Top 8 extravaganza

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Top 8 extravaganzaStandard Bank injects N$9 million into new cup competition Last season's top eight teams, namely Eleven Arrows, Tura Magic, Young African, Tigers, Unam FC, Mighty Gunners, African Stars and Black Africa will be the first to compete in the cup, which kicks off on 31 January next year. Standard Bank Namibia has injected new life into the Namibia Premier League (NPL) by announcing yesterday that they will sponsor a top eight competition to the tune of N$9 million of the next three years.

The bank committed N$3 million per year over the three-year-period, with the Standard Bank Top 8 Cup slated to start on 31 January 2019.

Standard Bank Namibia CEO Junius Vetumbuavi Mungunda said football gathers people together, brings hope and lifts them out of misery.

“It is an industry which pays salaries, bills and educates children. It is also a sector which needs support from the private sector, as well as the government; hence the sponsorship,” he said.

Mungunda added that the bank wants to strengthen relationships and grow its brand.

It also wants to demonstrate the value of money and create further jobs through investment in local football.

NPL chairperson Patrick Kauta said the sponsorship is necessary, as it assists and enhances the league.

“This will make sure that the top eight spots are competed for. Next season, whoever qualifies will also participate in this competition,” he said.

Kauta said that a certain portion of the ticket sales will go to the bank's Buy-a-Brick initiative.

He added that he not only wishes that the best team wins, but also that the teams use the opportunity granted to show that they have come a long way from the dark ages and take sponsorships seriously.

Last season's top eight teams, namely Eleven Arrows, Tura Magic, Young African, Tigers, Unam FC, Mighty Gunners, African Stars and Black Africa will be the first to compete in the cup.



Fixtures

Black Africa vs Tura Magic (31 January at 20:00)

Unam vs Young African (1 February at 20:00)

Mighty Gunners vs Tigers (2 February at 17:00)

African Stars vs Eleven Arrows (2 February at 19:00)

All ties will be decided via a knockout system. Clubs will play each other once in the quarterfinals.

The winning clubs will advance to the next round.

If there is a draw after normal time, extra-time of 15 minutes a half will be played.

If score is still the same after extra-time, penalties will be taken.

Both semifinal ties will consist of two legs played on a home and away basis. Should a club withdraw or be withdrawn or suspended by the league before the start of the competition, the next best club will qualify.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

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Governor's cup this weekend

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Governor's cup this weekendTournament set to attract large crowd Siya village, situated approximately 90 kilometres east of Nkurenkuru in the Kapako constituency, will host a football tournament this weekend. Siya village will host the second edition of the Kavango West Governor's Cup, with eight constituencies from the region competing in the prestigious tournament.

The tourney will be held today and tomorrow at the village sports grounds, Egidius Nambara, executive member of the Kavango West Regional Football Committee, said on Wednesday.

“All eight constituencies have indicated their readiness to take part in the competition that will see the best constituency walk away with the first prize and the best players being selected for regional teams,” said Nambara.

He said the tournament that was introduced last year is aimed at creating a platform for young footballers under the ages of 17 and 20 to showcase their talent in the hope of catching the eyes of scouts selecting players for the under-17 and u-20 regional teams.

Nambara, who doubles as the competition's coordinator, added that it was also established to develop sport in the region.

During the competition, a preliminary list of u-17 and u-20 players will be selected to represent the region at next year's The Namibian Newspaper Cup and the Scorpion Zinc U-17 Cup.

Nambara added that girls under the ages of 17 and 20 have also been afforded the opportunity to take part, as a netball category has been incorporated in the competition.

“The tournament will help develop sport in all eight constituencies in Kavango West. We also hope to incorporate other sport codes in the future to make it bigger and better,” he said.

In the football category, the winners will receive N$5 000, a floating trophy and gold medals. The runners-up will receive N$3 000 and silver medals, while the team finishing third will be awarded N$2 000 and bronze medals.

In the netball category, the winning constituency will receive

N$2 500, a floating trophy and gold medals. Second place will get N$1 700 and silver medals and third will get N$800 and bronze medals. The competition is the brainchild of the Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku, in collaboration with the regional football committee. The first winners were the Mankupi constituency.

NAMPA

Iilonga a tumbalekwa

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Iilonga a tumbalekwaIilonga ta popiwa kutya okwa li ependa lya shili Ependa mekondjelo manguluko lyaNamibia ngoka a li a tulwa woo mondjeedhililo yaRobben Island pethimbo lyuukoloni omolwa ekuthombinga lye mekondjo, okwa hulitha mepupi lyoomvula 71. Oshigwana otashi lili limwe lyomomapendafule gaNamibia Petrus Iilonga ngka a hulitha ongulohi yEtiyali.

Iilonga okwa li nale omuhwahwameki gwiikumungu yaaniilonga oshowo onkwatwa yiita koRobben Island na okwa li a kala mondjeedhililo ndyoka uule woomvula heyali pokati komvula yo 1978 no 1985.

Omupresidende Hage Geingob okwa shanga ohela kulimwe lyomapandja ge gomakwatathano gopamalungula kutya okuuvu nokuhodhi olunene eso lya Iilonga.

“Komrade Iilonga okwa longa oshilonga oshinene meeto lyombili moNamibia. Oshilonga she onga oshilyo shelelo lyoshilongo otashi simanekwa. Omahekeleko gandje oguuka kofamili ye, kookomarade ayehe oshowo ookuume. Omwenyo gwe nagu vululukwe nombili,” Geingob a shanga.

Omunapolotika gumwe ngoka a li naye okwatwa yiita koRobben Island, Ben Ulenga okwa popi kutya Iilonga okwa li kuume ke omunene.

