Vendors ready for 2019

January 6, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Vendors ready for 2019 Vendors across Windhoek are waiting with baited breath for the school week to resume so that they can make some money owing to losses encountered over the festive break.

This was the sentiment on the ground when Namibian Sun visited a few small business people to get a feeling of how things went over the festive season.

For Selma Hangula, the festive season break will be one to forget. Hangula sells fruit and vegetables alongside the very busy Windhoek road, Nelson Mandela Avenue.

Sharing her thoughts, Hangula said it was very slow for business.

“There were no customers, there was not really much going on,” she said.

Despite the almost non-existence of clients, Hangula felt that it was still necessary to keep selling her produce.

“We don't just want to sit at home, it is better to get a little than nothing at all,” she added.

Petrol jockey Efraim Ashikoto echoed Hangula's sentiments.

Ashikoto operates from a service station in Eros and said that it got very quiet over the festive season.

“Business was very slow, there was almost nothing happening. We made very little during the day and at night, only a local security company stopped by to refuel their vehicles,” Ashikoto said.

“Maybe it will pick up next week, I think it is only in Swakopmund where money was made,” he added.

Barnard Kangueehi, who manages a car wash business in Eros said that business had been relatively good. This he attributed to the fact that more people chose to celebrate their holiday in Windhoek than in other places.

“Business was good over the festive season. It was maybe just over Christmas Day and Family Day when it was slow but generally business was good,” Kangueehi said. What also helped was that people returned earlier, possibly due to the current economic climate.

“We expect business to pick up even more as people return from their holiday destinations… with dirty cars,” said Kangueehi.

OGONE TLHAGE

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Apple's bombshell and the trillion-dollar question

January 6, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Apple's bombshell and the trillion-dollar questionDependence on iPhone questioned Apple, which has been growing in China even though it lacks a dominant position, is pressured by tariffs and other trade issues. The world isn't coming to an end for Apple but it's a major inflection point. – Roger Kay, Analyst: Endpoint Technologies Associates Rob Lever - Apple's bombshell news - a sharply weaker revenue outlook and lower iPhone sales - has raised questions over the future of the California giant, which until recently had been seen as the undisputed innovation leader in the tech sector.

Apple's rare admission on Wednesday cited steeper-than-expected "economic deceleration" in China and emerging markets and noted that trade frictions between Washington and Beijing were taking a toll on its smartphone sales.

But the news raised questions on whether Apple - the first to reach a US$1 trillion valuation and until recently the world's most valuable company - is seeing a bump in the road or is starting to slide back from its leadership position.

Some analysts point to Apple's dependence on iPhone sales to drive revenue and profits, even as it tries to diversify its product base and add services such as music and digital payments.

"The iPhone has been supporting the company for than a decade," said Roger Kay, analyst at Endpoint Technologies Associates.

"The world isn't coming to an end for Apple but it's a major inflection point. Up to now, Apple has defied gravity by growing faster than any other company in the market, but mathematically it was impossible to beat the market forever."

Apple shares plummeted nearly 10% on the news Thursday, with the company shedding some 38% since its valuation hit US$1 trillion last year.

Kay said the trillion-dollar valuation was "irrational" and based on growth projections Apple is unlikely to achieve without a new catalyst.

China

Apple, which has been growing in China even though it lacks a dominant position, is pressured by tariffs and other trade issues, further inflamed by the arrest of China-based Huawei's chief financial officer in Canada at the behest of the United States.

Huawei has overtaken Apple as the third largest global smartphone maker despite limited presence in the United States.

The update suggested a disappointing figure for iPhone sales, the key driver of revenue and profit for the California tech giant.

Apple said that it expects weak iPhone sales in other emerging markets, driving down revenue despite some positive signs in developed markets and in its other products and services.

Investors

The company slashed its revenue guidance for the first fiscal quarter of 2019, ended December 29, to US$84 billion - sharply lower than analyst forecasts averaging $91 billion.

"Apple stock is now at a crossroads," said a research note Thursday from Gene Munster and Will Thompson of the investment firm Loup Ventures.

