Leaked Eskom report implicating Brown, Gigaba is 'scandalous, embarrassing'

November 5, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Leaked Eskom report implicating Brown, Gigaba is 'scandalous, embarrassing' Chair has spoken out We have got this scandalous thing, embarrassing thing [that has happened]- Zukiswa Rantho, chairperson, Eskom The leaking of the Eskom draft preliminary inquiry report which has reportedly implicated former minister Lynne Brown and Malusi Gigaba is "scandalous and embarrassing". This was said by the enterprise’s chairperson Zukiswa Rantho has said.

Rantho spoke to Fin24 by phone on Monday morning after Business Day earlier reported that Brown and Gigaba, both former public enterprises ministers, were among those named that could face criminal investigation based on the report.

According to Business Day, the report lists 44 people and 25 companies, including senior staff from McKinsey and KPMG.

However, the draft preliminary report has yet to be adopted by the public enterprises committee, and must still be sent to those implicated for comment, Rantho said.

"The people that are being implicated in the report have not received the report yet. They have to get the report. The report has not been adopted by the committee."

Rantho said she was not sure who leaked the report to Business Day, and that she will report this to the committee members today. The committee is scheduled to have a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the annual report of state entity Alexkor.

When asked when the committee would adopt the report, Rantho said that she was not sure, as the leakage may impact the work of the committee.

"We have got this scandalous thing, embarrassing thing [that has happened]. I'm not sure how it will affect committee work going forward."

Previously, Fin24 reported that the committee resolved to recommend that criminal proceedings and investigations be instituted against those implicated.

At the time Rantho did not name anyone, but told journalists some had appeared before the inquiry while others had not. Gigaba and Brown had both testified before the inquiry.

The procedure was to give those named 14 days to respond to the report. The committee intended for the report to be presented before Parliament before the end of November.

-Fin24

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Fuel prices up again

November 5, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Fuel prices up again OGONE TLHAGE

Fuel prices will increase for the fourth time in as many months tomorrow.

The minister of mines, Tom Alweendo, yesterday announced that all diesel grades will increase by N$0.70 per litre, and petrol by N$0.50.

In Walvis Bay, diesel 500ppm will now retail for N$14.48 per litre while diesel 50ppm will retail for N$14.53 per litre. Unleaded petrol will cost N$13.95 per litre.

“Due to the fact that the cost of importing fuel was not fully passed on to the customers, all fuel prices have to be adjusted,” said Alweendo.

According to him, service station owners were also not getting a return on their investment. The ministry thus had to increase the industry margin by N$0.02 per litre.

This is the fourth consecutive fuel hike since July.

Fuel prices will not increase in neighbouring South Africa this month. That country’s Central Energy Fund has announced unchanged fuel prices figures for November, MyBroadband reports.

“The average international product prices of petrol decreased while diesel and illuminating paraffin increased during the period under review,” stated the CEF.

“The rand appreciated against the US dollar during the period under review, on average, when compared to the previous period.”

Mariental rejects ‘struggle kid’

November 5, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Mariental rejects ‘struggle kid’ Another protest about school appointments Mariental has joined Tses and Omitara in protesting against the appointment of a struggle kid as school cleaner. JEMIMA BEUKES



Mariental residents on Monday protested at the Mariental Primary School, where a so-called struggle kid was apparently appointed as a cleaner while many local young people are unemployed.

Hardap police commander John Lifasi told Namibian Sun yesterday that the police were at the scene to maintain law and order and to investigate the incident.

This comes four days after the Tses community shut down their village school following the appointment of a struggle kid as a cleaner at the school.

Daniel Gariseb, a Mariental community activist, said the community felt betrayed by political leaders.

“We have decided as a community that we want the youth of the town to be employed. There are casual workers at that school, why can they not be employed? Why must a struggle kid be put in that job while there are people doing the job already? We will create chaos if we see that person in the schoolyard,” he said.

In May this year the cabinet directed the permanent secretary of the ministry of education, arts and culture, Sanet Steenkamp, to fill vacancies with the so-called children of the liberation struggle, who were born in exile.

A list of 61 names of struggle kids who had graduated from the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) was attached to the letter from cabinet secretary George Simataa.

Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa yesterday said unemployment is a national challenge and not only affects certain people.

According to her the government must have a national approach in solving challenges such as youth unemployment, adding that all Namibians deserve to be employed wherever there are jobs available.

“What is important is the due processes that are prescribed through the existing legislative framework, for example the Public Service Act must apply for everybody to be employed [in the civil service]. So, if there are interviews all of the people must be employed and be subjected to the due process, because all of us are Namibians,” she said.

Pitt’s body found

November 5, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Pitt’s body found ADOLF KAURE



The body of the man wanted as a suspect in connection with the gruesome killing of Lindie Prinsloo (39) was found hanging from a rope tied to a roof beam in the garage of the house where the crime was committed.

Adam Labuschagne, a friend of Prinsloo’s, found the body of Ivan Pitt yesterday. He had also found Prinsloo’s body on Friday.

Pitt was in a relationship with Prinsloo and was reported missing after her body had been discovered with her throat slit at No 15 Harder street in Vineta, where the couple lived.

The police launched a manhunt for Pitt soon after the murder.

Pitt was said to have left the scene of the crime in a white Kia hatchback which belonged to Prinsloo.

Labuschagne said Pitt used to do carpentry and a customer of his wanted to know whether a table he had been commissioned to produce was complete.

“I drove from Walvis Bay to come and see if the item was in the garage. I obtained the keys for the garage and as I approached the house I picked up a strange smell. I thought it emanated from the dustbin and was due to the blood that was cleaned at the murder scene the other day.”

When Labuschagne opened the garage door to look for the table he saw Pitt’s body hanging from a rope.

On Sunday, Bridget Pitt, Ivan’s mother, had pleaded with her son to stop running from the police and hand himself over.