“Itandi itaala kutya okwa hulitha. Ondi shi shi kutya okwa li kuuvite nawa ihe onda li nduuvu kutya otati po hwepo, onkene onda haluka okuuva ongula yonena kutya okwa hulitha,” Ulenga a popi.

Okwa popi kutya oya longela pamwe pethimbo lyekondjelomanguluko oshowo sho oshilongo sha manguluka.

Omunashipundi gwoNational Council, Margaret Mensah-Williams naye okwa holola omahekeleko ge kepandja lyomakwatathano gopamalungula.

“Noluhodhi olunene onduuvu onkundana yeso lyaKomrade Petrus Iilonga. Okwa li ependefalu nomukondjelimaguluko. Omwenyo gwe nagu vululukwe nombili.”

Omutoolinkundana Gwen Lister okwa shanga koTwitter kutya Iilonga okwa li kuume ke omukulu.

Iilonga okwa longa onga omupeha minista miikondo ya yooloka yepangelo konima sho oshilongo sha mangulunga omanga ina pewa olupandu lyOngulumbashe Medal for bravery mo1996.

Pokati komvula yo 2000 oshowo 2005 okwa longa onga omupeha minista gwomidhingoloko oshowo omupeha minista gwaaniilonga pokati ko 2005 no 2010.

Momvula yo 2012 okwa ulikwa onga omupeha minista gwoshikondo shegameno.

JEMIMA BEUKES

President on the beat

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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President on the beat President Hage Geingob has called for increased police visibility and responsiveness this festive season and said he would join the police on one of its patrols.

The president said he was particularly concerned about criminals targeting the elderly and visitors to restaurants and public spaces at night.

He informed the police chiefs to “let everyone know it will not be business as usual this festive season”.

According to him the country is characterised by peace and stability and therefore cannot allow lawlessness to gain a foothold.

“We need to instil fear in the unruly elements in our society,” he added.

“Where is my uniform?” he quipped.

“We must set a day aside for a police raid before Christmas where we, all of us, can move around Katutura and other places.”

The president also informed police chiefs that the area around the Klein Windhoek police station, where there are several restaurants, has turned into a crime hotspot.

“Apparently some young people hide in the dark and when people leave the restaurants, some of them elderly, they attack and rob them,” he said.

The president commended the police for a job well done, particularly their recent successes in the fight against drug smuggling.

“Government is trying to build a peaceful, stable and harmonious country, and it has to be made clear to everyone. There is no place for narcotics in the Namibian House,” he said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

500 timber harvesters need clearance

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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500 timber harvesters need clearanceConfiscated timber to be auctioned off It may take several months before timber can be harvested in north-eastern Namibia with a long due process that needs to be followed by land owners and lessees. About 500 timber harvesters in north-eastern Namibia have to apply for environmental clearance certificates in order to resume operations.

This requires an environmental impact assessment, which is not only expensive but can take months to complete.

The forestry ministry this week confirmed that a public auction would be held next week to sell all confiscated timber that was illegally obtained.

Minister Alpheus !Naruseb said the issue of illegal logging had been in the spotlight in recent months and reached a peak when all timber harvesting was suspended.

He explained that a land owner or a legal occupant has a right to use the resources on the land in line with national laws.

In the case of timber harvesting though, a person must obtain a timber harvesting permit to fell trees for whatever purpose.

The minister said timber harvesting was allowed in terms of the Forest Act.

“However, the applicants must ensure that other legal instruments and their requirements are taken into account. In this case timber harvesting is one of the listed activities in the Environmental Management Act of 2007.”

Therefore, all applications for timber harvesting permits must be accompanied by an environmental clearance certificate.

Forestry ministry permanent secretary Percy Misika further explained the process, saying someone applying for a logging permit must be a Namibian who privately owns land or has leased it for a long time.

Misika said a forest inventory assessment is then conducted to establish the allowable quantity that can be harvested on the land, after which the applicant must conduct an environmental impact assessment.

“This is not done by the agriculture minister, but the onus is on the applicant to get an environmental clearance certificate.”

A permit would only be issued once the clearance certificate was received, said Misika.

According to the director of forestry, Joseph Hailwa, about 500 existing timber harvesters will have to apply for environmental clearance certificates. He said a list had been sent to the environment ministry and they were now dealing with that.

Responding to concerns about where timber is shipped, Misika said that was beyond the ministry's control. “People should understand that it is not a choice of the ministry where the ministry timber is going to, but a choice of the owner. When a person applies for a permit we cannot dictate to them whom to sell to and for how much. It is a business venture.”

!Naruseb said although most timber harvesters were in possession of valid harvesting permits, illegal logging did take place at various places and at different times.

He said such incidents would be jointly investigated by the ministry and the police.

“Currently there are officials in all regions monitoring the situation. However, given the size and long distances in our country, there is always a need for additional resources.”

He said based on the lessons learnt in recent months the ministry was reviewing its strategies to ensure that resources were made available to prevent illegal logging.

ELLANIE SMIT

Namibian hip-hop reaching milestones

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Namibian hip-hop reaching milestonesLioness representing Namibia at Coke Studio Africa Local rapper Lioness is currently in Kenya working on collaborations featuring other African artists. Lioness started off her year on a high note and is now ending it in a similar manner, and out of the country. The rapper who recently released her debut album Pride of Clique, will be collaborating with other African rappers for next year's Coke Studio Africa season, which is produced in Kenya.

The Dreams singer is the third Namibian artist to be featured on the platform following Freeda and Ann Singer. Coke Studio Africa is known for giving a chance to fast rising, up-and-coming artists to feature on the show on the big break segment where they get to collaborate with industry greats.

The rapper has proven herself this year with her consistency by releasing singles that were accompanied by great visuals which makes her worthy of the opportunity to represent the Namibian hip-hop industry.

The thrilled rapper thanked her fans for showing her love and support which made her work get noticed across Africa.