"Some investors will consider the stock broken ... but we've followed the company long enough to know there is cyclicality in the market's relationship with Apple."

Munster and Thompson said it would take "a new product category," or large acquisition to allow Apple to regain its momentum.

Some analysts said Apple erred in boosting the price of its new iPhones to well over US$1 000 in a global smartphone market that is largely saturated and facing tougher competition.

"I think the main villain is the very high prices that Apple is charging for its new iPhones," said Richard Windsor, a technology analyst who writes the Radio Free Mobile blog.

"This is not a catastrophe nor is it a sign that Apple is losing its grip on the smartphone market but merely a misjudgment by Apple with regard to how much money people will pay for an iPhone."

‘Nokia moment’

The latest news sparked talk of the "Nokia moment" for Apple - a reference to the Finnish-based firm that led the mobile phone market in the early 2000s.

But Windsor said: "I do not in any way think that this represents Apple's 'Nokia' moment simply because there is still nothing to seriously challenge the iPhone in the high-end segment."

Carolina Milanesi of Creative Strategies said Apple is unique among smartphone makers because it has a wide array of apps and services that produce revenue.

"While it is true that no other single product has done for Apple as much as the iPhone, the product offering as an aggregate still puts Apple ahead of all other vendors who might be selling higher volumes but have no direct way to monetize from their users once the sale has occurred," Milanesi said in a blog.

Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy said Apple may be unable to deliver the double-digit growth than many on Wall Street have been expecting given the current smartphone market.

"I am not concerned for the company, but it's likely investors will not see the company value it was at until it can see a likely path to double-digit revenue growth," Moorhead said. – Nampa/AFP

Ongwediva kids move out of the rain

January 6, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Ongwediva kids move out of the rain The Ongwediva Junior Secondary School has finally moved from the dilapidated church buildings it used to occupy.

For decades the school rented dilapidated church buildings where learners and teachers had to put up with classrooms with broken windows, no electricity and leaky roofs. This situation continued despite a new school having been built at a cost of N$39 million.

The project stalled because the contractor, Uukumwe Construction, abandoned the site and lost the contract in 2016.

The school was expected to be handed over to the government about four years ago.

Principal Immanuel Nepela confirmed to Namibian Sun that the Oshana regional education directorate last week handed him the keys to the new buildings and they started moving immediately.

“We received the keys to the new school on Friday and we have already started with the relocation. We will no longer operate from the church buildings,” Nepela said.

Nepela assured parents that the teachers will continue to provide quality education at the new school and called on all stakeholders to play their part to make it a success.

“We can only be happy and we would like to thank the government for doing its part. It's now up to us as stakeholders to make the best use of the new school,” Nepela said. When contacted for comment, regional education director Hileni Amukana said the building was not yet finished. The school hall still had to be built and minor work remained to be done in the other buildings. Amukana said the remaining work would not hinder the teaching environment, therefore the school was allowed to relocate.

“It's only a partial occupation of the classrooms because the hall still needs to be done, but the hall has nothing to do with the teaching and learning at this point in time.

“Therefore it is better for the learners to get into better classrooms rather than where they were exposed to the rain,” Amukana said.





KENYA KAMBOWE

Mahangu piles up as govt refuses to buy

January 6, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Mahangu piles up as govt refuses to buyFood bank snubs local farmers The government has left northern mahangu producers high and dry without a market for last year's harvest. An award-winning mahangu producer in the Ohangwena Region says he will not cultivate mahangu this year as he still has 900 kg, or 1 800 bags, left from last year's harvest and the government is not buying mahangu anymore.

Samuel Nepunda (84), who has won awards issued by the Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB), says he produced many tonnes of mahangu last year in the hope of selling it to the government's Agro Marketing and Trading Agency (AMTA).

To his disappointment AMTA told him it was no longer buying grain.

Now that this year's growing season has started Nepunda says he will not sow mahangu again, as his stores are still full from last year.

Nepunda farms on about 30 hectares at Okongo.

“I started producing mahangu in 1990. Back then I could produce enough for the family and sell the surplus in the informal market.