She described her son as a peaceful and nonviolent person and said she had sent him numerous text messages telling him to come home so that she could accompany him to the police station.

“I sincerely hope he does not do something stupid and complicate things further,” she said.

A photo of Pitt’s body posted on the social media page of a weekly newspaper caused a furore and infuriated his family.

That prompted the police to refuse to provide any further information about the incident.

“I understand there is a picture of the deceased being circulated already. The person who did this must know it is wrong to do that. I won’t give you any update because you already have your update,” detective Daniel Gurirab informed members of the media via the Turn Back Crime WhatsApp group created for the purpose of sharing crime-related updates.

Reports of the murder spread like wildfire over the weekend and led to calls for the reinstatement of the death penalty. An online petition is being circulated requesting President Geingob to reinstate the death penalty.

According to media reports, Prinsloo and her daughter moved to Swakopmund a year ago from Outjo, where she had founded the Have-A-Heart Foundation in 2012.

She submitted a sworn statement on 17 August in aid of Ivan Pitt’s bail application in a case of domestic violence that she had brought against him.

She told the court that Pitt was her ex-boyfriend and that they had broken up four weeks ago.

“I would like the accused to be granted bail. I do not think he is a threat to my life and went to see him in jail. He apologised and agreed to undergo anger management sessions,” she stated.

Prinsloo told the court that Pitt had not assaulted her and merely wanted to talk to her.

“When I did not want to listen he took a knife and pressed it against my throat to make me listen. I am not scared of him anymore. There are no conditions I would suggest because we still have to work together. He will not come to my house but I do not want that to be a court order. I believe that he will do what he says,” her affidavit read.

Africa news in brief

November 5, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Africa news in brief US to end trade benefits for Mauritania

US President Donald Trump intends to end trade benefits for Mauritania on Jan. 1 for not making sufficient progress on ending forced labor practices, the US Trade Representative’s Office (USTR) said on Friday.

In a statement, USTR said Trump has determined after an annual eligibility review that Mauritania is not in compliance with requirements of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free treatment for certain goods.

“Forced or compulsory labor practices like hereditary slavery have no place in the 21st century,” deputy US trade representative C.J. Mahoney said.

“We hope Mauritania will work with us to eradicate forced labor and hereditary slavery so that its AGOA eligibility may be restored in the future,” Mahoney said.

-Nampa/Reuters

Phase two of Libya gas field to finish by end 2018

Seven remaining wells are expected to be online at Libya’s Bahr Essalam offshore gas field by the end of the year, the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) said in a statement on Sunday.

The statement came after a meeting between NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi. The field is operated by Mellitah Oil and Gas, a joint venture between the NOC and Eni.

The first wells in phase two of the development of Bahr Essalam came online in July.

At a meeting in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, Sanalla and Descalzi discussed plans for seven remaining wells, which the statement said were “expected to complete by the end of 2018”.

“The parties discussed opportunities to increase production, investment and exploration, and the importance of sustainability in all activities,” the statement added.

“The compression capacity upgrade project at the Wafa plant was also reviewed, with the first gas expected to come on stream in the next few days; a successful joint project in challenging conditions in Libya’s remote interior.”

-Nampa/Reuters

Sudan hikes flour subsidies by 40%

Sudan increased flour subsidies by 40%, the finance ministry said on Saturday, after the reduction of subsidies this year sent bread prices higher and triggered protests.

The government would spend 35 million Sudanese pounds (US$737 000) daily instead of 25 million, the statement added.

A decision to reduce bread subsidies this year sparked rare nationwide protests after bread prices doubled. Inflation climbed to a record 66% in August, one of the highest rates globally.

Sudan’s economy has been struggling since the south seceded in 2011, taking with it three quarters of oil output and depriving Khartoum of a crucial source of foreign currency.

Sudan sharply devalued its currency in October after a group of banks and money changers was tasked with setting the country’s exchange rate under a new system established by the government to tackle an acute shortage of foreign exchange.

-Nampa/Reuters

Zambia cuts electricity supply to mines

Power supply to some mines in Africa’s second-biggest copper producer was cut due to a technical fault, Zambian state power firm Zesco said on Friday.

“We had a system disturbance which led to loss of power on the Copperbelt, including the mines,” the utility’s spokesman Henry Kapata said.

“We are investigating the cause of the disturbance. Power restoration has started but it will be gradual.”

A spokesman for Luanshya Copper Mine owned by China Nonferrous Metals Mining Corporation (CNMC) said the company expected to lose about four hours of production.

“Even though the power restoration has started we have to launch the equipment gradually to avoid damage,” Luanshya Copper Mine spokesman Sydney Chileya said.

Industry sources said Konkola Copper Mines(KCM) owned by Vedanta Resources shut down all its operations except its smelter and the Konkola Deep Mine during the blackout. KCM could not immediately be reached for comment.

-Nampa/Reuters

'Virtually no progress' in creating economic opportunity in Africa

November 5, 2018, 2:00 pm

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'Virtually no progress' in creating economic opportunity in AfricaWhole decade The 2018 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) paints a worrying picture of access to economic opportunity for citizens of African countries. This is despite strong levels of economic growth over the last decade.

The index, which measures four pillars of governance - Safety and the Rule of law, Participation & Human Rights, Sustainable Economic Opportunity and Human Development – was released in Pretoria on Friday and is the brainchild of Mo Ibrahim, the Sudanese telecoms billionaire and philanthropist.

The Overall Governance score, which takes all the indicators into account, improved modestly in the 2018 IIAG to 49.9 out of 100, up from 49.7 the previous year, however several key pillars saw declines, including economic prosperity.

“Since 2008 the African average score for ‘Sustainable Economic Opportunity’ has increased by 0.1 point, or 0.2%, despite a continental increase in GDP of nearly 40% over the same period.