“We are here, a dream made possible by you all,” said the rapper.

Coke Studio Africa is Coca-Cola's flagship African music show. It is a non-competitive music show that brings together diverse African music talent for world-class showcases, while giving upcoming artists the opportunity to work with some of the best local and international music and production talent. It brings together artists from different genres, eras and regions to create a modern and authentic African sound through music fusion.

The production now includes artists from South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, DRC, Ethiopia and Cameroon.

This year, artists including Mr Eazi from Nigeria and South African Boity Thulo, are part of the project and Lioness will be working closely with them.

Well-known tracks like I Said by Runtown featuring Nasty C were produced in Coke Studio.

Namibian presenter and singer Paul Da Prince also tagged along for a learning experience from the production process. Both artists look forward to networking and gaining knowledge from experts in different fields at the Coke Studio Kenya offices.

June Shimuoshili

Lubbe replies to FAW South Africa

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Lubbe replies to FAW South Africa The "Important Notice" published on Friday November 30th, 2018 in the Market Watch as well as other previously repeated publications of this notice in the media is in our view misleading and incorrect.

We wish to put the following facts on record:

We do not represent ourselves as the FAW agent from SA.

We do import FAW trucks, new and secondhand as well as spare parts, directly from China and in doing so, we are cutting out the middle man (SA in this case), saving the customer up to about 35% on certain models.

Namibia is a fully independent sovereign country and there is no law preventing us or any other entity, whether private or commercial, to import any product directly from anywhere in the world.

We do offer our services to everybody in the SADC region which includes sales, parts, after sales, services and any other issue related to everything we deal with.

Our warranties are the same or sometimes even better and we have almost all fast moving parts in stock and ready for delivery.

Lubbe Motor Motor Investments CC is not an authorized sales and service provider or workshop through the FAW SA dealer network.

We have never nor will we ever advise any FAW customer, having purchased an FAW through the FAW SA dealer network, whilst under warranty with FAW SA, to go anywhere else than to an FAW SA authorized dealership.

After the warranty expired, and if the customers so chooses, we will gladly assist with new sales, trade ins, parts, aftersales, workshop or any other assistance, because we have a 100% reputable knowledge of these trucks and and excellent workshop and after sales services.

We have a 24 hour hotline in Namibia.

From early 2019 we will have stock on the floor and prospective clients are welcome to visit us.

To sum up. We are not an FAW SA dealership and will never promote ourselves to be one. We can most definitely offer the same product, same model, same part, same or better service.

In this extremely tough economy we are all facing, let us rather work together then against each other. At the end of the day all of us and the customer will benefit greatly.

My team and I wish everyone a very Merry Xmas and all the best for 2019.

• Etienne Lubbe, Dealer Principal of Lubbe Motor Investments CC

Tips for holiday towing

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Tips for holiday towing As the holiday season starts, many people are about to leave for a break with trailers and caravans in tow. Yet, effective towing requires additional skills as it affects acceleration, braking and manoeuvrability. It can also have tragic consequences if a mistake is made.

The MD of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, who is known for his towing feats, provides a number of tips to follow if you are towing over the holiday period:

Ensure you have the correct driving licence for what you want to tow. If you have never towed before, training is highly recommended. Otherwise, get a feel for how the wheels handle accelerating and braking in an empty car park. Ensure the trailer is roadworthy. If trailers stand for some time, tyres can deteriorate. The different weight requirements and distribution are most important, especially the gross and tow-bar weight. Incorrect weight can cause sway. Obtain stability by distributing the weigh evenly. Cross safety chains under the hitch in an ‘X’ shape. If the trailer or caravan unhitches it may drop onto these chains, maximising control and minimising danger. Empty caravan water tanks before leaving and refill them upon arrival. Additionally, fresh water is a must. Ensure bearings are well greased, especially in boat trailers and particularly if you live on the coast. Check all lights before leaving. Every time you stop for a break, check the trailer or caravan for problems. Allow for extra time to get to your destination. Remember everything takes longer when towing: speeding up, slowing down and overtaking, thus increase your spaces and be aware of faster vehicles. Moderate speeds reduce sway and give greater control. Fast speeds increase wind resistance, increase fuel consumption and put extra strain on the vehicle and trailer. Check tyre pressure before and throughout the journey. If the trailer starts to sway, gradually slow down until everything is back in line. Do not steer out of a sway. If your trailer continues to sway, determine what is causing the issue. You may need to reload or you may need to redistribute the weight. Slamming on brakes can cause jackknifing.

MASTERDRIVE

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Company news in brief

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Company news in brief Group Five gets interest for parts of business

South African construction firm Group Five Ltd has received interest from a number of parties for various parts of its business as it explores selling some assets, it said yesterday.

Group Five's board is considering the approaches, said the company, which this week hired a new chief financial officer with experience in restructuring and asset sales.

The company, whose shares have lost nearly all their value this year, has been cutting jobs and closing loss-making divisions amid stagnant economic growth low public infrastructure spending. – Nampa/Reuters

Barrick, Tanzania make progress in tax row

Barrick Gold Corp has made progress in talks with the Tanzanian government to resolve a nearly 2-year-long tax dispute, but it is premature to say a deal has been reached, a person familiar in the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

Government officials met last week with executives from Toronto-based Barrick and Randgold Resources Ltd, which Barrick is acquiring, to discuss the issue, said the source, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the talks.

Acacia Mining, 63.9% owned by Barrick, is operating under a raw mineral export ban and faces a US$190 billion tax bill from the Tanzania government.

That meeting "appears to have gone well," but there is "nothing in writing," said the source. "The next week is crucial."

Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that Barrick had reached an agreement with the government on a US$300 million payment, which Acacia will make in installments, with terms under review by a Tanzanian tax working group. It was unclear if the payment resolved outstanding tax issues. – Nampa/Reuters

Nigerian court adjourns MTN, central bank case

A Nigerian judge adjourned on Wednesday a hearing over an US$8.1 billion dispute between South African telecoms giant MTN and the central bank until Jan. 22.

The dispute is over the transfer of US$8.1 billion of funds which Nigeria's central bank said the company had sent abroad in breach of foreign-exchange regulations. MTN has denied any wrongdoing.

Nigeria is MTN's biggest market, accounting for a third of the South African company's annual core profit. The mobile phone network serves 56 million people in Nigeria.

The adjournment came at the request of the central bank and MTN lawyers.

"We are still making moves towards an out of court settlement," a central bank lawyer told the court. – Nampa/Reuters

British American Tobacco stands by full-year target

British American Tobacco, the world's second-biggest international tobacco company by revenue, stood by its full-year forecast on Wednesday.

The maker of Lucky Strike and Dunhill cigarettes said it still plans to exceed its target for high single-digit growth in adjusted earnings per share for 2018, excluding a currency impact of around 6%.

Adjusted revenue and operating profit growth will be weighted toward the second half of the year, it said, fuelled by market share gains in cigarettes and growth in e-cigarettes and tobacco-heating devices.

BAT reiterated that those cigarette alternatives would reach 900 million pounds of revenue this year.

The company's shares have fallen nearly 47% this year, due largely to uncertainty around the regulation of menthol cigarettes in the United States, a market that BAT is big in. The company on Wednesday said it was "well placed to manage US regulatory proposals" and that it was "constructively engaging" regulators. – Nampa/Reuters

Rolls-Royce expects 2018 profit in upper half of forecast range

Rolls-Royce expects its 2018 group profit and free cash flow to be in the upper half of its guidance range, the British engineering company said on Wednesday, shrugging off problems with some of its aircraft engines.

Rolls, whose main business makes engines for large airliners, had forecast group operating profit of 400 million pounds (US$509 million), give or take 100 million pounds, and free cash flow of 450 million, give or take 100 million pounds.

It said it now expects its results to hit the upper half of those ranges after airlines flew their planes for more hours, helping Rolls earn more from maintenance and related activities.

The positive guidance comes despite problems with its Trent 1000 engine which has meant airlines have had to ground some of their Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes, and after slightly lower-than-expected deliveries of some other engines.

Rolls said that it was readying itself for Britain's exit from the European Union by building up inventory amongst other contingency plans. – Nampa/Reuters

2019… the year of truth and success

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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2019… the year of truth and success It's that time of the year again where resolutions are made and comments that end with 'should be left in 2018' will be commonplace. I know this will sound clichéd but some people, and their behaviour, need to be left behind in this year. I also want to clear up this: Just because you had a bad year it doesn't mean that we all want the year to end. Some people actually had a very good year and such energies need to be passed along to the next year. There are those that had terrible few years and maybe, if they left certain tendencies behind, things wouldn't be so bad. Here is a list of what to avoid to have a good year.

Tendencies of lying should be left behind… for the love of Jesus. Guys, not everyone is meant to be a hero or heroine. If you can't do a certain thing, let people who can handle it. It's the 21st century and this is the era of giving each other opportunities to shine equally. Let's learn to eat together. If you lie about your abilities and you fail you not only wasting time but also resources.

The biggest social ill that should be left behind is that 'support local businesses' tip. I am saying this because many micro businesses or those that want support are actually ripping people off. How can you just want to be supported 100% event if you are selling a mediocre service or product? Certain designers copy and paste international designers' looks and want to sell the same concepts locally at high prices. Other local businesses purchase goods at cheap prices and want to make 200% profit. This type of extortion should end. We are all affected by the economic recession and that is not an excuse for daylight robbery.

In conclusion, may next year be for all of us. May we all aim to be better and strive to be the best in our specific fields. May we always find solutions to problems; may we learn to say no where necessary and may we have the will to learn, and the courage to change the things we can.



Merry Christmas and a fantastic 2019.



june@namibiansun.com

Greatest 2018 tjil moments

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Greatest 2018 tjil momentsRewarding and celebrating local talent Reviewing the year that was… and what a year it was! It is safe to say that 2018 has been a less exciting year compared to 2017. Everyone stuck in their own lanes, and very minimal drama which was good for entertainers. Almost everyone honoured their commitments except the few who promised to release projects but never did so. The year 2018 was definitely a year of breaking boundaries and comfort zones as we saw more local productions being premiered, a whole lot designers coming out with great stuff. We also saw a whole lot more festivals that aimed to uplift the entertainment industry, however, many of them turned out to be drinking parties. tjil reviewed the year that was and also looked into the future for whom to lookout for next year, in the form of awards.

Hero of the year

Before his departure, Jomolizo was carving a name for himself in the music industry and he was well on his way to becoming a firm favourite. The singer was also one of the most vocal advocates against piracy which led to a lot of jukebox owners and the public preaching the same message. We thank you for your music and your efforts in combating one of the biggest evils in the music industry. May your soul rest in power!

Comebacks

This year we saw a lot of oldies make great comebacks. Some came with no growth and the same struggles whilst others came back with different names doing different genres and making hits. Some noticeable artists include Killa B who performed his hit tracks like Eliko at the Simply You Fashion and Lifestyle Awards show. The singer promised that he is back for good and ready to reclaim his throne. We pray this time it’s for real.

Most consistent

This year seemed so long and some people wonder how certain names remained consistent regardless of the economic hardships everyone faced. Songbirds Lioness and Top Cheri have managed to maintain their relevance in the game by producing hit after hit accompanied by great visuals and they were seen at almost every event. The two have also been featured by mainstream artists. For up-and-coming artists, these ladies have won the year.

