Namibian Sun

There appears to be no end in sight to the many and deep-seated problems at the heart of Namibia's public healthcare sector.

It goes without saying that there are so many challenges, on many different levels, which continue to haunt the country's health system, to the detriment of those who are yearning for proper care and infrastructure. When former President Hifikepunye Pohamba instituted a presidential inquiry into the public health sector, a potpourri of issues were uncovered, including the negative attitudes of nurses, doctors and other hospital staff, as well as the shortage of medicine and equipment that are essential for prevention, diagnosis and the treatment of patients. Despite recognising this crisis, government is still finding it difficult to ensure that procurement and maintenance plans for medical supplies and equipment are effectively developed and implemented. The situation at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital is depressing - to the say the least. Namibian Sun reported last week that many diagnostic machines at the northern facility are out of order and red tape has been blamed for delaying their replacement or repair. Equipment at the only referral hospital catering to patients from all the northern regions and southern Angola, is overused because of the high demand for health services. In Windhoek, the situation is no different, as The Namibian recently reported that over 60 cancer patients had to be turned away at both the Katutura and Windhoek Central hospitals, after radiation machines at the institutions broke down. For far too long, negative attention has overwhelmed the provision of public healthcare in this country. Obviously government budget cuts had a huge impact on the operations of many ministries, including health, but in our bid to save millions, hospitals should not be allowed to make do with second-grade resources. It is disheartening to see nurses working at public district and state hospitals with a critical shortage of medical equipment. How do we expect quality nursing care if perennial governance issues are allowed to rear their ugly heads all the time?

Taking Namfisa to new and better heightsMotinga strengthens supervisory regime Erna Motinga has a proven executive management track record with over 20 years of experience.

Octavia Tsibes

As the deputy CEO of prudential supervision at the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa), Erna Motinga is responsible for strengthening its supervisory regime and prudential requirements for the financial services sector.

This is aimed at protecting users of financial services, as well as the deepening of financial markets.

Motinga has a proven executive management track record with over 20 years of experience in the financial services sector.

Prior to joining Namfisa in 2013, she served as a managing member of Nascent Capital Investments CC, an independent investment, consulting and financial advisory corporation, primarily responsible for financial and investment advisory services.

In 2006, she was appointed as an investment analyst at Allan Gray Namibia, where she was an advisor on equity analysis and fixed income investments.

She also served as an advisor on equities and fixed income instrument prices, whenever the company had to trade in equities and instruments.

Before joining Allan Gray, Motinga served as a research officer at the Bank of Namibia (BoN) from 1998 to 2001, and as an economist from 2001 to 2006.

In her capacity as research officer, she did analyses on two of the central bank's macro accounts - public finance and monetary and financial statistics.

Having served in this position for three years, she was promoted to an economist at the central bank in 2001.

Within her portfolio, she was responsible for the inflation forecasting framework and ensuring that monetary and liquidity aggregates were related to developments in real sectors of the economy.

She also advised on policy implications.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Namibia (Unam), an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London and she recently graduated with a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Stellenbosch.

In terms of Namfisa's five-year strategic initiatives, Motinga, together with the CEO, is primarily tasked with transforming the authority from a compliance-based to risk-based supervisor.

The journey towards risk-based supervision commenced about five years ago and is shaped by several key initiatives and purposeful interventions.

These consist of capacity and competency enhancement within authority, the enhancement of regulatory and supervisory effectiveness and proactive engagement with key stakeholders.

Motinga is the alternate chairperson of the Financial System Stability Committee (FSSC), which is a tripartite committee between Namfisa, the BoN and the finance ministry (in an observer role).

The aim of this committee is to deliberate on issues that will ensure the stability of the entire financial system in Namibia.

Namfisa and the BoN continue to remain vigilant and enhance their regulatory and supervisory tools, to be able to mitigate any risks.

Focus areas for the future are to continue ensuring a safe and stable non-banking financial system and the protection of consumers of financial services and products, as well as the strengthening of supervisory interventions and exploiting existing relationships with regional and international partners, to build the necessary capacity.

Recruiting the best staff Finding the best possible employees, who can fit within your culture and contribute to your organisation, is a challenge and an opportunity.

Below are some tips for employers on how to go about this often arduous task.

Improve your

candidate pool

Companies that select new employees from the candidates who walk in their door or answer an ad in the paper or online, are missing the best candidates. They're usually working for someone else and they may not even be looking for a new position.

Hire the 'sure thing'

The authors of The Human Capital Edge, are convinced that you should hire a person who has done this “exact job, in this exact industry, in this particular business climate, from a company with a very similar culture”.

They believe that “past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour” and suggest that this is the strategy that will enable you to hire winners. They say that you must hire the candidates whom you believe can hit the ground running in your company. You can't afford the time to train a possibly successful candidate.

First look at in-house

candidates

Providing promotional and lateral opportunities for current employees positively boosts morale and makes your current staff members feel their talents, capabilities, and accomplishments are appreciated. Always post positions internally first.

Give potential candidates an interview. It's a chance for you to know them better. They learn more about the goals and needs of the organisation. Sometimes, a good fit is found between your needs and theirs.

Be known as a

great employer

The Human Capital Edge authors make a strong case for not just being a great employer but letting people know that you are a great employer. This is how you build your reputation and your company brand. You'll want the best prospects seeking you out because they respect and want to work for your brand. Google, who frequently tops Fortune's best companies list, for example, receives around three million applications a year.

Take a look at your employee practices for retention, motivation, accountability, reward, recognition, flexibility in work-life balance, promotion, and involvement. These are your key areas for becoming an employer of choice.

You want your employees bragging that your organisation is a great place to work. People will believe the employees before they believe the corporate literature.

Pay better than

your competition

Yes, you do get what you pay for in the job market. Survey your local job market and take a hard look at the compensation people in your industry attract. You want to pay better than average to attract and keep the best candidates. Seems obvious, doesn't it?

Listen to employers every day who talk about how to get employees cheaply. It's a bad practice. Sure, you can luck out and attract a person who has golden handcuffs because they are following their spouse to a new community or need your benefits.

Use your benefits

to your advantage

Keep your benefits above industry standard and add new benefits as you can afford them. You also need to educate employees about the cost and value of their benefits so they appreciate how well you are looking out for their needs.

Employees treasure the flexibility and the opportunity to balance work with other life responsibilities, interests, and issues. You can't be an employer of choice without a good benefits package that includes standard benefits such as medical insurance and retirement.

Employees are increasingly looking for cafeteria-style benefits plans in which they can balance their choices with those of a working spouse or partner. The authors of The Human Capital Edge recommend stock and ownership opportunities for every level of employees in your organisation. Consider profit-sharing plans and bonuses that pay the employee for measurable achievements and contributions.