“From 2010, when the government started buying grain through AMTA, I registered myself and started supplying them with tonnes of mahangu,” Nepunda says.

“It was a good market and also rewarding. I invested a lot of money to improve productivity and in 2017 I sold them mahangu worth N$40 000. Last year I had a bumper harvest and I went to AMTA at Okongo to register my interest to supply them with mahangu as usual. To my disappointment they told me that they were not buying mahangu.'

Nepunda says he is unhappy because after doing good business with AMTA for the past eight years he invested a lot of money and each year he worked extra hard to produce a big harvest to earn him a good return.

Now that AMTA is no longer buying mahangu he has nowhere to store the grain.

“I strongly believe in the principle that for me to make money I have to spend money. Every year I spent a lot of money on tilling the land, hiring people to cultivate and harvest, and buying petrol for the thrashing machine. “They were supposed to tell us at the beginning of the rainy season that they were not buying mahangu that year.

“Instead, they waited for us to produce and then after we made enquiries they told us that they were not buying mahangu. Where do they think we will store all this mahangu if we produced it for their silos?” Nepunda says he was hopeful when he heard that the ministry of poverty eradication was establishing a food bank in the region.

“I went to the regional council's office to enquire how the regional producers would benefit from the project. To my disappointment again I was told that there is no such provision.”

The Agro Marketing and Trading Agency was the only formal market for mahangu.

Earlier, Namibian Sun was reliably informed that the agency had not received any money from the agriculture ministry to buy mahangu from northern farmers last year.

A source at AMTA said that it usually procured mahangu on behalf of the agriculture ministry but last year the ministry had not allocated it any money, nor issued instructions to that effect.

Farmers supplying mahangu to AMTA used to be paid N$5 400 per tonne or N$5.40 per kilogramme of mahangu.

The ministry of agriculture has not responded to several enquiries made by this newspaper since last year.

The ministry has silos for mahangu and maize managed by AMTA at Tsandi, Okongo, Omuthiya, Rundu and Katima Mulilo.

In 2010 AMTA bought 240 tonnes of mahangu, followed by 742 tonnes in 2011, 504 tonnes in 2012, 175 tonnes in 2013, 486 tonnes in 2014, 61 tonnes in 2015 and 1 500 tonnes last year.

In 2017 AMTA's operational manager for national strategic food reservation, Wilhelmina Handunge, told Namibian Sun that since they had started buying mahangu in 2010, farmers had improved the quality to the standard AMTA was looking for.

Nepunda says anybody wishing to buy mahangu can contact him on 081 279 6866.

ILENI NANDJATO

Manganese trucks impounded

January 6, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Manganese trucks impounded The police at Lüderitz on Friday impounded eight trucks carrying manganese ore from South Africa after it was found that no clearance certificate had been issued for the operation.

TradePort Namibia is one of two South African companies that had negotiated with NamPort to export 30 000 tonnes of manganese ore a month through Lüderitz.

Residents objected, saying the operation would cause irreparable damage to local fisheries, oyster farms and tourism establishment, while clogging the town's main street with truck traffic. It is understood that TradePort Namibia had applied for an environmental clearance certificate but decided to go ahead before getting the green light. The first truckloads of manganese ore were dumped along the road outside Lüderitz last week. Residents responded quickly by insisting that the police and environmental commissioner act against the illegal offloading. Environmental commissioner Teofilus Nghitila, who is also the acting permanent secretary in the ministry of environment and tourism, on Thursday instructed police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga to stop the trucks from offloading the ore.

“We have experts on the matter,” Nghitila said on Friday.

“This is not something we take lightly. It is a gross violation to engage in such an operation without an environmental clearance certificate.” Two environmental inspectors arrived at Lüderitz on Friday to investigate. TradePort was instructed to “rehabilitate” the area within the next five working days – starting today. This means that it has to remove all the manganese it has offloaded so far. A source in the environment ministry said it was far from guaranteed that the company would be issued a clearance certificate. This source said it might take a while to evaluate the application because it involved a “lengthy and detailed scrutiny”.