Momentous

Sunny Boy did the things this year! He made sure that he would leave 2018 with a fiancé and also popped the question in the loudest way. The Young Wild and Free singer used his performing slot at The Dogg’s final concert to ask his baby mama and long-term girlfriend to be his wife. It was the most beautiful moment. Congratulations to the love birds.

Most promising

Predicting someone’s fate is never easy but we will still give it a try. Last year we prophesied the careers of Jeiyo, Top Cheri and Salvador taking off, but only two managed to do so. This year we believe that the artists who have worked hard over the year to make a name for themselves and have shown that they are ready to make a career in the entertainment industry include Rodelio Lewis, Princelou Faragama, Vikta JuiceBoy and Filly-Zo NamWater. Do keep an ear for these guys because you will hear a lot about them in 2019.

Hustler of the year

She was awarded Best Female Artist of the Year and after that she just kept on winning. Sally Boss Madam once again proved that she lives by her boss title and that’s she all about getting her coins. Sally was able to bag deals not done in Namibia in a long while, such as partnering with the Lexus car dealership and Top Score, and went to the extent of performing in Hindi with her Indian Commission gig. Not to forget bagging more deals with Shell and Delush wines. Sally sure did a handful this year, please do take notes.

Most creative

This year we saw a lot of collaborations and creative work merging. We definitely believe that the most creative project was the Pasta Polana sitcom. The Polanas series consists of ten-minute episodes that show the humorous situations of a typical Namibian family. In the series we see the rise of up-and-coming actors launching their careers and the use of underground videographers too. It was really smart of Pasta Polana to help the creative industry by coming up with the sitcom that can be watched on TV as well as online platforms.

Potential brand

We have to give a standing ovation to local designer Zulu for thinking beyond the norm and coming up with his Namibian inspired Gweri socks. I mean we are used to seeing Hendrik Witbooi on money but on socks? That was brilliant. The designer said his happy socks tell a Namibian story and the designs are influenced by local tribes with the aim of taking Namibia to the rest of the world. Get it Zulu! Keep letting them know about us through your socks!

Most influential

This year like none before, we saw public relations agencies take big and small artists under their wing for guidance. Kudus goes to Poiyah and Alvaro media agencies for leading the pack and ensuring that local entertainers take their brands seriously, and showcasing the importance of public relations. We hope to see a lot more entertainers take their brands seriously and sell them with pride.

Corporate of the year

Finally the cries of local corporate companies not supporting the arts have been heard. We highly appreciate the Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) for leading the way in ensuring that local artists and entertainment initiatives are supported. The NDTC was the main sponsor for the Simply You Magazine Lifestyle and Fashion Awards as well as the annual Windhoek Fashion Week. We surely hope that more and especially international corporate businesses follow suit.

Go-getter

This guy pushed boundaries this year. When there seemed to be no way, he found the way and proved that hard work and determination are key ingredients for success. We give local actor, DJ and radio presenter NSK a big round of applause for going the extra mile in his activities this year. NSK went as far as waking up early on a cold morning to promote his play I Am Joe when the first night wasn’t well attended. If that is not an indication of passion and dedication then we don’t know what is.

Most marketable

Trust Paul Da Prince to represent us! This year, the singer and presenter used his networking skills which landed him the chance to be a guest presenter on DStv Supersport show, Homeground. Hosted by South African personalities Minnie Dlamini Jones and Lungile Radu, this is definitely huge achievement for Paul Da Prince and the local entertainment industry. Should we have to trust someone to represent Namibian entertainment, its Paul Da Prince yeah!

Most valued

A lot of people hate to love him but the boy is a genuine asset for local arts. EES this year made history by competing and winning the Germany X Factor as a Namibian kwaito artist. The singer did all of this wearing his Namibian-flag branded clothing and shoes. Although he got on the wrong side of social media when he suggested that 21 March become clean-up day, he managed to win the hearts and love of the public with this win. Congratulations EES. We are really proud of you.

Best initiative of the year

MTC once again proved that they are all about supporting local arts when they hosted the 081Every1Fest, a one-of-a-kind musical festival in celebration of its billion-dollar 100% population-coverage project. The festival saw local acts including Gazza, KP Illest, Sally, Oteya, Adora, and PDK, 4x4 Too Much Power and DJ sensations Afroberries perform centre stage. African artists Davido, Runtown, Heavy K, Busiswa and Jah Prayzah took the stage to give a memorable night for Namibians. We hope to see more of such events in the future. We still have a question, where are Davido’s shoes guys?

Most ambitious

Gazza really pushed boundaries. He is so goal driven that he wants make major money moves by being the first Namibian artist to hit a million views on YouTube with his song Chelete. Gazza so far has support from corporates and the public which is just goose bump stuff. So far, he has half a million views and this dream is slowly but surely becoming a reality. If you haven’t seen the video yet, please do check it out before the year ends! #GazzaMilli

Transformation of the year

Who would have thought that Lady May was capable of being a full-time gospel artist? This was one of the biggest U-turns in 2018. Lady May turned over a new leaf and now goes by the name Lady May Africa. Signed under D-Naff Entertainment, the new gospel singer so far managed to release two singles. We are anticipating your gospel album Lady may Africa.

Jill of all trades

Dillish Mathews kept ensuring her bag by getting out of her comfort zone. Not only did she keep most of her ambassadorial gigs from last year, she managed to get more gigs including that of the NBC Plus app. The ex-BBA winner whose music name is D-Money also managed to release two music videos, Lights featuring fellow Cleo Ice Queen, and Back in July which features Jay Rox. D-Money’s musical career caused a stir on social media. Keep doing you thing boo and secure your bag.

Career mentor of the year

We really have humble entertainers and they need to be admired. People like Wellem Kapenda, Himba Girl, Chelsi Shikongo, Exit, Berthold and Oteya have carried young talent and they did this without seeking validation or making noise about it. Shout out to you guys, we need more people like you.