No peace for Cheryl's family

The police are still working around the clock to catch the killer, or killers, of nine-year-old Cheryl Avihe Ujaha although there has been a lack of viable leads.

Police inspector-general Sebastian Ndeitunga said yesterday that finding the person or persons who kidnapped, murdered and dismembered Ujaha in August remains a top priority.

“We've had no breakthrough up to now, but are working around the clock. We are hopeful and we look forward to making a breakthrough,” he said.

He confirmed that the N$100 000 reward for any credible information that would help the police close the case remains in place.

He also urged members of the public to continue providing any tips that could lead to an arrest.

“The long arm of the law will catch this person,” Ndeitunga said.

Swirling thoughts

Ujaha's aunt, Batseba Kaimu, told Namibian Sun yesterday that although the family had forgiven the person responsible for her niece's murder, the delay in catching the guilty party was a heavy burden to carry.

“We want to have peace of mind. Who is this person? Why he did it. These questions are swirling around our minds.”

She said the family felt frustrated at the delay of justice for Ujaha's murder, but trusted that the police were doing everything they could.

Nevertheless, she said the grief was still fresh and most of the family were experiencing sleepless nights and endless thoughts about the murder.

“We are always thinking of this. Thinking and hoping. That's all that goes through our minds. That one day we will know the person and why he did it, and whether he did it once, or how many people he might have killed. These questions come to mind.”

She said the family was clinging to the hope that justice would take its course.

“I don't believe that nothing will happen. I don't believe that. We are praying, and know the person will come forth. We must see him. Know him. We have already forgiven him, from the point of the family, but we need to see him and who he is and why he did this.”

Support from the public, including the office of First Lady Monica Geingos, who arranged counselling for the family, has helped, she added.

On 28 August, the police confirmed that Ujaha's mutilated body had been discovered near the Shanghai traffic circle near Khomasdal after she had been reported missing the previous weekend.

Man appears for child rape

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old man accused of raping a two-year-old toddler was denied bail at the Outjo Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Gotfried Naibab is charged with abduction, rape and assault GBH under the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act.

The little girl disappeared on Wednesday, along with two young boys aged two and four.

The police say Naibab lured the kids with sweets but that the two boys eventually returned home without the girl.

A search led to her discovery in the bush on the outskirts of town early on Thursday morning. She was alive but seriously injured. A medical examination confirmed that she had been raped.

Naibab was found covered with blood in the Soweto location before the girl's discovery. He was detained for questioning and eventually arrested in connection with the crime.

His next court appearance is scheduled for 19 November. He was referred for psychiatric observation.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Nail errant nurses - Haufiku

Health ministry permanent secretary Ben Nangombe has issued a directive that no nurses may use their cellphones while on duty, and that no health facilities should be closed during lunchtime.

This was announced by the health minister, Dr Bernard Haufiku, earlier this week while launching 10 community-based antiretroviral treatment (ART) clinics in Oshana, Omusati and Ohangwena.

Haufiku said his ministry was serious about rendering proper health services to the people of Namibia and that it was not going to be business as usual for health officials.

“The ministry, through the PS's office, has given a directive that no nurses shall operate a cellphone while on duty. It is now official, and if you go to any government hospital and find a nurse operating a cellphone, such nurses must be reported,” Haufiku said.

“All nurses are going to wear nametags, so you will be able to identify and report, them either for operating their cellphones or any poor or unprofessional service.”

Haufiku said this ban did not affect doctors because they deal with emergencies and need to be on call, but the ministry was also looking into how they could be regulated and monitored.

Haufiku said he had received complaints of unprofessional conduct by health workers, including that they were not treating patients because they were on their cellphones.

At present, many health facilities do not operate during lunchtime.

Some facilities only attend to emergencies, while some close completely for lunch. Haufiku said that was now a thing of the past, as health professionals would now have to take turns to take breaks.

“Another thing, we do not want a situation of health facilities closing during lunchtime and all the people going out for lunch, and nobody is helping. The directive has already been issued and it must be imposed so that this must also come to an end,” Haufiku said.

He said the directive indicated that rotating lunch breaks would take place between 12:00 and 15:00.

Nurses will not be allowed to take lunch en masse, resulting in health facilities being closed during this period.

“Some health professionals must take their lunch break from 12:00 to 13:00, while others are on duty; the second group can go from 13:00 to 14:00 and the last group can go from 14:00 to 15:00. That is the directive and it must be imposed as soon as possible,” Haufiku said.

He said the ministry would employ more nurses and doctors, who are currently unemployed, to make sure there are enough personnel on duty all the time.

Haufiku said the government was amending the Health Professions Act to empower the health minister to appoint nurses and doctors where the ministry needed them.

“For the last three months there was problem with the registration of nurses, due to a delay in the amendment of the health professions bill that will empower me as the minister to appoint nurses and doctors.

“We would like to appoint nurses and doctors where we need them and not where they want to be (placed),” he said.

“I am still fighting for this bill, so that it can be passed as soon as possible, because we need the health personnel in society.”

ILENI NANDJATO

'Shame on you'PDM, AR challenge Russian billionaire's land lease The official opposition and Job Amupanda's AR are on the warpath over a land leasing deal concluded between the government and a Russian billionaire.

The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has launched a social media campaign to collect funds, as it prepares to drag the government to court over its decision to grant a Russian billionaire a 99-year lease for 17 000 hectares of land.

PDM leader McHenry Venaani said yesterday that the party was preparing an urgent High Court interdict in a bid to have the government's decision set aside.

“It is a sell-out and Hage's rhetoric stands in total contradiction to his actions. Shame on the president! Shame on the government and the company it keeps!”

Venaani said it seemed Namibia was for sale.

“How can you rent out a place for 99 years? Who is going to be kept accountable for this action after 99 years?”

President Hage Geingob, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, land reform minister Utoni Nujoma, the government and ombudsman John Walters will be cited in the court matter.

Rashid Sardarov paid N$2 500 per hectare for the four farms, with the total price coming to N$43.5 million. Farm Rainhoff, Kameelboom and Smaldeel, totalling 11 402 hectares, were sold as unit for N$28.5 million, while Farm Wolfsgrund was sold for N$14.9 million and is 5 989 hectares in size.

Sardarov, who is one of the richest men in Russia, purchased four farms and then donated them back to the government, which in turn leased them back to him.

Namibian Sun yesterday reported about the lease agreement, which was signed 13 days before the second national land conference.

The agreement also sees Sardarov pay N$160 168 in rent for the first quarter of each year in 2018/19, and thereafter the applicable annual land tax.

Venaani said Namibia was not for sale, and condemned the decision to lease the land to Sardarov shortly before the land conference.