The Sustainable Economic Opportunity pillar scored 44.8 out of 100, having remained under the 45 mark on the index, since 2008.

Virtually no progress

“There has been virtually no progress in creating ‘Sustainable Economic Opportunity’, meaning it remains the Ibrahim Index’s worst performing and slowest improving category,” the Mo Ibrahim Foundation commented.

Malanga Mughogho, a former Ibrahim Leadership Fellow at the African Development Bank told Fin24 on the sidleines of the launch that young people across the continent can see things happening, but they don’t experience the benefits, adding that the phenomenon appears to be “jobless growth”.

And the future also appears to be bleak.

Between 2015 and 2050, Africa’s working age population (15-64 years old) is expected to increase by 901.8m people yet the Mo Ibrahim Foundation found the "dismal trajectory of the African average score of the business environment over the decade, contrasts with the increasing continental GDP and also appears to be at odds with population growth”.

Mughogho said these negative economic trends are partly due to financial exclusion and people falling outside the formal banking system.

The Big Mismatch

Abdoulie Janneh executive director of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation pointed to the “big mismatch” in people studying agriculture with just 2%-5% of young people choosing to pursue this path at tertiary level while many African economies are still dependent on farming as a large segment of GDP.

He said that most jobs for the burgeoning population on the continent will come from the private sector and governments' need to attract the necessary investment by strengthening property rights and improving the business regulatory framework.

Also of concern is the Education Pillar of the index, despite the Human Development scorecard improving. This was mostly due to health outcomes over the last ten years. Education stalled in progress and has now entered a decline.

In 27 countries (52.8% of Africa’s youth population) in 2017, education scores deteriorated, driven by a drop in indicators measured by meeting the needs of the economy, quality and citizens’ expectations.

According to the 2018 IIAG, The Rule of Law and Transparency & Accountability improved and there has also been progress in Participation & Human Rights.

South Africa’s own scorecard on Sustainable Economic Opportunity, Safety and Rule of Law as well as the Transparency and Accountability pillars all deteriorated in the last ten years.

The country’s Participation & Human Rights, Gender and Human development scores however, improved during the same period.

-Fin24

The price of envy

November 5, 2018, 2:00 pm

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The price of envy Michelline Nawatises

What is it about people that makes it hard for us – sometimes - to feel happy for others? We want to be good friends, good neighbours and good citizens, but every once in a while, someone we care about might win a big award or receive a wonderful gift, and instead of swelling with happiness, we feel punctured. We hope we have the grace and manners to suppress this feeling, or at least hide it. We might smile and say, “Congratulations!”, but what we feel inside is thorny and dark.

Even when we try to hide our envy, it usually shines through. Most of us know what it is like to have something great happen and realise that someone we care about feels resentful. This happened to me when I was in the eighth grade.

I won an award at my primary school for being the best cricket player and some of my closest friends could not hide how upset they were. They even made little digs at me and insinuated I did not deserve that title. At the time, I felt hurt and angry and confused. I had worked really hard for that award and I was proud of myself for winning it. I could not believe that doing so might cost me my friendships. That should not be the price of success.

Since that experience, I have thought a lot about envy and I have tried to remember times in the past when I felt envious of others. Envy is not fun for anyone, but I think there are some steps we can take to manage it.

The first is to simply admit that we are sometimes envious. This does not mean we are bad or weak or petty. It means we are normal. Envy was probably once useful for our survival. Back when we lived in caves the person who caught the biggest fish or speared the biggest boar was the one most likely to survive. Our envy would have driven us to fish longer, hunt harder, and maybe even to steal from the cave next door, but all of this would have been in the service of staying alive. Today, we still have the same impulses. But without the threat of death, these impulses are triggered over hair colour and designer bags, and middle school awards.

The second step after admitting that we sometimes feel envious is recognising when we actually do feel that way. If we know we are feeling envious, we can identify the stories envy is telling us in our head, stories like, “She doesn’t deserve that award,” or, “Everything good always happens to him,” or, “Because something good happened to her, it means that nothing good will ever happen to me”. These stories are ridiculous. And if we realise that, we won’t believe them.

The third step is to imagine the experience from the other person’s point of view. When something good happens to someone else, we should take a minute to think about what it means to them and how it feels for them and, most importantly, what it might be like for them if we let our own feelings interfere with their happiness. This also means that when it’s our turn in the spotlight, we try to understand that others might be feeling disappointed or discouraged. And even though these negative feelings might be directed at us, they really are not about us at all.

There are probably some people who are able to resist envy entirely. For most of us, though, it is just a reality. Sometimes it is going to come at us and sometimes it is going to come from us. But if we are mindful and careful and considerate of each other’s feelings, envy doesn’t have to cost us.

michelline@myzone.com.na

It must be a battle of ideas

November 5, 2018, 2:00 pm

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It must be a battle of ideas The debate on the formalisation of the informal sector, which is currently before the National Assembly, has sparked a war of words between poverty eradication minister Zephania Kameeta and public enterprises deputy minister Veikko Nekundi.

Kameeta castigated Nekundi for criticising local authority councillors for poor service delivery during his contribution to this important debate, claiming the deputy minister was embarrassing government. Kameeta went on to suggest that MPs should first discuss issues of concern in a caucus at party level before speaking out in the National Assembly. The Namibian reported that Nekundi said local authorities should be blamed for not making land available to cater for the informal sector, especially vendors who sell their products at crowded spaces. The events of last week clearly bring to the fore the hanging questions about intra-party democracy and the relevance of Swapo. By its nature, the National Assembly is an excellent platform and wonderful opportunity for scintillating debates and discussions on bread-and-butter issues. There must be a serious battle of ideas, including the need for greater openness and accountability on the part of the government of the day. Ordinary people expect leaders from all political fronts to engage in issue-based politics. Swapo members, including those in prominent leadership positions, should not be silenced into submission, with no opposing views being entertained. This country needs more practical idealists, who will never compromise on the issue of principles. There is nothing errant about speaking out about the problems facing your nation. Generating opinions and shaping attitudes that serve to challenge or affirm the state of affairs in our country should be the mainstay of our society. It is our sincere hope that the retired bishop will reflect on this by humbly withdrawing his remarks in the August house, and by not seeking to stifle the opinion of others, on the basis of party loyalty. It's preposterous, to say the very least.