Flop of the year

We saw things that were done in the dark come to light. May the spirits of exposing those who are doing wrong come to light in 2019. One flop of the year which is unfortunate is that off local designer Ruberto Scholtz, who sold matric students the same dress design with the excuse of the girls not being in the same town. This was regarded as tacky by the public given the fact that these kids spent so much money and wanted to look special which is why they sought a designer in the first place!

JUNE SHIMUOSHILI

Mistrust bogs down justice system

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Mistrust bogs down justice systemAids and abets corruption Weaknesses in our judiciary have been shown to prop up corruption in the country. A new study on the barriers undermining the push to fight the tide of rising corruption in Namibia highlights the role of the bottlenecks, backlogs and judicial missteps within the country's criminal justice system that have crippled public confidence.

Although the judiciary last month announced a refreshed undertaking to tackle the problems undermining public trust, the title of a new survey of the flaws in the criminal justice system, 'Creaking under its own weight', underscores the decades-long failure of the judiciary to improve its mandated delivery of swift and trusted justice for all.

The paper, by Frederico Links of the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR), investigates “how backlogs, bottlenecks and capacity constraints undermine the criminal justice system's contributing to Namibian anti-corruption efforts”.

It was launched on Friday on the occasion of this year's commemoration of International Anti-corruption Day at the office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Links writes that although several attempts were launched to overhaul and address the challenges in the system, “they are still struggling to come to grips with system-wide institutional weaknesses”.

The paper notes that these deficiencies have created “widespread negative perceptions of the state's and specifically the criminal justice system's handling of especially corruption cases”.

Moreover, the “cloud of distrust” has created negative perceptions of the ethics of some judicial officers and fuels perceptions of corruption within the system, the paper concludes.



Denting goals

ACC director Paulus Noa described corruption as an “invisible” theft of valuable resources, a crime that debilitates development initiatives in Namibia.

Noa underlined the multiple role players required to fight corruption, from an individual member of public, to law enforcement and the judiciary.

If one fails, he noted, corruption will flourish. “When the public has reported allegations of corruption, because of decades which some of the cases take on the court roll, the public loses hope,” he said.

Noa stressed that a lack of public confidence, in law enforcement, and the criminal justice system also stifles the public's willingness to come forward and report crimes, including corruption.

Moreover, undue delays can lead to witnesses refusing to testify, vanishing or dying.

Links said backlogs and delays have a long history in Namibia.

The concern on the hamstringing issues that impair the rolling out of justice was already addressed by the former Namibian chief justice Johan Strydom in 2000 when he noted that two issues raised serious concerns for him.

“These are delays involved in the hearing and finalisation of both civil and criminal matters and the ever-increasing upward spiral of cost.”

He warned that unless these issues were resolved, but instead “get out of hand, that by itself would erode the rule of law and the high ideals set by our constitution”.

Results from the 2017 Afrobarometer, released by the IPPR earlier this year, found that only 30% of Namibians trust in the courts of law, while 74% of Namibians interviewed believe that “most or some judges and magistrates” are corrupt.

These figures, Links notes, “are alarming in their depiction of nationwide perceptions of judicial integrity”.



Justice delayed

The paper highlights the delays in some corruption cases, including the Avid-SSC corruption trial, which by the time the judgment was delivered in May 2018, had “been trundling through the courts for about ten years, while the matter, as a criminal justice sector concern, dated from 2004/5”.



Try again

The paper says that despite another attempt to overhaul the system and instil renewed faith in the criminal justice system's fight against corruption, “confronted with all the circumstantial evidence, it seems clear that the Namibian justice system is in a state of protracted undermining by its own long-standing challenges, which [in terms of corruption] does not bode well for the system's prospects in playing an effective role in fighting corruption in Namibia”.

To date, criminal cases dating back to 2010, 2011 and 2012 are found on the court roll. Figures released by the judiciary show that in 2016, 23.4% of cases were finalised and 61 cases brought forward from the previous legal year, while 20 new cases were registered at the Windhoek High Court.

In 2017, the Windhoek High Court brought forward 62 cases from the previous year, registered 22 new cases and finalised 20 cases.

Records from magistrate's offices show that between January and March 2017, 20 871 old criminal cases were brought forward, 5 983 new cases registered, and 6 918 cases finalised. Outstanding cases carried over numbered 19 936. Between April and June 2017, 20 070 outstanding criminal cases were carried forward in magistrate's courts, 5 635 new cases registered and 5 501 cases finalised.

Overall, in 2017, new cases registered numbered 24 794 and 25 402 cases were finalised.

In December 2017, the courts carried forward 20 263 cases to January 2018, with 5 684 finalised.

The research paper acknowledges that undue delays and bottlenecks are also significantly impacted by factors outside of the courtroom, including law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Treating the elderly and disabled

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Treating the elderly and disabled The Original Sons and Daughters of Okombahe (Osadoo) Foundation hosted a Christmas party for the elderly and disabled at Okombahe on 9 December. The Pinnacle Metropolitan Empowerment Trust donated food hampers worth N$124 755. In the photo are members of the foundation with Ariah Mokomele, project administrator of trust (third from left), who handed hampers to the elderly. Photo Contributed

Creative go-getters

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Creative go-getters Elizabeth Joseph

Trendquest Media is the new kid on the block in the media monitoring industry.

The women behind this brand is Ndeyapo Mbudje, who is the public relations officer and a media graduate from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), and Julia Ya Kasita-Nalisa, the media content researcher, who has been in the industry for more than 12 years.

Trendquest was established in November, after months of planning, in a bid to make sure that 2018 ends with a bang. The two ladies are excited about the change they are about to bring.