Venaani said this was a watershed moment for the country, especially as the government seemed “hell-bent on cutting deals with the highest bidder”.

He said the PDM felt vindicated for having boycotted the land conference because it was a sham.

“Where can you hold a conference and deliberate about land questions, when the list of allocated land is not made public?”

Venaani said the government literally “gave away” yet another farm to a foreigner, just days before holding the conference, and then talks about absentee landlords.

He said while the PDM was not against foreigners who come with a plan and want to invest, it should not be in the guise of a calculated scheme.

According to him, the moment Sardarov donated the land to Namibia, it became government property and should have been dealt with in line with the resettlement programme

“There is no need to give land to an oligarch! We are not talking of a Namibian who has been resettled, but a billionaire who has no need for land and cannot be held accountable.”

Venaani said he would not be surprised if Sardarov was contributing towards the ruling party's 2019 election campaign.

“And I would neither be surprised if some hands in the lands ministry have been greased.”

He said that was why the PDM had decided to fight the matter in the High Court.

The official opposition also circulated a poster on social media yesterday, which read: “Help us stop the rot.”

The PDM asked the public for donations to support their litigation.

Saradov now controls about 45 000 hectares of land in Namibia.

He already owns 28 000 hectares in Dordabis, on which a state-of-the-art ranch known as Marula Game Lodge is built.

AR claims 'underground dealings'

Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda said there were underground dealings in the transaction between the government and Sardarov and a full investigation was needed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the ombudsman, who they said they would approach today.

A mass response will also be discussed in the coming days.

Amupanda said the revelation about Sardarov buying the four farms did not come as a surprise.

“We submitted an objection to this very transaction in 2017, in line with the land laws of our country, which was received by (land reform minister (Utoni) Nujoma, and to date he is yet to come back to us. Our lawyers are looking at this very issue and will advise us on the next path of action.”

Amupanda said their major concern was the lies and propaganda spread by “the corrupt regime”.

He further claimed that Sardarov did not buy the farms, with title deed documents showing the government had in fact bought them.

Namibian Sun reported yesterday that the Russian had donated the money to the government to buy the farms.

Amupanda said the country must be concerned about this horrible transaction.

He also pointed out that pages are missing from the title deed documents.

Namibian Sun previously reported that there was no mention of what compensation was paid to the farm owners for the loss of their business.

Amupanda said it was right of AR not to participate in the “gimmick” land conference.

He said they knew the conference was meant to hoodwink the unsuspecting masses, while defending the status quo.

He said AR predicted that foreigners would still keep their 2.5 million hectares of land and the “white man” will keep owning 70% of the country's farms.

ELLANIE SMIT

Geingob praises Kenyan heroes

President Hage Geingob yesterday paid glowing tributes to the Kenyan heroes during his state visit to the east African nation. Geingob was the guest of honour during Kenya’s commemoration of Heroes Day in Nairobi. “The unbreakable bond of blood connects the people of Africa. It is this bond which our founding fathers used to ignite the flame of the spirit of Pan Africanism. It is in this spirit that I have travelled to Kenya and it is in this spirit that I join in celebrating not merely the heroes of Kenya, but the heroes of Africa because their fight was for the total liberation of Africa,” said Geingob. The head of state also remembered and praised the courage of Kenyan peace forces who were deployed in 1989 as part of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (Untag) to monitor the peace process and elections in Namibia. “Even after our birth, Kenya was there to assist us until we became steady on our feet. When the rest of the UNTAG force departed, our Founding Father, Comrade Sam Nujoma, made a brotherly appeal to President Daniel Arap Moi, for the Kenyan Blue Helmet Contingent, under the leadership of Lieutenant General (rtd) Daniel Ishmael Opande, to remain behind for three months, 4 to help maintain stability, at the cost of the Kenyan Government. For this reason, the Namibian Government has decided to award this brave son of Kenya with the second highest honour, which he will receive at an appropriate time. Namibia shall always be indebted to the fraternal people of Kenya for their unwavering solidarity.”
STAFF REPORTER

Ambunda first African to sign with Ringstar

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Triple world champion Paulus 'El Jesus' Ambunda has signed a three-year deal with Singapore's Ringstar Boxing Promotions.

Ambunda is the first African boxer to be signed by Ringstar.

His trainer from the AC Boxing and Fitness Gym, Immanuel 'Imms' Moses, confirmed the news on Friday.

In a prior interview with Namibian Sun, Moses said Ambunda was misquoted by a local radio station a few weeks ago, when he informed listeners he has sealed a deal.

Ambunda, who boasts a record of 27 wins and two losses, recently beat Muhamad Ridhwan of Singapore to claim the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) super bantamweight world title.

His landmark victory has opened more doors for the 38-year-old Namibian, who shows no sign of slowing down.

Ringstar is owned by Scott Patrick O'Farrell and maintains a stable boxers who have either become champions or are primed and ready for the elite level.

Some of the boxers signed to the stable include Muhamad 'Chosen Wan' Ridhwan, and Malaysia's IBO Oceania welterweight champion Keng 'The Mean Machine' Fai.

Cash woes hit NRUUnion battles to keep head above water NRU president Corrie Mensah says the previous administration left them with millions in debt.

The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) is battling to remain afloat financially, because of the mess left by the previous administration.

This is according to NRU president Corrie Mensah.

Mensah spoke exclusively to Namibian Sun after reports that two union employees were not paid their salaries on time last month.

He explained that finances are so bad they could only pay the employees after earning some money from a gospel show staged at the Hage Geingob Stadium a few weeks ago.

Mensah stressed they may also struggle to pay employees at the end of this month, because the grant the union normally received from World Rugby now goes to Namibia Rugby Limited (NRL), the business arm of the union.

This was because a false picture had been presented of the NRU, he said.

The two entities have been at loggerheads despite mediation from the sports ministry and the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC).

The battle is about which entity should rightfully administer rugby affairs in the country.

“The previous NRU management left us with a lot of debt. Debt of millions,” Mensah said.

“The people who were previously in charge took the sponsors with them (referring to Namibia Breweries Limited), so there is really no cash flow.”

Mensah said he is in position to ask for a bank overdraft, but will not do so, as there is no guarantee the money will be paid back.

“The people practiced irresponsible financial management. You cannot incur debt knowing very well that you have no source to pay back and that you are leaving,” he said.

Mensah said the current NRU management is not speaking out in order to be malicious or to tarnish Namibia's Rugby World Cup dream, but they are in dire need of help.

Friendly called off

Mensah said Namibia's planned friendly against Kenya was called off as a result of constant enquiries from their side about why three management posts for the match were given to South Africans by the NRL.