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Pilot threat probe 'exhausted'

November 5, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Pilot threat probe 'exhausted' Air Namibia said it has “for now” comprehensively exhausted an investigation into a possible safety threat after Canadian citizen Captain Hossein Ashrafi was allegedly overheard as having threatened to crash a plane should the airline dismiss or take any action against him.

It said the investigation could be reopened if people were prepared to come forward with more tangible evidence. For now, Air Namibia said, the statements allegedly made by Ashrafi could not be proven and the allegations were nothing more than rumours swirling around the corridors of the company.

Acting managing director Mandy Samson launched an investigation on 28 September, immediately after pilot Manuel Prenzlow, president of the Namibia Airline Pilots Association (NAPA), wrote a letter about his concern over the alleged statement by Ashrafi.

Ashrafi was immediately grounded but was put on flying duty on 29 October after the investigation came up dry.

The NAPA president said in his letter that Ashrafi had made statements “of a similar nature” before, which he said was common knowledge to cabin crew and some cockpit crew.

Prenzlow said NAPA had raised concerns regarding Ashrafi in the past, “with no consequences whatsoever” from Samson's office.

“The situation has now become one of extreme importance and a cause of serious concern regarding our colleagues and indeed the population at large,” he wrote.

Prenzlow's letter stated that the alleged statements warranted immediate action because Ashrafi occupied a managerial position.





He asked that Ashrafi be removed from any flying duty until the matter was thoroughly investigated.

Ashrafi allegedly made the comments in the company of other Air Namibia personnel on a company bus travelling from Hosea Kutako International Airport to Windhoek.

Ashrafi had complained about his grounding through the law firm Tjombe & Elago.

Lawyer Norman Tjombe said the allegations against Ashrafi appeared to be “hearsay on top of hearsay”.



Investigation

On the same day Ashrafi was grounded Samson instituted an investigating panel consisting of the airline's heads of safety, security and quality assurance.

The panel requested sworn statements from Prenzlow, which the airline said could not properly justify the allegations to enable the airline to make an informed assessment on the balance of probabilities.

“In view of the fact that the airline was provided with little or no information with which to make a substantive conclusion, the airline is in no position to give credence to the allegations as received and, on that basis, allowed Captain Ashrafi to resume his flying duties,” Air Namibia spokesperson Paulus Nakawa said.

The acting general manager of flight operations, Captain William Ekandjo, wrote on 29 October that the panel had found “no merits or supporting facts” regarding Ashrafi's alleged threats.

Ekandjo wrote: “Based on the number of years that Captain Ashrafi has been working for Air Namibia, and the report conclusion, I am confident to reinstate Captain Ashrafi to full flying duties as per his contract.”

Nakawa said Prenzlow had made a “very unsubstantiated allegation”, which he said could be defined as “hearsay in the classic sense” and the airline therefore saw “no need” to subject Ashrafi to a psychological evaluation as part of the investigation.

Nakawa said Ashrafi was “fit to fly and holds a valid medical certificate for that purpose”.

Nakawa said Prenzlow could not prove his allegations and therefore should not have made them.

“He [Prenzlow] declared under oath before a commissioner of oaths that he had overheard people talking about something which they had overheard,” Nakawa said.

He said Air Namibia was complying with “the rules of the game” and that is why the airline is one of the few African carriers permitted to fly in European airspace and was also granted rights to fly to the United States of America.

Prenzlow said Air Namibia is lying that he made “unsubstantiated” allegations.

“I strongly object to the allegation that I accused anybody of anything. I merely reported a matter which I overheard being discussed in the crew bus. I merely reported a possible safety hazard that could have dire consequences,” he said.

Prenzlow said other colleagues who have knowledge of this matter are reluctant to come forward for fear of victimisation.



Contested position

Nakawa said the allegations might have been made to tarnish Ashrafi's name because he the position he holds – head of training – is highly sought after and contested.

He said the airline had received complaints against highly decorated pilots who formerly held that position.



He made reference to the reported case of Zimbabwean Captain Paul Muchatuta, who in November 2016 was alleged to have run naked through the corridors of a hotel in Frankfurt and forced himself into a room of other hotel guests.

No evidence could be found but Muchatuta eventually had to leave the airline.

Nakawa said it is a disciplinable offence to make unsubstantiated allegations that can bring the company into disrepute.

CATHERINE SASMAN

Cops serve Ndama from a shade tree

November 5, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Cops serve Ndama from a shade tree With criminal activities rife at Rundu's Ndama informal settlement, the Kavango East police yesterday responded to the cries of the community and set up satellite station that will initially operate from under a tree.

The satellite station, which operates daily from 08:00 to 17:00, will provide locals with administrative services, such as the certifying of copies, good conduct certificates and the opening of criminal cases. Ndama has been declared the most troubled area in Rundu, where the majority of common assault and housebreaking cases take place.



It was also at Ndama where 20-year-old Jesaya Gabriel Chuhunda allegedly massacred five of his family members, including his mother, in July. Ndama community members asked the police to bring their services closer to the community in order to curb crime.

At yesterday's event, Ndama headman Olavi Mpande explained how they managed to persuade the police to set up the satellite station.

Mpande said together with various stakeholders affected by criminal activities at Ndama, they wrote a letter to the Kavango East regional commander, Commissioner Johanna Ngondo.