The source also said that the site where the manganese was offloaded, which is TransNamib property within the town boundaries, is not “environmentally fit” for the purpose. It is not yet clear whether the impounded trucks would be allowed to return to South Africa pending the environmental clearance.

CATHERINE SASMAN

Copper recovers on fresh round trade talk plans

January 6, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Copper recovers on fresh round trade talk plans London copper rose more than 2% on Friday, recovering from an 18 month low hit in the previous session, as investor sentiment was bolstered by China's announcement of a new round of trade talks with the United States. But the market was facing its biggest weekly drop in almost two months on worries over slowing growth in top industrial metals consumer China. Three month copper on the London Metal Exchange was up 2.1% at US$5 856 a tonne, as of 0704 GMT, and the most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange slid 0.1% to close at 47 180 yuan (US$6 872.74) a tonne. Photo Nampa/Reuters

OPEC output posts biggest drop since 2017 on Saudi move

January 6, 2019, 2:00 pm

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OPEC output posts biggest drop since 2017 on Saudi move New supply-cut accord starts in January A survey suggests Saudi Arabia and some of its allies acted unilaterally to bolster the market as crude prices slid on the possibility of a new glut. Alex Lawler - OPEC oil supply fell in December by the largest amount in almost two years, a Reuters survey found, as top exporter Saudi Arabia made an early start to a supply-limiting accord while Iran and Libya posted involuntary declines.

The 15-member Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries pumped 32.68 million barrels per day last month, the survey on Thursday found, down 460 000 bpd from November and the largest month-on-month drop since January 2017.

The survey suggests Saudi Arabia and some of its allies acted unilaterally to bolster the market as crude prices slid on the possibility of a new glut. A formal accord by OPEC and its allies to cut supply in 2019 took effect only on Tuesday.

Oil has slid to US$56 a barrel from a four-year high of US$86 in October on signs of excess supply.

While OPEC has not ruled out further action, officials hope prices will be supported by further output declines in January as producers implement the new deal.

"Naturally, it will adjust from now on," said an OPEC delegate, referring to the downward trend in production. "I hope the market will recover soon."

OPEC+

OPEC, Russia and other non-members, an alliance known as OPEC+, agreed in December to reduce supply by 1.2 million bpd in 2019. OPEC's share of that cut is 800 000 bpd.

The deal came just months after an accord to pump more oil, which in turn partially unwound a supply cut that took effect in 2017.

The drop in OPEC output in December is the largest month-on-month decline since January 2017, the first month of the earlier supply-cutting deal, according to Reuters surveys.

Saudi cut

The biggest drop in OPEC supply last month came from Saudi Arabia and amounted to 400 000 bpd, the survey showed.

Saudi supply in November had hit a record 11 million bpd, after US president Donald Trump demanded more oil be pumped to curb rising prices and make up for losses from Iran.

The kingdom has said it plans to go even further in January by delivering a larger cut than required under the OPEC+ deal.

The second-biggest drop occurred in the United Arab Emirates, which like Saudi voluntarily scaled back supply, the survey found.

The third largest was an involuntary cut by Libya, where unrest led to the shutdown of the country's biggest oilfield.

Iran

Output from Iran declined further as US sanctions discouraged companies from buying its oil. According to industry sources, however, Iran maintained its exports, helped by sanctions waivers granted to eight buyers as well as dogged Iranian efforts to keep selling crude.

Among the countries boosting output, the biggest increase was in Iraq due to the restart of Kirkuk crude exports and a rebound in shipments from the country's southern terminals.

Output also rose in Kuwait and Nigeria.

An OPEC list of output targets seen by Reuters and other news organisations will provide a basis to calculate compliance with the new supply deal in the January survey. As of 2019, OPEC has 14 members following Qatar's departure.

