflation speed-wobble

October 11, 2018, 4:59 am

≫ Next: Leake Hangala new NAC board chair

≪ Previous: More oil hopes dashed

$

0

0

Fuel, taxi fare hikes cause inflation speed-wobble The increases in fuel prices and taxi fares caused overall transport inflation to spike to 12.9% last month, the latest figures by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) shows.
It also resulted in average annual inflation rising from 4.4% in August to 4.8% in September. Overall inflation is still lower than the 5.6% of September 2017.
Overall transport inflation was 9.7% in August and 3.9% last September.

---

Leake Hangala new NAC board chair

October 11, 2018, 8:14 am

≫ Next: Simon back in action

≪ Previous: Fuel, taxi fare hikes cause inflation speed-wobble

$

0

0

Leake Hangala new NAC board chair Transport minister John Mutorwa has announced changes to the board of directors of the Namibia Airports Company (NAC). In a statement this afternoon, Mutorwa named Dr Leake Hangala as the board chair, with Advocate Irene Visser as Leake's deputy. Rudoph Rittman, Grace Muhamed and Ipupa Kasheeta were named as three board members by the minister.
"The terms of office of the NAC board chair and vice-chair take effect from 11 October 2018 and shall officially come to an end on 1 August 2019.
Mutorwa undertook to schedule a press conference as soon "as is practically possible" to supply information on the ICAO audit of the country's avaition security, the recruitment of a CEO for the NAC, the legal matter regarding Ondangwa Airport contract, Walvis Bay's renovated facilities and plans with regards a planned airport for Rundu.
STAFF REPORTER

Simon back in action

October 11, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Warriors feel Afcon heat

≪ Previous: Leake Hangala new NAC board chair

$

0

0

Simon back in action Undefeated boxer Harry Simon is set to return to the ring when Onkugo Boxing Promotions hosts a tournament on 24 November in the capital.

The Namibian will face Tanzanian pugilist Kaminja Ramadhani Shabani in a catch-weight fight over eight rounds.

Simon was due to fight Vikapita Meroro at the end of June, but their fight failed once again to materialise.

A few years ago, it was announced that Simon and Meroro had been offered a lucrative deal by MTC to trade blows in the ring, but for unknown reasons that fight also never happened.

Owned by Harry Simon, the upcoming tournament will see boxers pitted against each other at the Ramatex complex, including some young up-and-coming pugilists.

There will be eight bouts on the night and the promoters have promised fireworks.

Albino 'Danny Boy' Felisianu will square off against Malawian Limbani Chipaka in a super lightweight fight over ten rounds in the main supporting bout.

General tickets are selling for N$100, while VIP tickets cost N$300.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Warriors feel Afcon heat

October 11, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: 28 players for netball training camp

≪ Previous: Simon back in action

$

0

0

Warriors feel Afcon heatZambia ups pressure in qualification battle The home and away matches against Mozambique have become critical, as the Brave Warriors fall behind in the race to Afcon 2019. The Brave Warriors have to deliver the goods when they clash with Mozambique away on Saturday, after Zambia sailed past Guinea-Bissau via a 2-1 victory on Wednesday in Lusaka.

Zambia's Afcon qualification Group K victory means the Brave Warriors, who are currently languishing at the bottom of the group, need to get some points on Saturday, before hosting Mozambique the following weekend in the return clash.

Mozambique tops Group K on four points from two games, ahead of Zambia and Guinea-Bissau, who are on the same points but with an inferior goal difference.

Namibia boasts one point after two clashes.

It has become do-or-die for the Namibians, as their Afcon campaign now depends on them winning as many of their remaining matches as possible.

The Warriors started off with a 0-1 loss against Guinea Bissau on 10 June in Bissau.

They then played to a 1-1 draw against Zambia at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on 8 September.

This was a match they could easily have won, were it not for the fitness levels of the players.

The team has held a camp in South Africa for four days and was expected to travel to Maputo yesterday.

When the training squad was announced a week ago, head coach Ricardo Mannetti implored the players to work on their mental fitness and to own the game.

“We have depth and talent, but I just want the players to set their minds right and be up for the game.”

He also stressed the fact that the home side has not enjoyed satisfying away results in the past and that the players need to work harder than the home team if we want to win.

“We have a target, and that is to beat Mozambique away and at home, and then to also beat Guinea Bissau. That is our job,” he emphasised.

Namibia's final home game will be against Guinea Bissau on 16 November and thereafter they will visit Zambia on 22 March 2019.

The group winner and the runner-up will qualify for the 32nd edition of the Total African Cup of Nations to be played in Cameroon from 15 June to 13 July 2019.