Mpande said Ngondo then had a meeting with her team and instructed the Rundu station commander, Chief Inspector Paulus Hauwanga, to have a meeting with the Ndama community to see how best they could address the situation.

“We met with Hauwanga and reiterated our cry for police services, just as we indicated in our letter to the regional commander. At that meeting we were told about the financial crisis the country is in and that there is no money to put up a structure,” Mpande said.





Mpande said they informed Hauwanga that structures could come at a later stage and they just wanted a police presence at Ndama, even if they operated from under a tree.

Hauwanga reiterated what Mpande told the crowd.

He said based on the cries of the community, they took the decision to operate from under a tree until a better alternative could be found, such as a caravan.

“Let us be realistic; the rapidly expanding town of Rundu can no longer only depend on the Rundu police station. The police must serve with excellence and that's why we are bringing services closer to the people,” Hauwanga said.

He said Rundu needs about four more satellite police stations in order for the close to 90 000 residents to be served effectively.

With the rainy season fast approaching, Hauwanga said they would manage the situation as it unfolds.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Namdia board fees reined in

November 5, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Namdia board fees reined inAlweendo, Jooste put foot down over board fees Namibia Desert Diamonds, a state-owned enterprise, paid its board members an extravagant N$8 million in the past two years. Namibia Desert Diamonds (Namdia) has been instructed to halt the payment of exorbitant board fees, following reports that board members were paid N$8 million from 2016 to 2018.

Public enterprises minister Leon Jooste said this trend would not be allowed to continue.

Mines minister Tom Alweendo said the fees would come up for review in parliament. Alweendo told Namibian Sun that the new board fees would not be as excessive.

“The next report will tell a different story. Let us look at next year's annual report and I will be fully responsible for that one,” Alweendo said.

Namdia board chairperson Shakespeare Masiza earned N$1.4 million in board fees, while four other board members - government attorney Chris Nghaamwa, geologist Venondjo Maharero, Namcor information technology executive Bonny Konjore and economist Lorentha Harases - earned N$1.2 million each over the last two years.





Other Namdia board members who were paid handsomely are Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) board chairperson Tania Hangula, who earned N$1.1 million, and human resources specialist Florentia Amuenje, who earned N$745 000.

“The Namdia board fees referred to are from the previous two annual reports. During the last Namdia annual general meeting in August [2018], they were instructed to align their board fees to our gazetted guidelines and I can assure you that the board is now remunerated accordingly,” said Jooste.

He also warned that board members would be held personally liable if fees paid out did not adhere to stipulated limitations.

“Going forward, the public enterprises ministry will not tolerate non-compliance with the guidelines and board members will be held personally liable for financial implications,” said Jooste.

Masiza was contacted to establish whether the guidelines had been enforced, but did not respond.

Board fees are paid according to which tier a state-owned enterprise (SOE) falls under. There are three tiers and Jooste explained that Namdia was provisionally listed or defined as a tier-three SOE.

For tier-three SOEs, a non-executive board chairperson should earn no more than N$104 125 as a retainer, and no more than N$57 490 in sitting fees. The assumption is also that no more than four board meetings per year are held by SOEs.





Non-executive members serving on tier-three SOE boards should earn no more than N$85 000, assuming only four board meeting are held. In terms of retainer fees, non-executive board members should be paid no more than N$32 511.



Comparisons

For its financial year 2017, Telecom Namibia paid its board members a collective N$562 060 in board fees - in stark contrast to what Namdia paid its board.

Its highest-earning member, Johny Smith, earned N$179 000, while the lowest board fees were paid to Fernando Somaeb, who pocketed N$32 886.

The DBN, for the financial year ended 2017, paid board members just over N$1.2 million in total. Albie Basson earned N$274 775 and was the highest-paid board member.

NamPower did not provide any details of its board fees in its 2017 annual report.



Extravagant

Namdia's annual report for 2016 showed that its board of directors smiled all the way to the bank, with nearly N$4 million paid in sitting fees.

The Namibian reported that Masiza was paid N$595 000 and Maharero N$577 000, while the rest were collectively paid N$560 000.

OGONE TLHAGE

Namibian eSports team just landed in Taiwan

November 5, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Namibian eSports team just landed in TaiwanNESA CS:GO team The Namibian eSports team team has landed in Taiwan. There they will represent Namibia in an International eSports competition. The team will compete in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO),League of Legends, en Tekken 7 and gain valuable exposure on the intentional stage of professional gaming.

The Namibian Electronic Sports Association (NESA) is the official governing and representative body for eSports in Namibia.

They will return to Namibia on 14 November.

City suspends Kahimise again

November 6, 2018, 2:39 am

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City suspends Kahimise again

City of Windhoek CEO Robert Kahimise was suspended for a second time, with immediate effect, late on Monday night.
His suspension is linked to accusations of serious misconduct and the contravention of the City’s conditions of service, as well as contravening its industrial relations policy.
Kahimise’s lawyer Patrick Kauta confirmed the suspension today, saying his client was “suspended without reasons and benefits at 19:15 last night”.
Kauta said he will be applying for an urgent interdict at the Windhoek High Court today.
Sources at the municipality said an urgent management meeting will be take place today at 13:00, followed by a special council meeting later this afternoon.
An acting CEO will be nominated at this meeting, they said.
In a letter sent to the municipality on Friday, Kauta noted that a letter dated 2 November, sent to Kahimise by the council, notified him of the City’s intention to suspend him for a second time.
It also requested that Kahimise make representations to say why he should not be suspended.
However, Kauta said it was too short a notice period for his client to do so.

JANA-MARI SMITH

NBL sponsors rugby sevens team

November 6, 2018, 2:00 pm

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NBL sponsors rugby sevens team The national rugby sevens team received an undisclosed sponsorship from Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) yesterday, so they can take part in the prestigious 2018 Safari Sevens rugby tournament, to be played in Kenya from 9 to 11 November at the RFUEA grounds.