The Reuters survey aims to track supply to the market and is based on shipping data provided by external sources, Refinitiv. Eikon flows data and information provided by sources at oil companies, OPEC and consulting firms. – Nampa/Reuters

Fewest oil cargoes to US in at least five years

January 6, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Fewest oil cargoes to US in at least five years When inventories began rising, that started to help decrease the demand for imports. - Gene McGillian, VP: Tradition Energy Collin Eaton - OPEC crude cargoes leaving for the United States in December dropped to the lowest level in at least five years, data from Refinitiv Eikon and market intelligence firm Kpler show.

Oil cargoes departing from OPEC nations to the United States fell to 1.63 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, down from 1.80 million bpd in November and 1.78 million bpd in October, the data show.

Saudi Arabia, the biggest producer in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and several others curbed supplies in the face of rising US production and inventories, analysts said.

"Some of it was a decline in OPEC production," said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston. "But they're facing competition from US shale and Canadian production."

OPEC and allies including Russia agreed last month to cut crude production beginning this month by 1.2 million bpd, following a strategy to support prices when supplies overwhelm demand.

"Historically, Saudi Arabia has utilised crude export flows to the United States as a method of signaling the Kingdom's intentions, given the transparency of the US market," said Reid I'Anson, an energy economist at Kpler.

Vessels last month carried about 534 000 bpd from Saudi Arabia to the United States, down from 632 000 bpd in November. Algeria sent 10 000 bpd, down 94 000 bpd, and Nigeria shipped 103 000 bpd, down by 48 000 bpd, according to Kpler.

One major exception to the decline was Iraq, which sent 295 000 bpd to the United States, up by 140 000 bpd from November. Shipments from Venezuela increased 22 738 bpd.

Booming US shale production and growing stockpiles also crimped the nation's appetite for imported crude. US commercial crude stocks rose to 441 million barrels in the week ended Dec. 21, up from 394 million barrels in mid-September, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

"When inventories began rising, that started to help decrease the demand for imports," said Gene McGillian, vice president of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. "We could see even lower imports from OPEC."– Nampa/Reuters

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Let's make it a nice home

January 6, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Let's make it a nice home The general disdain shown for the Nama people's response to the naming of the festive season crime operation as Hornkranz is indicative of a bigger problem.

More than 125 years ago German colonial forces attacked Hendrik Witbooi at his village at Hornkranz in the Khomas Hochland on 12 April 1893, killing 80 people, many of them women and children. The attack, led by German captain, Curt von Francois, was described as a massacre aimed at destroying and exterminating an entire tribal clan who refused to be subjugated into slavery to give up their land and their dignity.

In response to this, social commentator Henning Melber tweeted that “any rational and considerate person with common sense” would not think of calling a crime-fighting campaign Operation Hornkranz - and then defending the decision against criticism in a statement which “underlines the arrogance, or rather ignorance, of power”.

The public's response has not been much different, whether due to ignorance of the historical facts, or just a general lack of respect for the Nama in the country.

The police chief, Sebastian Ndeitunga, told the media that his force was aware of the history but maintained it was the prerogative of the police to name operations as they see fit.

This behavioural trend is also seen towards the genocide issue with government still excluding the bulk of the affected communities and viewing the issue as a national issue rather than one of the Ovaherero and the Nama. The two peoples who lost the most – land, cattle and birth right – in their own country.

Minorities in Namibia often fall by the wayside. We see it with the San on a daily basis, and there is a total disregard for these people. A disrespect which is almost blatant.

Development and opportunities in Namibia must become more inclusive but to achieve that, we need to change the way we view each other. Tribal roots should not at all be a consideration. We are after all, all Namibians with nowhere else to call home but here.

Let's make it a nice home.

Namibia in dead-end street

January 6, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Namibia in dead-end streetPolitical impasse A political scientist says the former liberation movement Swapo has become as toxic and ineffectual as expired medicine. The Swapo party is past its sell-by date and cannot take the nation into the future, a political analyst says.

At the same time, he feels that the political opposition has not thought through and re-purposed its existence beyond replacing Swapo as a government.

In an interview with Namibian Sun, Professor Joseph Diescho said Swapo is a liberation movement that has become “as dangerous as an expired pill”.

It is his view that Namibians are rudderless, without a leader.