The dream started when Mbudje and Ya Kasita-Nalisa decided it was time to spread their wings and find other ways to make a direct and positive impact on the economy. The two were colleagues and gained experience from working at various media monitoring companies, including Media Tenor Namibia, Survey Warehouse and NaMedia. Their main objective is to analyse all indigenous media (TV, radio, print and social) content consistently, so as to optimise an establishment’s public relations and communication strategies.

“I have been in the media monitoring industry for a while, and I have worked with enough people to know the ins and outs. I wanted to branch out and challenge myself further,” Ya Kasita-Nalisa said.

Mbudje said her passion for media has always been evident.

From completing her studies in new media at the College of the Arts (Cota) to venturing into deeper media studies at Nust, she has always found a way to feed her passion and learn more about the media industry.

“I am very inquisitive by nature, so it made sense to go into media. Determination fuels passion and there has not been a day where I have regretted the decision my partner and I made,” Mbudje said.

The genesis

The idea behind the name Trendquest Media came from the owners wanting to stay relevant in terms of trends and what their clients might want to know about topics related to their brand’s reputation maintenance.

The idea is to search for what is currently happening and to be proactive in terms of public perception, in order to optimise opportunities for positive endorsements by own and related sources.

Currently the company is solely comprised of Mbudje and her partner, but they will be welcoming another member to their team early next year.

The next few years

“We want to employ at least four data analysts in the next two years, because we need people to be able to track data of both broadcast and print media. With the growth of the team, we will need a bigger space, so that is in the pipeline,” Ya-Kasita Nalisa said.

The company currently has a Facebook page -TrendQuest Media Namibia - and wishes to branch out to other social media platforms early next year.

NEO Paints announces grand winner

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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NEO Paints announces grand winner Photo: Contributed

Blasius Kandjumbi was yesterday announced as the winner of N$65 000 in a lucky draw marking NEO Paints’ 65th anniversary. In the photo with him is Estie Meyer, retail sales and marketing manager at NEO Paints, who travelled to Ongwediva to hand over his prize and congratulate him.

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Three girls drown in sand pits

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Three girls drown in sand pits Three girls, aged 11, 13 and 15, drowned in pits left by sand miners in the Ohangwena Region this week.

Some of the pits date back to before independence and were never rehabilitated.

Despite the threat they pose to people and animals, the pits are also useful in that rainwater collects in them, which can then be used by local people.

The Ohangwena police spokesperson, Sergeant Andrew Nghiyolwa, says the pits are dangerous and should be filled in order to prevent further loss of lives.

“Those earthen dams are a problem because we have children who go and fetch water in those pits and they do not know how deep it is. Some of the children go and swim in those pits and they do not know where the deep side is and then they drown. This is a serious problem we are faced with,” Nghiyolwa says. He urged parents and guardians not to let children go near the pits unsupervised.

“Parents and guardians should always ensure that an elder accompanies the children to those pits when they go and fetch water. The same should apply for swimming because in most cases the children who drown are those new to the area and do not know the water levels of the pits,” Nghiyolwa told Namibian Sun.

When contacted for comment, environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said it was not the ministry's responsibility to rehabilitate the pits, but only to make sure contractors comply with the Environmental Management Act.

Muyunda said in cases where a pit was dug before independence and it is difficult to trace the perpetrators, the local community should approach their regional councillor for advice on how to rehabilitate the pit.

“Our responsibility is to regulate the protection of the environment ... but in cases where nobody is responsible for these pits, the community can take it upon themselves to fill up the pits,” Muyunda said.

“They can get assistance from the regional office or the councillor to fill up those pits.”

KENYA KAMBOWE

Exam results out on 20 December

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Exam results out on 20 December The education ministry will release the provisional grade 10 and grade 12 higher level results for fulltime and part-time candidates on 20 December.

The ministry will release the grade 12 ordinary level results in January next year.

This year 56 112 candidates - 44 890 fulltime candidates and 11 222 part-time candidates - registered for grade 10 exams at 731 junior secondary schools and 143 part-time centres. The number of grade 10 fulltime and part-time candidates had increased by 2 784 (5%) when compared to last year.

According to the ministry, 17 968 candidates, comprising of 16 932 fulltime and 1 036 part-time candidates, were registered for grade 12 higher level exams this year. The number of higher level candidates had increased by 1 672 (10.3%) when compared to last year.

The results will also be available on the Directorate National Examinations and Assessment website (www.dnea.gov.na) and the ministry's website (www.moe.gov.na) or via SMS.

When using the SMS service, send a message with the name of the examination and the surname and first name of the candidate to either 2929, 99099 or 55755.

Both the SMS service and the websites will become active on 20 December at 00:15.

Regional education offices will also provide results to candidates and relatives who visit or phone these offices.



STAFF REPORTER

Record 1.6 million foreign arrivals

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Record 1.6 million foreign arrivalsMajority of visitors are tourists The tourism sector has significant potential for further growth, says tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta. Namibia recorded a record number of 1.6 million foreign arrivals last year, representing an increase of 2.2% from the 1.57 million of the previous year.

Nearly 1.5 million arrivals were recorded in 2017, an increase of 2.1% from the previous year when 1.46 million tourists had visited Namibia.

This was announced by tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta when he launched the Tourist Statistical Report for 2017.

The report indicates that tourists accounted for 93.2% of the total arrivals, followed by same-day visitors at 5.1%, returning visitors at 1.3%. Other categories of visitors accounted for 0.4% of the total.

The largest number of tourist visitors in 2017 came from Angola (403 129), South Africa (325 968), Zambia (195 289), Germany (123 022) and Zimbabwe (89 241).

The report noted a 0.3% decrease in African visitors compared to 2016, while North American visitors increased by 11.1% and Europeans by 5.7%.

The bed occupancy rate of the hospitality sector increased from 33% in 2016 to 36% last year.