The team departs today for Nairobi to participate in the 22nd edition of the annual tournament, which is open to international teams, professional and amateur clubs, as well as invitational, university and school sides.

Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) president Corrie Mensah thanked the sponsor and said their decision to cover the whole trip shows the brewer is on the side of the athletes.

Mensah told the team they have an obligation to represent Namibia well and make the nation proud.

“We trust that as a team you will bring back some pride and I'm also looking forward to a great future.”

NBL managing director Wessie van der Westhuizen said the company always strives to support Namibian sport and add value to people's lives.

“There are many differences in rugby, due to a strategy implemented that needs to be followed, but those differences can be fixed,” he said, referring to the NRU and Namibia Rugby Limited (NRL) squabble over the past two months.

“When things don't go the way they should, the athletes suffer. We want to assist the NRU in this regard. It is, however, a once-off sponsorship, but we should look at sustainability,” he said.

Van der Westhuizen said the brand the players will wear is close to everyone's heart. “Go and do your best and make us proud.”

Van der Westhuizen also dealt with concerns raised by local rugby lovers regarding NBL sponsoring foreign teams.

“We have to grow our brand; to increase investment one needs to go outside the country. The profit we receive is then re-invested into Namibia. It's not because we don't want to sponsor locally, but we want to grow and invest,” he said.

The captain of the side, Aurelio Plato, said they will perform to the best of their ability.

“In the previous tournament we didn't do well, but this time around it's different,” Plato said.

Twelve teams are expected to compete in the tournament: Namibia, Deejays, Shujaa and Morans (three teams from Kenya), Spain, Portugal, the Apache Sevens and the Red Wailers (British teams), the Samurai 7s from Japan, the Cobras from South Africa and teams from Uganda and Burkina Faso.

Participating sides will use the competition as a platform for their preparations ahead of the 2018/19 World Rugby Sevens Series that will kick off in Dubai on 30 December.

Namibia's rugby sevens squad is as follows: Aurelio Plato (captain), Daniel Bock (vice-captain), Lean Stoop, Paulus Hangula, Peter Diergaardt, Dirk de Meyer, Nandivatu Karuuome, Tuna Amutenya and Carlos Stevens.

Leslie Bougaard (coach), Ryno Visagie (team manager) and Wayne Damons (physiotherapist) make up the management team.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

'Player fraud' rocks Young African

November 6, 2018, 2:00 pm

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'Player fraud' rocks Young African The Namibia Premier League (NPL) executive committee met last night to determine the fate of Young African in the top-flight.

Legal practitioner and NPL prosecutor Kadhila Amoomo has recommended that the club be suspended for allegedly using a Zimbabwean player in their team last season, who allegedly played under a false name.

“In view of the seriousness of these allegations, especially with regard to the possible consequences, and in view of the fact that the league will commence on 9 November, it is hereby recommended that Young African and Tapiwa Simon Musekiwa be suspended and barred from participating in the league,” a statement released yesterday by Amoomo said. NPL CEO Patrick Kauta confirmed the recommendation, but did not provide any further details, given that the executive was set to meet late last night to discuss the club's fate.

“Yes I can confirm that the NPL prosecutor has made recommendations, but a final decision will only be taken at the executive committee meeting,” Kauta said.

The alleged fraud was exposed last week when Young Chiefs, who were relegated to the first division at the end of last season, submitted a complaint to the NPL in which they alleged that Young African registered Tapiwa Simon Musekiwa as Albert Mujikirera, by using an altered Zimbabwean passport.

The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement also asked fired Namibia Football Association president Frans Mbidi, who Fifa and the Namibian Sports Commission still recognise as the incumbent, to look into the Young African saga, among other issues.

They also claimed earlier this week that a Zimbabwean footballer had played for Young African using a forged passport, with a false name.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

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Govt backs Mbidi

November 6, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Govt backs MbidiSports minister speaks out against 'hatred' among administrators Sport cannot be managed through hatred, anger, nepotism, tribalism or personal interest, the sports minister said. Sports minister Erastus Uutoni has advised the Namibia Football Association (NFA) to reinstate its fired president, Frans Mbidi.

Uutoni further urged sport administrators to refrain from managing sport while breeding hatred among each other.

He also advised the football body and many other sport codes, where administrators are at loggerheads, to fix and amend their constitutions, which will help with governance.

This follows Mbidi's firing by the NFA executive committee recently for alleged insubordination.

“Our investigation through the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) has in this regard revealed that some constitutional provisions have been overlooked in the process leading to the dismissal of the incumbent president.

“The NFA exco did not comply with its statues in the process of administering a verdict of dismissal of their president,” Uutoni said.

The minister advised that the NFA congress be held on the initial date in December and not in January, as the NFA exco recently proposed.

Uutoni emphasised the importance of administrators rallying behind each other, rather than tarnishing each other's reputations.

“Sport cannot be managed through hatred, anger, nepotism, tribalism or personal interest, but through sober minds, unity, love for one another and love toward the game of sport.

The minister warned the infighting among sport administrators is slowly leading to a loss of confidence and trust, and is demoralising sport lovers.

He believes these squabbles are pushing young people away from football.

“To be honest, the sport sector is big enough to accommodate each and every one of us. We just need to work hard, in unity, to ensure that all those who wish to partake feel welcomed and free to contribute to its development.”

Utoni said government is not interfering in football affairs, but is giving advice, given that it funds football through the sports commission.

The current chaos started in 2016 when Mbidi suspended NFA secretary-general Barry Rukoro for alleged insubordination.

Rukoro, who has been in his post for over decade, has survived the chop on several occasions and was reinstated, given his strong influence over the NFA executive committee.

Mbidi on the other hand wanted to make his presence felt and fix things he believed were not being done correctly at the association, when he became president in 2014.

Many people, including Mbidi, feel that Rukoro has overstayed his welcome and that he should make space for someone else.