Namibia were supposed to play Kenya in order to ensure that the national team is in top form for the upcoming November tour to Europe. Expenses were to be covered by World Rugby and the Kenyan Rugby Union.

“How can you call South Africans to occupy the post for the friendly knowing very well that there are Namibians who can do the job? It's against policies set by the NSC,” Mensah explained.

“Why don't you empower Namibians? What is wrong with that? After the World Cup they all exit without leaving any kind of knowledge behind. There must be understudies.”

Director of Namibian rugby and head coach, Phil Davies, is believed to have drawn up the names of the proposed managers, as well as the squad.

However, a press release issued by NRL last Friday said the team list had been submitted too late for approval by World Rugby.

“The NRL submitted the completed team and management staff to the NRU for approval. Changes were made by the NRU to the management team.”

The three management staff names submitted by the NRL to the NRU for approval were that of JP Nel (national team assistant coach), Irvin Newman (team manager) and Innis Erasmus (physiotherapist).

“These selected management staff have been working with the team since the inception of the high-performance programme. Questions of the three management staff caused a delay in the team as well as the management team sent off (sic).”

The statement said further that should the final team have been confirmed last week, it would have been too late to prepare travel plans, which include airfare and medical requirements, amongst others.

“A lot of preparation goes into sending a team to another country,” the statement read.

Way forward

The two entities are set to meet with sport minister Erastus Uutoni this week to find an amicable solution to their misunderstandings, after the NRU withdraw from a cooperation agreement with the NRL.

Mensah was tasked to draw up draft recommendations, in order for the relationship to work.

“The NRL defied orders, even from the sports commission. We have no seats, voice or influence in their house. Even the sports commission cannot dismantle them, because they are registered with the ministry of trade,” Mensah added.

NRL fires back

NRL chairman and former NRU president, Bradley Basson, said it cannot be denied that the union had incurred debt under the previous management, and will most likely continue to incur debt under Mensah's leadership.

“When I took over as president during 2012, the debt of the NRU was at a record high, which none of my predecessors ever had to deal with. Needless to mention, the union at the time had qualified audited financial statements for a period of at least 12 consecutive years before I took over.

“During my leadership, the previous board between 2012 and 2018 achieved unqualified audited financial statements for six consecutive years. The majority of the debt of the union mostly relates to flight costs, which is understandable, and has the tendency to increase more towards Rugby World Cup qualification.

“This is also a direct result of the increased participation in tournaments, such as the Currie Cup and a change in the Rugby Africa Gold Cup competition format, which resulted in an increase in games and ultimately travel and related costs. With growth, one expects some challenges,” Basson said.

He added it is costly to increase the level of performance on the field and become more competitive on the world stage, and that that this should be accepted and planned for.

“We can, as a rugby playing nation, choose to remain mediocre, not play any competitions, not incur flight costs and not have debt to complain about. I guess it depends, to a great extent, on how the leadership views the debt and what strategies they will put in place to manage the debt and turn the situation around.

“This will no doubt require relationship building with creditors and continuous engagement to restore stakeholder confidence,” Basson added.

He said these financial issues were one of the reasons why NRL was established to manage the union's assets, including the high-performance programme, and to secure increased sponsorship in order to take this type of pressure away from the union.

“With the current impasse between the NRU and the NRL, it goes without saying that it does not assist much in securing sponsorship or stakeholder confidence, and as such, clearly the NRL cannot function at an optimal level.”

LIMBA MUPETAMI

'Trouble is brewing' in Mnangagwa's Zanu-PF

Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF is reportedly embroiled in fresh infighting, as war veterans who were instrumental in President Emmerson Mnangagwa's rise want former cabinet ministers kicked out from the party.

According to Daily News, the southern African country's 1970s liberation fighters accused the former ministers of corruption and undermining Mnangagwa's plans to revive the nation's moribund economy.

Unnamed Zanu-PF insiders were quoted as saying that the former ministers who were now stationed at the party headquarters could become victims of the “disgruntled” war veterans who were envious of their pecks.

The ruling party heavyweights were said to be earning salaries equivalent to government ministers.

The former liberation fighters had since threatened to storm the Zanu-PF headquarters and remove the targeted officials if the party failed to take action.

Constitutional mandate

“Consequently in pursuit of our constitutional mandate as custodians of the Zimbabwean people's revolution, as patriots, loyal and stakeholders of Zanu-PF, we demand, as we hereby do, through the copy of this petition, that the following members relinquish their posts and vacate offices at the Zanu-PF headquarters with immediate effect.

“Failure to do so, we - as the veterans of the liberation struggle – shall force them out of the offices for good of the people revolution,” Daily News quoted the ex-freedom fighters as saying.

The state-owned Herald newspaper reported last month that several ministers who did not make the cut into Zimbabwe's new cabinet were deployed to the ruling Zanu-PF headquarters on a full-time basis.

Zanu-PF's secretary for information and publicity Simon Khaya Moyo was quoted at the time as saying that at least 11 departments of the party were now expected to be managed by full-time employees who included ex-ministers.

Petition

The party stalwarts were expected to undergo training in China and the sub-region to learn how other political parties related to government.

But, war veterans from the country's ten provinces reportedly petitioned Mnangagwa, demanding the removal of Zanu-PF's secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and former ministers David Parirenyatwa, Patrick Chinamasa and Sydney Sekeramayi – who were part of the party's politburo, said Daily News reported.

War veterans' national spokesperson Douglas Mahiya has, however, rubbished the petition, saying that he was not aware of such moves as he had been out of the country.

NEWS24

Bolsonaro widens leadBrazil looking likely to elect far-right candidate Deeply unpopular current President Michel Temer did not run in these elections, and is also under investigation for alleged corruption.

Barring any last-minute upset, Brazil appears poised to elect Jair Bolsonaro, a populist far-right veteran politician, as its next president in a week's time.

His lead seems insurmountable over his leftist rival Fernando Haddad ahead of the October 28 run-off, with most voters swayed by his anti-corruption promises - while a minority fears his authoritarian bent and intolerant views.

In the first round two weeks ago, Bolsonaro handily beat a dozen other candidates, garnering 46% of the vote. Polls since then suggest his support has climbed to 59%, against 41% for Haddad.

Much of his appeal lies in his image as a “clean” political outsider who wants to crack down on rampant crime and stamp out graft in Latin America's biggest, most populous nation.

His virulent attacks on Haddad's Workers Party - widely seen as a corrupt outfit under now-jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and the cause of Brazil's worst-ever recession - have worked to his advantage. So has the endorsement of many of Brazil's increasingly influential evangelical churches.

But opposition to Bolsonaro, while smaller, is fierce and won't go away.