According to the report the highest bed occupancy rate was observed in 2014 at 38% and then it fell to 28% in 2015.

The Kunene and Hardap regions had the highest bed occupancy rate at 46.7% and 43.6% respectively, while Omusati and Ohangwena recorded the lowest bed occupancy at 12.6% and 5.8% respectively.

“We see bed occupancy rates for some regions such as Zambezi (16.1%), Ohangwena and Oshana (13.6%) are extremely low.

“As part of our tourism growth strategy we would like to see the geographic spread of tourists across all regions. Revenue flows are more when tourists overnight. We have to urgently look at what are the barriers to growth in these regions and address them accordingly,” said Shifeta.

He also pointed out that tourists spend more time at Namibia's more popular destinations such as Etosha National Park, Naukluft and the coast, and added that especially the area around the Fish River Canyon needs to be developed with more establishments.

Analysing the tourist arrivals by purpose of visit, business tourists fell by 8.6% in 2017.

The category of 'visiting friends and family' continued to dominate with 44% of total tourist arrivals, followed by 37.8% of tourists who came for holidays.

Tourists who came for other purposes were about 2.9% of total tourist arrivals.

According to the report tourists intended to stay in Namibia for an average of 19 days, which was the same as the previous year.

The majority of tourists entered Namibia by road (70.7%), while 27.2% travelled by air and 0.6% by sea. Other modes of travel made up 1.5% of the total.

Air Namibia brought in 34.3% of the total tourist arrivals by air in 2017. This was a distinct drop from the 43.6% that it had brought in the previous year. South African Airways brought in 30%.

Shifeta stressed that with Air Namibia still bringing in the lion's share of tourists to Namibia it was important to support the efforts of the national carrier.

“This shows why we cannot do away with Air Namibia's Windhoek/Frankfurt route and must support the airline.”

He said these days Namibia is a much better place than it was in previous years.

“We know this because statistics say so. We have achieved various development goals in providing a conducive environment, infrastructure such as roads and a host of other issues in order to further our national development agenda,” said Shifeta.

He said overall the figures indicated that Namibia was making good progress in its efforts to grow and develop the tourism industry.

“The sector has significant potential for further growth.

There are still underdeveloped opportunities in the product range in and around mega-attractions.”

ELLANIE SMIT

Maengahama yields great fruit

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Maengahama yields great fruitMoving up the corporate ladder Victor Maengahama has been making strides at Deloitte for the past 11 years. Elizabeth Joseph

After Maengahama finished high school he immediately started laying the foundation for his future.

In 2007 he started at Deloitte and studied long-distance with the University of South Africa (Unisa), while working at the firm. He finished his studies in 2011 and was promoted to assistant manager. Since then Maengahama has continued to move up the corporate ladder and was promoted to senior manager in 2014. He has held this position to date.

“The position has been very good. I have been in auditing for over 11 years but I am still learning and growing, which is good,” Maengahama said.

A typical day

A typical day for Maengahama starts by waking up at 04:30 for some quiet time and meditation. He then he heads to the gym at 05:00.

“Between 07:00 and 08:00, I am setting up and following up on my to-do list, while also reading the newspaper and having some coffee,” he said. After that it is straight ‘beast mode’ as he engages clients and makes sure everyone is happy and productive.

Maengahama is inspired by his family and living a healthy lifestyle. He enjoys going to the gym, exercising and playing sport.

His journey

His achievements in his career are “twofold”.

“My successes at the firm and seeing the others succeed.”

He is proud to have been part of preparing a thought leadership piece on functional currency that was subsequently adopted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia, being a part of the team that won some big audits for Deloitte and winning Manager of the Year in 2017.

With great responsibility comes great challenges. When asked about his challenges, Maengahama mentioned the dilemma of managing work obligations and personal/family responsibilities, and finding a balance between them.

“Balance is always a challenge. The job is so demanding and the workload has increased over the years,” he said.

A bright future

The future is unpredictable, but Maengahama is facing this uncertainty with curiosity and optimism. He is excited about Deloitte and his future with the company.

“My goal in the next two years is to be admitted into the Deloitte partnership,” Maengahama said.

A company of great magnitude

“I have been most proud of the fact that Deloitte has continuously and consistently contributed to the pool of chartered accountants every year. For at least the past three years, we have achieved a 100% pass rate in the APC exam, which is the final qualifying exam with at least 12 students in each year. I am also proud of the clients that we serve. We serve the best clients that add value to the Namibian economy and make a difference in people’s lives,” Maengahama added.

Victor Maengahama fact box:

He is a born again Christian, who is fully committed to serving Christ.

Has two children, a girl and a boy.

He loves teaching and imparting knowledge.

He is in his 12th year of working at Deloitte.

Cheques phased out by Bank Windhoek

December 13, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Cheques phased out by Bank Windhoek Bank Windhoek’s final cut-off date for processing of cheques as a means of payment will be 30 June 2019.

“This is to meet the Namibian banking industry deadline of 30 June 2019 for all cheques to be phased out. As a result, no cheques will be accepted or processed at any of the banks in Namibia from 1 July 2019,” said the chief operating officer of Bank Windhoek, Franco Pretorius.

Cheque usage has been on the decline for some years, both at point of sale transactions where credit cards and debit cards are increasingly preferred, as well as for third party payments, such as the payment of bills. This decline has been accelerated by the emergence of mobile and online banking, the bank said in a statement.

Cheques are also more costly for both the issuer and acquirer in comparison to electronic payment methods.

“Bank Windhoek offers its customers a suite of alternative payment methods with a vast network of ATMs and point of sale presence. Our digital offering includes iBank, cellphone banking, mobile app, Easywallet and GoPay for fuel purchases. The Bank Windhoek Visa debit and credit card offering which can be used internationally,” concluded Pretorius.