The Brave Warriors squad:

Maximillian Mbaeva (Golden Arrows), Virgil Vries (Kaizer Chiefs), Lloyd Kazapua (Macabbi), Larry Horaeb (unattached), Emilio Martin (Black Africa), Tiberius Lombard (Lusaka Dynamos), Charles Hambira (Baroka), Denzil Haoseb (Highlands Park), Vitapi Ngaruka (Black Africa), Riaan Hanamub (Jomo Cosmos), Ananias Gebhardt (Baroka), Dynamo Fredericks (Black Africa), Petrus Shitembi (unattached), Ronald Ketjijere (African Stars), Wangu Batista Gome (Cape Umoya), Immanuel Heita (Black Africa), Absalom Iimbondi (Tigers), Deon Hotto (Bidvest Wits), Willy Stephanus (AC Kajaani, Finland), Marcel Papama (Unam), Muna Katupose (Unam), Sadney Urikhob (unattached) and Benson Shilongo (Smouha, Egypt).

LIMBA MUPETAMI

28 players for netball training camp

October 11, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Ridhwan wants revenge

≪ Previous: Warriors feel Afcon heat

$

0

0

28 players for netball training camp Netball Namibia (NN) has called up 28 players for a training camp, in order to prepare for the Diamond Challenge test series that will take place in South Africa from 26 November to 2 December.

Namibia, hosts South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe will compete for top honours in the competition.

Netball South Africa said a statement the competition is aimed at promoting netball on the African continent, with a special focus on better performances at the 2019 Netball World Cup.

The first competition of this nature was held in South Africa in 2012, when the hosts clashed with, Malawi, Botswana and Tanzania.

This year's games will be played at Ngoako Ramahlodi Indoor Sports Centre in Polokwane, Limpopo.



The training squad is as follows:

Jaumbuaije Zauana, Vendjihonga Katjaimo, Anna Kaspar, Vijandamuje Kamberipa, Selma Bittler, Imbileni Shuweninawa, Mellisa Neis, Diana Tjejamba, Cherlyn Muesee, Uahengisa Tjozongoro, Uzuvira Uatjiua, Dorkas Tjipetekera, Cathline Tjihero, Jessica Nandova, Rose Kotjipati, Ghola Uaongora, Lynette Kozosi, Selma Shikukumwa, Joanita Kaure, Evarista Haufiku, Theresia Hausiku, Kaviao Marenga, Diana George, Jessica Kuzatjike, Chaa Kavari, Anna Shipanga, Teveni Shirleen and Globine Majova.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Ridhwan wants revenge

October 11, 2018, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Hengombe joins Tigers

≪ Previous: 28 players for netball training camp

$

0

0

Ridhwan wants revengeDefeated boxer seeks featherweight rematch with Ambunda The Ambunda camp will wait and see what offer the Singapore boxer comes up with, in terms of a rematch in the featherweight division. Singapore boxer Muhamad 'Chosen Wan' Ridhwan, who is still smarting from losing his IBO super bantamweight title to Paulus 'El Jesus' Ambunda in his own backyard on 29 September, now wants the Namibian to fight him for a vacant featherweight world title.

The formerly undefeated Ridhwan is calling out Ambunda, following his split-decision loss.

Ambunda (38) clinched the IBO title after two of the three judges scored the fight against Ridhwan in his favour.

Ridhwan now claims he has learnt that his body was not able to function 100% at super bantamweight level.

“So for the rematch to happen, it will have to be at featherweight, but I'm not sure if Ambunda's team will want to explore that option,” Ridhwan said during an exclusive interview with Namibian Sun.

“I don't mean to take anything away from Paulus. He was the better man that night. He is a good fighter with a warrior fighting style, coming forward relentlessly. I'm sure he thought I would crumble in the later rounds but I didn't.

“He knows there were plenty of shots that he missed when on the inside. If the fight happens again, I will use my legs a bit more to box and in the later rounds use my strength to slowly push him and make him fight going backwards,” Ridhwan said.

He, however, congratulated Ambunda's team.

“Much respect to them for earning the victory.”

Ambunda's trainer and promoter from the AC Boxing and Fitness Academy, Immanuel 'Imms' Moses, said they will not be entertaining Ridhwan at this stage.

“Ridhwan was already competing in the featherweight division and moved to bantamweight. It might be that his trainer noticed something and brought him to bantamweight. At the moment his need to change divisions will not do him any good,” Moses said.

However, Moses added he will wait and see what offer Ridhwan's camp comes up with.

“If it is beneficial to us, we will consider it and still beat him, but right now Ambunda is comfortable at bantamweight. But if Ridhwan is serious, there are guys in my camp who I can offer him - Sakaria 'Desert Storm' Lukas to be precise. He is a featherweight,” Moses said boldly.



LIMBA MUPETAMI