His record of contentious comments - praising Brazil's brutal 1964-1985 military dictatorship during which he served as an army captain, calling a female lawmaker “not worth raping,” justifying torture, and denigrating gay and black people - have repelled a significant portion of the population.

Demonstrations in Brazil over the weekend both for and against Bolsonaro highlighted the deep polarisation.

Bolsonaro's profile got a boost when he was stabbed last month by a lone assailant while campaigning for the first round.

During weeks of convalescence he intensified his already deft use of social media to speak directly to his millions of followers, largely ducking interviews with journalists.

That, and his controversial, tough-guy way of talking have added to comparisons many have made with US President Donald Trump. Others see shades of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Italian media have called Bolsonaro “Brazil's Salvini,” after Italy's far-right interior minister.

The use of WhatsApp in particular has become a controversial issue in Brazil, after a report that US$3-million contracts had been made with several companies to bulk-message voters with attacks on the Workers Party. The app is wildly popular in Brazil, used by more than half of the population of 210 million.

Haddad, already frustrated by Bolsonaro's refusal to engage him in scheduled televised debates, accused his rival of being behind the “illegal” disinformation campaign, which he said needed to be investigated by electoral authorities.

Bolsonaro, speaking via Facebook video, denied involvement but said he wasn't responsible for what his supporters did.

WhatsApp - owned by Facebook, which is already under scrutiny for allowing posts meddling with the 2016 US election and the Brexit referendum in Britain - subsequently closed tens of thousands of accounts, including one used by one of Bolsonaro's politician sons.

Investors, however, are behind Bolsonaro as president, boosting the Sao Paulo stock market and the Brazilian real on the prospect of him triumphing.

Regardless of the social changes he might bring in, they see him as the better bet to shake up Brazil's protectionist, sluggish economy.

Much of that stems from Bolsonaro's advisor and pick to be his economy “superminister” in the event of victory: Paulo Guedes, a respected, US-educated liberal economist who has spoken of privatizing Brazilian state-run companies and trimming spending to help pay down the country's big public debt, and addressing the country's over-generous pension system.

Yet Bolsonaro in recent days has dampened some of those expectations, saying the core businesses of oil group Petrobras and electricity enterprise Eletrobras would stay in government hands, and accusing China of “buying Brazil.”

Bolsonaro, “seems to be dithering on pension reform and privatization,” a British consultancy, Capital Economics, said in a briefing note. Also, “there are signs that Bolsonaro's previous embrace of fiscal tightening and reform to Brazil's welfare system is slipping.”

Analysts say Bolsonaro is benefiting from a public disgust with mainstream candidates in Brazil, who are all viewed as self-serving and corrupt.

That has been spurred by fall-out from a sprawling, ongoing corruption probe known as “Operation Car Wash,” which has mired much of the political elite - including the popular Lula - in graft scandals largely centered on bribes, money laundering and illegal financing involving Petrobras.

NAMPA/AFP

Ondama yoNeckartal yamanithwaOndama ndjoka oya pula oshilongo oshimaliwa shoobiliyona 5.7 Ondama onene moshilongo ndjoka kwa tegelelwa yi ka kandulepo omukundu gwompumbwe yomeya moshilongo okwa tseyithwa kutya oya pu okutungwa.

Ominista yOmeya nUunamapya, Alpheus !Naruseb okwa popi kutya oku na einekelo kutya opoloyeka ndjoka otayi keeta pehulilo ompumbwe yomeya ga yogoka moshilongo.

Minista okwa popi ngaaka pethimbo a tseyitha kutya opoloyeka yoNeckartal Dam, ndjoka ya tungwa po koshimaliwa sha thika poobiliyona 5.7 nonando okwa li kwa tengenekwa tango kutya otayi ka pula oobiliyona 3.2, oya manithwa.

Ondama ndjoka yi li ondama onene moshilongo ngashiingeyi, otayi ka tameka okugongela omeya okutameka poshikakothimbo shomuloka nguka.

!Naruseb okwa ningi etseyitho ndyoka oshiwike sha piti pethimbo lyoshituthi shokugandja pambelewa iilonga yomayandjakaneko gomeya komalelo giitopolwa.

!Naruseb okwa popi woo kutya Ohangwena aquifer nayo otayi ningilwa omalolelo nehala lyokupungula omeya otali tungwa, onkene okwa popi kutya oku na omukumo kutya omandiki ngoka otaga ka kala ekwatho enene kuNamibia nokushunitha pevi elongitho lyomeya inaga yogoka mokati koshigwana.

Minista okwa popi kutya sho uuministeli tawu gandja iilonga mbyoka momake gomalelo giitopolwa, wo otawu tsikile nokuyambulapo oondama dhoka oonene moshilongo, okuwapaleka omeya moondama ndhoka, omapekaapeko ge na sha nomeya oshowo okutalulula koopoloyeka dhomeya moshilongo.

Minista okwa tsikile uuministeli otawu tsikile nokuninga oompangela dhokuyanda nokuhulitha po elongitha lyuundjugo kawu li pauyogoki okupitila moshiyetwapo tashi ithanwa, Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) initiative, ndjoka tayi ka kwathela aakwashigwana ya tunge po uundjugo wawo.

Okwa tsikile kutya omeya ga yogoka, oga tothwa mo kutya oshimwe shomompumbwe ya simana moshigwana konima sho oshilongo sha manguluka, nepangelo olya ningi omalunduluko moshikondo shomeya konima yemanguluko, okukwashilipaleka kutya okwa gandja omayakulo gomeya ga yogoka koshigwana.

Minista okwa tsikile kutya ekotampango otali utha omalelo gopaitopolwa ga topole iinakugwanithwa opo ku vule okufalwa omayakulo gepangelo popepi noshigwana.

Okwa tsikile kutya konyala iilonga oyindji yiikondo yepangelo ohayi longelwa kiitopolwa konima nkene kwa tulwa miilonga omulandu ngoka gwokufala omayakulo popepi noshigwana momvula yo 2001, iilonga oyindji yuuministeli wawo okwa tokolwa opo yi falwe kiitopolwa.

Omikundu

Egandjo lyiinakugwanithwa yeyandjakaneko lyomeya miitopolwa komalelo giitopolwa olya li lya ziminwa kOkabinete momvula yo 2007, na osha tulwa pamushangwa gwopapangelo oomvula o 10 dha piti, ihe etulo miilonga negwanithe po lyetokolo ndyoka olya kala tali yiwa moshipala komikundu dha yooloka.

Omikundu dhimwe ongaashi okumona aaniilonga yagwana momalelo giitopolwa opo ku kwashilipalkewe egwanithe po lyiilonga mbyoka.