“They must protest and must demand to be heard and the leadership will come out of that. Swapo has delivered on its mandate to liberate the country.

“It cannot take us into the future; it is stuck in yesterday. It is the fault of the citizens to expect Swapo to deliver on the future,” he said.

“We cannot explain to your kids that a minister who was in government in 1990 is still there. We are saying that they are the only ones who know the solution to Namibia's problems.”

According to Diescho the current leaders come from a background of war and are intolerant and out of touch with the youth.

“There is too much hostility in their mind-set, they cannot hear Job Amupanda. Pohamba, Nujoma and Hage cannot understand the youth. All they see and hear is indiscipline, 'we fought for this country, what you want?'”



Intellectual laziness

He added that President Hage Geingob's failure to explain “honestly in a way that justifies his appointment of a vice-president and a prime minister” is a sign of intellectual laziness.

“And that intellectual laziness eats away at the potential for Africa to move forward. South Africa is better because they have an intellectual powerhouse, the Communist Party. We do not have an intellectual powerhouse here,” he said.



Bankruptcy

Diescho added that Namibian leaders have lost empathy with the masses, adding that Geingob must deliver on his promise to institute a lifestyle audit.

“We have to bring into our body politic empathy for the poor and not just rhetoric. Julius Nyerere said you cannot be in my cabinet and run a business because you would be in conflict with us.

“That is why ministers have a government car and two drivers so that they do not have to hustle to buy toilet paper; they send people to do that. Now why would you compete with the people who hustle to make a living while you are looked after?” he asked.

JEMIMA BEUKES

State orchards left to die

January 6, 2019, 2:00 pm

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State orchards left to dieGovt lays off 200 workers Fifty-six state orchards in the northern regions were abandoned towards the end of last year when the agriculture ministry dismissed the people taking care of them. The ministry of agriculture, water and forestry has terminated the contracts of about 200 workers at 56 state orchards in the north.

The dismissals toward the end of last year resulted in the trees being neglected and stripped of fruit by local people. Only a year ago, the agriculture ministry was satisfied with the progress made by its tree-planting project that was launched in 2003 and was creating hundreds of jobs. The project's objective was to plant fruit trees on a trial basis to assess their viability in open grasslands in the Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana and Oshikoto regions.

In November 2017, agriculture permanent secretary Percy Misika said 56 orchards had been established, covering 364 hectares. These trees generated an income of N$120 400 in the 2016/17 financial year, up from N$65 993 in the previous financial year.





When contacted for comment on the current situation, the agriculture ministry did not respond to questions sent to them.

A source told Namibian Sun that most of the workers loved their work and had been involved in the orchards from the beginning, but to their surprise toward the end of last year, they were informed that their services were no longer needed.

“When they made this announcement we were busy at our orchards preparing fruit trees for harvesting season. They did not make any arrangement for anybody to take over our responsibilities, which resulted in trees not bearing good fruit and these were taken by community members,” a source said.

“Due to high temperatures we later saw trees dying. It was so painful to us because we had worked so hard to make those orchards what they are.”

The source said they were not informed why their contracts were terminated.

Earlier, Misika had told Namibian Sun that in 2001 founding president Sam Nujoma had directed that the saline grasslands in these regions, known locally as 'ombuga', should be planted with appropriate tree species in order to increase tree cover in this semi-arid environment which has been traditionally used for grazing.



“The tree planting is progressing well even though the trees are reliant on regular watering and good rainfall. Over the past 15 years several orchards and woodlots were successfully established.



“Tree-planting activities have increased forest and vegetation cover, have produced fruit for consumption and generated government revenue,” Misika said at the time.



In 2014/15, 13 tonnes of mangoes, four tonnes of guavas, 1.5 tonnes of lemons and 0.24 tonnes of oranges were produced, which generated N$89 423.



During 2015/16, 10 tonnes of mangoes, 0.72 tonnes of guavas, three tonnes of lemons and 0.6 tonnes of oranges were produced and N$65 993 was generated.