Those close to the SG felt that Mbidi wanted to breach the NFA constitution by standing for another term.

Rukoro further accused Mbidi of tarnishing his name and the name of the NFA in front of Fifa, Cosafa and CAF officials.

This year, attempts to oust Mbidi began after he attempted to remove Rukoro once again.

In February, Mbidi announced that the football association would not renew Rukoro's contract, but this was overturned by the executive.

Fifa is also backing Mbidi and said it does not recognise his ousting.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Kavango East urged to support para-athletes

November 6, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Kavango East urged to support para-athletes Namibia National Paralympic Committee (NNPC) president, Johannes Litwayi, has called on the Kavango East regional leadership to support Paralympic athletes in the region.

Litwayi said this at an event held last Friday by the Kavango East education directorate to recognise Paralympic athletes who represented the region at the 2018 Namibia Sport Awards and the Disability Sport Awards.

Beatha Hausiku (17) won the junior sportswoman with disability award at the Namibia Sports Awards held in Swakopmund last month.

Maria Simon (22) received an award at the Disability Sport Awards in September.

The athletes are learners at the Dr Romanus Kampungu Secondary School Special Unit, made up of learners with disabilities from the two Kavango regions.

Litwayi said the regional leadership and all stakeholders should do their best to develop future athletes that will bring medals to the region.

He said the Paralympic club in the region started in 2008 and it has not been a smooth journey, due to the lack of support from the region's leadership.

“We don't receive any support directly from the region, like it happens in other regions where I go to attend regional games or other competitions,” Litwayi said.

He added that during Paralympic games held in the region, no top official from the region reserves time to attend, adding the region only focuses on sport that involves able-bodied athletes. Despite this, Litwayi acknowledged the Kavango East governor's office, which he said has been rendering a lot of assistance to the Paralympic regional club. Litwayi, who hails from Kavango East, applauded the two athletes for their achievements.

He also praised Paralympic coach Wendelinus Sisingi, who has been coaching at the Kavango East Paralympic club since its establishment.

NAMPA

NPL fixtures revealed

November 6, 2018, 2:00 pm

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NPL fixtures revealedClubs poised for league glory The long-awaited MTC NPL season will officially start this weekend. Tura Magic and Orlando Pirates will open the Namibia 2018/19 MTC Premier League (NPL) season on Friday night, when they meet at the Sam Nujoma Stadium at 20:00.

The league commences after months of anticipation and clubs are eager to produce great results that will ultimately lead to premier league glory.

Okahandja United face a baptism, when they battle Tigers FC in Okahandja on Saturday at 15:00.

The club, formerly known as Military School, have a mammoth task ahead of them as they face one of the league's title favourites.

“The club has done well so far in pre-season and I am pleased with the work ethic the players have put in. We will take each game as it comes and hope that we can secure more points at home.

“I know about Tigers and they will not be an easy team to play against, but my boys are up for the challenge,” Okahandja United coach Woody Jacobs said.

Black Africa will be on the road, as they face Julinho Sporting at the Rundu Sport Stadium on Saturday at 15:00.

Newcomers Young Brazilians FC take on Blue Waters at the Karasburg Stadium on Saturday at 15:00.

Civics FC will host Eleven Arrows in Windhoek at the Sam Nujoma Stadium at 17:00.

Unam FC is pitted against Mighty Gunners at the Sam Nujoma Stadium at 19:00.

Young African FC is due to host Citizens FC at the Legare Stadium on Saturday at 15:00.

Life Fighters and African Stars will battle it out on Sunday at the Sam Nujoma Stadium at 17:00.

“I can confirm that the fixtures are now officially out and we do anticipate a great season.

“The official launch of the premier league will be done today,” NPL administrator Tovey Hoebeb said yesterday.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Opolisi ya yamukula konkugo yoshigwana

November 6, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Opolisi ya yamukula konkugo yoshigwanaTa ya kondjitha iimbuluma moRundu Omolwa onkalo yiimbuluma ndjoka ya londa pombanda moRundu, opolisi oya tokola okuninga osasiyona molukanda Ndama mondoolopa ndjoka, moonkambadhala dhokushunitha pevi iimbuluma. Osasiyona ndjoka otayi kala hayi longo pokati kotundi onti 08:00 sigo otundi onti 17:00.

Olukanda Ndama, okwa dhidhilikwa kutya ehala ndyoka li na iimbuluma ya londa pombanda noonkondo moRundu, moka hamu lopotwa iipotha oyindji ngaashi omadhengo nuulunga womagumbo.

Molukanda moka, omo woo omunamimvo 20 Jesaya Gabriel Chuhunda a dhipaga aakwanezimo ye yatano mwakwatelwa yina momwedhi Juli nuumvo.

Aakwashigwana yomomudhingoloko ngoka oya li ya pula polisi opo yi ya etele omayakulo gawo popepi, moonkambadhala dhokuya moshipala iimbuluma mbyoka. Omukomeho gwolukanda ndoka, Olavi Mpande okwa yelitha mOmaandaha nkene ye shi pondola oku uvitha ko opolisi opo yi e te osasiyona yawo molukanda ndoka.

Mpande okwa popi kutya ye pamwe naakuthimbinga yalwe, mboka ya gumwa kiimbuluma mbyoka hayi longwa molukanda ndoka, oya shangele ombaapila Komanda gwopolisi yoshitopowa shaKavango East kOmufala, Johanna Ngondo.

Mpande okwa tsikile kutya konima sho ya shanga omukanda ngoka, Ngondo okwa ningi omutumba nongundu ndjoka, na okwa gandjwa elombwelo kuKomanda gwopolisi yaRundu, Chief Inspector Paulus Hauwanga, opo a ninge omutumba naakalimo yomolukanda ndoka.