Nonando ongaaka minista okwa popi nomukumo kutya oye shi pondola na otaya tsikile okulundulula aaniilonga opo ya ka gandje omayakulo ngoka, nokuyambulapo woo omahala goombelelwa moombelewa dhomalelo giitopolwa.

Oombelewa dhoka dha tungwa po nokuwapalekwa ngaashi moshitopolwa shaShana, Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kavango East, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, //Karas, Hardap, Kunene oshowo Erongo.

Natango otaku ningwa oompangela opo ku tungwe po ombelewa moshitopolwa shaKavango West, ngele kwa monika iimaliwa.

Iikwaniipangitho yomeya mbyoka ya kulupa miitopolwa nayo okwa tseyitha tayi ka longwa woo nokutulwa pamuthika.

“Nonando oshindji natango osha pumbwa okuningwa, uuministeli owu na etumba okutseyithila AaNamibia kutya okwa longwa nokuwapalekwa iikwaniipangitho oyindji muule woomvula omulongo dha piti.”

!Naruseb okwa popi kutya nonando monakuziwa AaNamibia oya kala ye na omeya, omeya ngoka oga kala haga kuthwa moonzo inadhi yogoka, ngaashi moondama, momithima nomoomboola.

Okwa tsikile kutya nonando oye na etumba mwaashoka ya longo po, natango oya taalela omashongo ogendji, oshowo omaupyakadhi ngaashi omalunduluko gonkalo yombepo, ompumbwe yokunana aaniilonga aatseyinawa mboka ya pyokoka, okutumbulapo owala yimwe po.

Hugunina okwa popi kutya oluhepo nalwo otalu dhana onkandangala onene monkalo ndjoka, sho aakwashigwana ye na owala iiyemo iishona mbyoka haya longitha miipumbiwa yawo yesiku na oya kutha ko kutya elongitho lyiiyemo muuyogoki oshi li ponomola ontiyali kiipumbiwa yawo yesiku.

ELLANIE SMIT

Oshakati tayi pula komeho megandjo lyomagumbo

Ehangano lyoNational Housing Enterprise (NHE) otali ka gandja omagumbo ge li po 60 mondoolopa yaShakati okuya pehulilo lyomwedhi Novemba.

Shoka osha tseyithwa nokukolekwa komupopiliko gwoNHE, Mutonga Matali, sho a ningilwa omapulo kombinga ye yo komeho lya ningwa kehangano ndyoka mondoolopa yomonooli.

Petameko lyomvula ndjika, NHE okwa tameke netungo lyomagumbo geli po 200 mEkuku Extension 6, mondoolopa yaShakati, melongelokumwe nomahangano gaali gopaumwene.

Matali okwa popi kutya okuya pehulilo lyomwedhi nguka, omagumbo geli 41 otaga ka gandjwa omanga ge li po 20 taga ka gandjwa okuya pehulilo lyomwedhi ngoka twa taalela.

Sho oshifokundaneki shoNamibian Sun, sha talele po ehala ndyoka, omagumbo agehe oga pwa okutungwa na oga tegelela owala ooyene, na kape na iilonga ya sha tayi longwa pehala ndyoka.

Matali okwa popi kutya omagumbo ge li 139 gomomagumbo 200 oga pewa nale ooyene no 53 oya pewa omikuli dhomagumbo okuza koombaanga. Kombinga yondando yomagumbo ngoka, ominista yomayambulepo goondoolopa niitopolwa, Peya Mushelenga okwa tsu omuthindo opo ondando kayi ye pombanda yoshimaliwa shooN$500 000 ihe momwedhi Juli, Omunambelewa Omukuluntu gwoNHE, Gisbertus Mukulu okwa yelitha kutya itashi tsu kumwe paliko ya kwashilipaleke kutya ondando otayi kala owala pooN$500 000.

Mukulu okwa popi kutya ndyoka elombwelo lyopakana lya zi kuMushelenga na okwa pumbwa okuningwa natango oonkundathana, ta gwedha po kutya elombwelo ndyoka inali kwatela mo metsokumwe niiputudhilo yopaumwene ngaashi ndyoka lyomOshakati nomatompelo kutya momatsokumwe goludhi ndoka, okwa longitha iimaliwa yopaumwene, nooyene oya tegelela okulikola sha okuza momapungulo gawo. Ompumbwe yomagumbo moNHE, oya thikama po91 131.

Sho a ningilwa omapulo, mayola gwaShakati, Angelus Iyambo okwa pandula oonkambadhala adhihe ndhoka tadhi ningwa kuNHE okutungila aantu omagumbo.

“Pehala lyelelo lyaShakati otu na etumba molwaashoka ondjodhi yepangelo okugandja omagumbo kaaantu. Naashoka sho moshilongo ashihe Oshakati oyi li ponomola yotango mokugandja evi,” Iyambo a popi.

Iyambo okwa pandula woo omahangano gopaumwene ngoka taga tungu omagumbo mondoolopa.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Oshakati makes housing progress

The National Housing Enterprise (NHE) will hand over more than 60 new houses in Oshakati by the end of November.

This is according to NHE spokesperson Mutonga Matali, when asked about the progress made by the parastatal in the northern town.

At the beginning of this year, the NHE started with the construction of 200 houses in Oshakati's Ekuku Extension 6 in public-private partnerships with two companies.

Matali said by the end of this month 41 houses will be handed over, and 20 more by the end of next month.

When Namibian Sun visited the site recently, most of the houses seemed to be ready for occupation and no construction was taking place. Matali said 139 of the 200 houses have been allocated to prospective owners, of whom 53 have been granted loan approval by commercial banks.

As to the prices for the houses, urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga constantly reminds the NHE to not set prices above N$500 000.

But in July, NHE CEO Gisbertus Mukulu explained that it does not make economic sense for them to ensure that the houses cost only N$500 000 or less.

Mukulu said there was just a verbal directive given by Mushelenga and consultations still needed to take place. He added that the directive was not applicable to the public-private partnership in Oshakati.

“I think that one was just a verbal directive, so to say. I think they are yet to communicate to us. I don't think it is applicable to the PPP project, because this is private money and they use their money for the cost of capital and they need to recoup their investment.”

The NHE's housing backlog list stands at 91 131. When contacted for comment, Oshakati mayor Angelus Iyambo applauded the NHE's efforts to build houses for the people.

“On behalf of the Oshakati town council, we feel proud because the vision of the government is to house the people. This is why out of the entire country, Oshakati is regarded as number one when it comes to land delivery,” Iyambo said.

Iyambo also expressed his gratitude to the private developers building houses in the town.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Done and dustedNeckartal complete, rural water and sanitation decentralised to regions Water and agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb says it his sincere hope that major supply projects will significantly reduce the country's dependence on unsafe and unreliable water sources.

The Neckartal Dam project, whose costs have reportedly ballooned from an initial N$3.2 billion to a projected N$5.7 billion since construction started in 2013, is finally complete.

The dam, which is the largest in the country, will start capturing rainwater during the coming rainy season.

This was announced by the water and agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb last week during an event where the ministry officially handed over its rural water supplies and sanitation coordination function to regional councils.

!Naruseb said the Ohangwena aquifer is also being tested and the first storage facility is currently under construction.

“It is therefore our sincere hope that these major water supply projects will significantly reduce the country's dependence on unsafe and unreliable water sources.”

!Naruseb said while the ministry was handing over the coordination function to regional councils, it will continue with the development of large dams, desalination and bulk water purification plants, as well as bulk water transportation infrastructure, water research and the monitoring and evaluation of water projects countrywide.

Open defecation

He added the ministry is determined to reduce open defecation in the country by constructing sanitation facilities in rural areas and intensifying behaviour change initiatives through the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) initiative, which will see communities constructing their own sanitation facilities.

According to !Naruseb the need for potable water services was identified at independence as one of the major and basic essential needs that the country has been deprived of, especially in communal areas.

The government initiated reforms in the water sector soon after independence to ensure that services are provided and managed with improved performance and with cost-effectiveness, and that government's burden is decreased, while maintaining a commitment to the equitable and sustainable provision of water services to the nation.

Sector strategic investment plans, policies, strategies and action plans have been developed over the years, !Naruseb said.

He said the constitution makes provision for regional councils to share responsibilities, in order to bring government services closer to the people.

“Most if not all of the ministry's functions are rural-based. Hence, when the decentralisation policy was passed in 2001, some of the functions under this ministry were identified to be suitable for decentralisation at initial stages. The rural water supply and forestry management sectors topped the list of the functions to be decentralised.”

Challenges

The delegation of the rural water supply function to the regional councils was approved by cabinet in 2007 and gazetted ten years ago, but challenges had stalled the process.

These included securing more appropriate staff members at regional level, to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.

“Although the challenge of the position levels still needs to be improved, the ministry is proud to state that we are transferring a fair number of staff capable of executing the rural water supply and sanitation coordination functions,” !Naruseb said.

The ministry has also intensified efforts to establish, renovate and or construct adequate office space in all regions.

New and renovated offices were established in the Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kavango East, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, //Karas, Hardap, Kunene and Erongo regions.

Plans are also at an advanced stage to continue with the establishment of an office in Kavango West, when the financial situation allows.

Very poor rural water supply infrastructure in all regions were also addressed.

“Although there is still room for improvement, the ministry is proud to inform Namibians that relatively good infrastructure has thus far been developed over the past ten years,” the minister said.

!Naruseb said although in the past all Namibians had access to water for their day-to-day survival, water was obtained from unclean and unhygienic sources.

According to him people were drinking from open ponds, rivers and dams. “Some people were able to dig wells while others were drawing water from natural springs that were dirty and were constant sources of people having water-borne diseases.

“Simply put, the situation was unhealthy and challenging. It entailed walking long distances to obtain water for people's day-to-day consumption.”

Vulnerability

!Naruseb said even although the ministry is proud to handover a sound and reliable part of its core functions, it is not immune to major challenges.

He said these challenges include the difficulty of attracting and retaining qualified professionals, climate change and variability that heavily affects the availability of water resources and uncertainty about actual quantities of available water.

Others include difficulties with monitoring water sources, the cost of water distribution, the vulnerability of open water sources to evaporation, the cost of water treatment/purification for human and livestock consumption and the high cost of abstracting underground aquifers.

“Poverty is still prevailing in many communities, which only have income to cover their basic needs and they regard the expenditure on sanitation facilities as secondary… Many places in rural areas get easily flooded to the extent that significant costs have to be incurred to set up well-built sanitation facilities without polluting the water in the area,” !Naruseb added.

ELLANIE SMIT

Emotions high at NHE demoCompany fails to implement job grading system The NHE workers also questioned why the 'non-performing' parastatal board was reappointed.

National Housing Enterprise (NHE) staff have taken their frustrations to the streets, with the hope of ending a three-year struggle for the implementation of a job grading system

They held a demonstration in front of the parastatal's head office in Eros last Thursday, with emotions running high.

The workers expressed their unhappiness and frustration with the current state of affairs at the parastatal and handed over a petition.

They are also angered by the withdrawal last year of monetary rewards as tokens of appreciation, with the company promising at the time it would implement performance bonuses, which they say was not honoured.

The employees feel left in the dark regarding a performance management system (PMS), which they allege the NHE failed to successfully execute.

They say a benefit was removed unilaterally. Additionally, a job grading exercise was commissioned three years ago because of an anomaly in the remuneration structure that was detected.

NHE CEO Gisbertus Mukulu, who accepted the petition, informed the employees that the job evaluation and grading exercise would be redone, saying the 2013 grading report was not fully addressed and is now outdated.

Many disgruntled employees expressed their confusion, asking why the report was not implemented, when the company paid substantially for this exercise.

They queried why the non-performing parastatal board was reappointed and why NHE thought things would be different this time around.

One worker, who preferred anonymity, said although they love the company they cannot turn a blind eye to the issues.

“Management, please hear our cry, we do not feel appreciated, but rather undermined,” she said.

The workers' petition, drawn up by the Namibia Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu), was directed to urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga, the NHE board and the CEO.

It was drafted by Asnath Zamuee, the union's general-secretary.

The employees undertook to demonstrate every second week, until their demands are met.

MICHELLINE NAWATISES

Geingob praises Kenyan heroes

President Hage Geingob at the weekend paid glowing tribute to Kenyan heroes during his state visit to the east African nation. Geingob was the guest of honour during Kenya's commemoration of Heroes Day in Nairobi.

“The unbreakable bond of blood connects the people of Africa. It is this bond which our founding fathers used to ignite the flame of the spirit of Pan-Africanism. It is in this spirit that I have travelled to Kenya and it is in this spirit that I join in celebrating not merely the heroes of Kenya, but the heroes of Africa because their fight was for the total liberation of Africa,” said Geingob.

The head of state also remembered and praised the courage of Kenyan forces who were deployed in 1989 as part of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (Untag) to monitor the peace process and elections in Namibia.

“Even after our birth, Kenya was there to assist us until we became steady on our feet. When the rest of the Untag force departed, our Founding Father, Comrade Sam Nujoma, made a brotherly appeal to President Daniel Arap Moi, for the Kenyan Blue Helmet Contingent, under the leadership of Lieutenant General (rtd) Daniel Ishmael Opande, to remain behind for three months, for to help maintain stability, at the cost of the Kenyan Government. For this reason, the Namibian Government has decided to award this brave son of Kenya with the second highest honour, which he will receive at an appropriate time. Namibia shall always be indebted to the fraternal people of Kenya for their unwavering solidarity.”