Okwa popi kutya oya lombwelwa kutya omolwa ompumbwe yoshimaiwa ndjoka ya taalela oshilongo, kape na iimaliwa yokutunga ehala lyokulongela opolisi momudhingoloko ngoka, ihe oya yamukula kutya opolisi otayi vulu manga okulongela kohi yomuti pethimbo ndika, molwaashoka shoka yahala ekalo owala lyopolisi momudhingoloko.

Omolwa eindilo ndyoka lyoshigwana oya tokola okulongela kohi yomuti, sigo kwa monika ehala ewanawa ngaashi ocaravan.

Hauwanga okwa popi kutya omolwa ondoolopa yaRundu ndjoka tayi koko meendelelo, egameno mondoolopa ndjoka itali vulu owala okukala tali zilile kosasiyona yopolisi moRundu, naashoka osho tashi ya falitha omakwatho popepi noshigwana.

Okwa tsikile kutya oRundu oya pumbwa andola oosasiyona dhopolisi dhili pu ne opo dhi vule okugandja omakwatho kaakwashigwana mondoolopa moka ya thika po 90 000.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Olutu lwaPitt lwa monika

November 6, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Olutu lwaPitt lwa monika Olutu lwomulumentu ngoka a kala ta kongwa uule womasiku shi na sha ekwatathano nedhipagp li nyanyaleka lyaLindie Prinsloo (39) olwa adhika lweendjelela mongodhi moombuli dhongalashe, megumbo moka mwa longelwa oshimbuluma shoka.

Adam Labuschagne, kuume kaPrinsloo, oye a mono olutu lwaIvan Pitt mOmaandaha, ye oye a li a dha olutu lwaPrinsloo mEtitano.

Pitt okwa hokololwa a li mekwatathano lyopahole naPrinsloo na okwa li a lopotwa a kana konima sho kwa adhika omudhimba gwa Prinsloo ngoka a dhipagwa sho a tetwa omuligu, pegumbo lyonomola onti 15 mepandanda lyaHarder moVineta, moka mboka yaali ya kala haya zi.

Opolisis oya yi molukongo lwaPitt konima yedhipago ndyoka.

Pitt okwa li kwa popiwa a thigi po ehala lyoshimbuluma nohauto yoKIA yaPrinsloo.

Labuschagne okwa popi kutya Pitt okwa li ka longo niipilangi, nakastoma gumwe okwa a li a hala okutseya ngele oshitaafula shoka a li ta longo osha pwa.

“Onda hingi okuza kOmbaye opo ndi ka tale ngele oshitaafula shoka omo shi li mongalashe. Onda kutha ooshapi dhongalashe na sho nda thiki pegumbo onda uvu ezimba.Onda li tandi dhilaadhila kutya otali zilike mendoloma lyiiyagaya omolwa ombinzi ndjoka ya wapalekwa okuza pehala mpoka pwa dhipagelwa Prinsloo.” Sho Labuschagne a patulula omweelo gwongalashe opo a konge oshitaafula okwa mono olutu lwaPitt lwa endjelela moombuli.

Mosoondaha, yina yaIvan, Bridget Pitt, okwa li a pula omona opo a hulithe po okuholama ye iigandje kopolisi.

Okwa popi kutya omona omuntu gwombili na keshi omukolokoshi, na okwe mu tumine oomatumwalaka gopangodhi ta pula a ye kegumbo opo e mu thindikile kopolisi.

Ethano lyolutu lwaPitt olya tulwa komapandja gomakwatathano gopainternet naashoka osha uvitha nayi aakwanezimo ye, nopolisi oya tindi okugandja uuyelele wa gwedhwa po shi na sha noshiningwanima shoka.

“Ondi shi shi kutya ope na ethano lyanakusa lya tulwa komapandja gomakwatathano. Omuntu ngoka a ningi ngaaka okushi shi kutya osha puka. Itandi mu pe uuyelele washa molwaashoka omu na nale uuyelele weni,” detective Daniel Gurirab a tseyithile iikundaneki okupitila kepandja lyoTurn Back Crime koWhatsApp ndyoka lya totwa po lya nuninwa okutopola oonkundana dhi na sha niimbuluma.

Olopota yonkundana ndjoka odha taandele meendelelo mehuliloshiwke, na oya etitha aakwashigwana ya pule opo ku galulwe egeelo lyeso. Ngashiingeyi ope na omukanda gwomashaino guli pamalungula ngoka tagu pula omuleli Hage Geingob opo a galule egeelo lyeso.

Palopota dhiikundaneki, Prinsloo pamwe nokamona oya tembukile moSwakopo omvula yimwe ya piti, okuza kOutjo hoka a totopo oHave-A-Heart Foundation momvula yo 2012. Okwa gandja omukandagano momasiku 17 gaAguste meindilo lyomboloha yaIvan Pitt omolwa oshipotha shomuyonena gwomegumbo shoka a li e mu tulilemo.

Okwa lombwele ompangu kutya Pitt ohonda ye nale, na oya topoka iiwike ine ya piti.

“Onda hala omufekelwa a pewe omboloha molwaashoka kandi wete ngele okuli uupyakadhi konkalamwenyo yandje. Onda li nda yi ndi ke mu tale kodholongo na okwa pe ndje ombili na okwa zimine opo a ka konge ekwatho lyootundi dhokukondolola ondjahi.”

Prinsloo okwa lombwele ompangu kutya Pitt ine mu dhenga ihe okwa li owala a hala okupopya naye.

“Sho inandi hala okupulakena okwa kuthilendje ombele ne okwe yi tula pomunino gwandje opo ndi pulakene. Inandi mu tila we. Kandi na oompango dhoka tandi vulu okutula po molwaashoka otu na okulongela kumwe. Ite ya kegumbo lyandje ihe inandi hala eindiko lyopampangu. Ondiinekela kutya itaka ninga shoka ta popi,” omukanda ngoka gwa lesha.



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