STAFF REPORTER

Tourism ministry hits back at SPYL

The tourism ministry has refuted allegations by the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) that the country's tourism sector is deliberately excluding black Namibians from participating.

The ruling party youth wing last week called on government to mainstream black Namibians into the tourism sector, especially into the hospitality industry, when it comes to restaurants, as well as the lucrative trophy hunting sector.

The SPYL said it was also dismayed by the squabbles and leadership battles haunting state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and called on line ministers to take action against failing parastatals.

Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the allegations regarding blacks not being given opportunities in the tourism sector are baseless, unfounded and devoid of truth, as the sector is being administered in response to the needs of the people.

He said the ministry's legislation, policies and development plans and programmes place importance on inclusiveness and ensure maximum benefits and opportunities for all Namibians, including blacks.

Muyunda added that programmes have been developed to specifically benefit previously disadvantaged Namibians.

“At independence, 28 years ago, none of the black people dared to manage, let alone own a tourism or hospitality business in this country.

“This was not because they could not manage them, but rather that they were denied such opportunities and skills on the basis of their skin colour, by the apartheid colonial regime,” Muyunda said.

He said according to Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) statistics the number of disadvantaged Namibians entering the tourism sector had quadrupled, and today the majority of lodges and hotels in the country are owned by them. This, Muyunda, said is as a result of policy interventions that have levelled the playing field, and which had given them preference.

He said the ministry built seven community-based tourism accommodation facilities between 2010 and 2015 for identified communities, mostly in rural areas.

It also developed and launched the National Sustainable Tourism Growth and Development Strategy in 2017, to create an enabling environment for anyone to operate a tourism business in Namibia, regardless of skin colour.

“We are aware of the difficulty the majority of Namibians may face with regard to accessing capital to start tourism businesses, and we are exploring ways of how to address this obstacle,” said Muyunda.

He said in line with the Policy on Tourism and Wildlife Conservation on State Land from 2009 to 2018, a total of 25 tourism concessions for joint-venture lodges and three trophy hunting concessions were awarded to communities, while three activity concessions to previously disadvantaged Namibians were also awarded.

“All awarded concessions are 100% owned by communities or associations. However, due to a lack of financial capacity and business skills, provisions were made to allow conservancies or associations to partner with private investors or entities to establish a lodge or any other accommodation facility for tourists.”

This ultimately generates income and creates job opportunities for local communities, Muyunda said.

At the end of the contract the concession and all assets are 100% owned by communities.

With regard to trophy hunting, the ministry clarified that black Namibians are benefiting from this industry in various ways.

ELLANIE SMIT

Healthcare stuck in 'apartheid'Haufiku also lashes out at 'reluctant' govt officials The health minister has questioned whether the country's hospitals are still stuck in “the world of apartheid”.

Health minister Bernard Haufiku says the current relationship between public and private sector health officials, and the way patients are treated, still smacks of apartheid and discrimination.

“We are still stuck in the past in the world of apartheid, where we had the 'blanke and 'nie blanke' hospitals. Are these things still in our minds?” Haufiku said, while also expressing his frustration with reluctant people in government, who are afraid to make bold decisions.

He said he is disappointed with the manner in which state health workers react to private sector health professionals, and vice versa.

He said this was one of the reasons why the country's health sector is facing unnecessary challenges.

The minister elaborated on an incident reported to him recently of how a certain neurosurgeon from Ongwediva MediPark volunteered to assist at the Oshakati state hospital.

The private doctor was allegedly treated with little respect by state health workers, who ignored him.

“Why don't we communicate better colleagues? Are we so proud and condemning of each other, thinking that we have our own kingdom?

“This is why our systems don't work; there can never be a solution to healthcare if we have the kingdom of the private sector there and the majesty of public this side, it can't work,” Haufiku said last week when he officially opened the Namibia Medical Society (NMS) congress in Ongwediva.

He said the public and private health sectors will continue to drift apart if this discrimination is not addressed, when it comes to how patients are treated and the manner in which colleagues from both sectors treat each other.

Haufiku then called on both sectors and all stakeholders to work together by forming long-lasting partnerships, in a bid to ensure that access to health in Namibia is the best in Africa and the world.

He also used the platform to talk about his experiences since he was appointed as a minister in 2015.

He said most of the memoranda of understanding he has entered into are not yielding the desired fruit.

Haufiku made reference to an agreement signed with the defence ministry, in terms of assisting the health ministry to airlift patients to Windhoek if needed.

He said this help had never materialised.

The health minister said there are many policies in place, but the issue was reluctant people in government, who are afraid to make bold decisions.

“The reason why we are not winning is because we do not take bold steps and implement them. We therefore need to communicate better and take those bold steps,” Haufiku added.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Utoni claims his signature was forged

Land reform minister Utoni Nujoma on Friday claimed his signature was forged in documents being circulated on social media pertaining to a land deal in which Russian billionaire Rashid Sardarov purchased four farms and then donated them back to the government in exchange for a 99-year lease.

Sardarov paid N$2 500 per hectare for the four farms, with the total price coming to N$43.5 million. Farm Rainhoff, Kameelboom and Smaldeel, totalling 11 402 hectares, were sold as unit for N$28.5 million, while Farm Wolfsgrund was sold for N$14.9 million and is 5 989 hectares in size.

The farms, measuring 17 000 hectares, were transferred to Sardarov's Switzerland-based company, Comsar Properties SA, on 28 September 2018.

Some documents appear to indicate that the land reform ministry bought the four farms on behalf of the Russian billionaire.

Nujoma strongly refuted this, saying the land was not bought by government and that his signature was forged.

“There have been misleading statements that government bought the farms and was supposed to resettle people. This was a private transaction,” Nujoma told NBC.

“It is irrelevant, it can come from any source, and as far as I am concerned I have not purchased any farm. I have not signed that.” Nujoma claimed the documents were not authentic.

“That is another area that I have to check within our systems whether that it is an authentic document. We have not paid any money,” he said. The Affirmative Repositioning's Job Amupanda, which had leaked some information to the media, said Nujoma was not being genuine.

“The minister [Utoni] is considering a career in comedy. We must link him up with Trevor Noah [South African comedian],” said Amupanda.

Namibian Sun last week reported about the lease agreement, which was signed 13 days before the second national land conference.

The agreement also sees Sardarov pay N$160 168 in rent for the first quarter of each year in 2018/19, and thereafter the applicable annual land tax.

OGONE TLHAGE