In 2016/17 they harvested 17.3 tonnes of mangoes, two tonnes of guavas, 5.2 tonnes of lemons and 0.73 tonnes of oranges, generating N$120 405.



This year the ministry did not harvest anything, despite Misika promising that his ministry would continue promoting tree planting in many parts of the country.



He said the ministry would develop management plans for the state orchards and planned to enter into partnerships with other institutions such as AMTA for selling and processing the fruit.



He added that the ministry was also considering entering into public-private partnerships to manage the orchards.



Lemon, mango and guava trees are suitable for the area but frost and a lack of water are limiting factors. Mangoes seem to have the best local market in northern Namibia.

ILENI NANDJATO

Festive season rife with gender violence

January 6, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Festive season rife with gender violence Namibia's crisis of gender-based violence (GBV) did not subside during the recent holiday period, with at least 16 men and four women arrested on charges of murder, assault and rape.

At least GBV nine suspects remained on the loose at the time the latest police crime report was issued.

It is likely that the 17 new rape cases and several new investigations into assault and domestic violence incidents reported to the police are only a snapshot of the actual number of GBV incidents. A report released in November last year indicated that only around 4% of GBV victims report these crimes to the police. Moreover, the Landscaping Gender-based Violence in Namibia report, issued by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) in November, said data collection from first responders, including the Namibian police, remained sketchy and the lack of a national GBV database was a pressing concern despite GBV having been recognised as a national crisis.



GBV rife

Crime reports issued by the police between the end of November and 2 January show that the police opened five cases of child rape over that period.

In addition, 12 adult women reported incidents of rape to the police.

A two-year-old girl was allegedly strangled by her 33-year-old mother and buried in a shallow grave at the end of November.

A two-year-old boy sustained serious injuries at the end of November after boiling water was poured over him. A nanny was arrested and later released due to insufficient evidence.

A three-month-old baby girl was recently found dead with a cracked skull.

A 19-year-old suspect was arrested at Epukiro on 30 November for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.

At Usakos, a 56-year-old cattle herder was arrested on 11 December on allegations of raping a nine-year-old child.

Police are also investigating the kidnapping and multiple sexual assaults of a 15-year-old teenager, who was allegedly held hostage for three days by a 35-year-old man on a farm near Dordabis.

A 16-year-old girl is pregnant after a 21-year-old man was arrested at the end of December for allegedly repeatedly raping and assaulting her between March and December.

A man remains on the run after he allegedly lured a 15-year-old girl to his room in Rehoboth and raped her.

In mid-December, a 20-year-old woman from Otjomuise was held at knifepoint by four unknown men, dragged to a riverbed and raped multiple times.



Love hurts

Several domestic violence cases involving former partners or boyfriends were also reported over the festive season.

In one incident, a 38-year-old woman was punched and hit on the head with a stone by her 50-year-old boyfriend near Etunda village in the Ruacana constituency.

On the same day, a 25-year-old woman was assaulted and raped at Ondudu village. Her former lover (38) was arrested.

On the last day of 2018, a 24-year-old man was arrested on a charge of attempted murder for allegedly hacking his 19-year-old girlfriend with a panga, causing seriously injuries.

On 1 January, a 32-year-old man was arrested at Maltahöhe on charges of murder and domestic violence. He was accused of stabbing to death his 31-year-old girlfriend.

On 2 January, a 22-year-old suspect was arrested on a rape charge at Oshivelo. He allegedly attacked a woman with a stick, forced her into an unoccupied building and raped her. Both had been partying at a shebeen.

A rape case is being investigated at Omakuva village where a woman was allegedly raped by her boyfriend's 22-year-old landlord, who then stole N$800 and fled.

On Christmas Day, a 43-year-old woman was stabbed with a knife and raped by a man, who then stole her cellphone before he fled. A suspect was arrested.

Also on Christmas Day, a pregnant woman (35) was walking home late at night when she was grabbed and sexually assaulted by a 20-year-old man, who was later arrested.

A rape case was opened at Henties Bay on 30 December after an elderly woman (72) was assaulted and raped in her home by a man who had asked her for a glass of water. No arrest had been made at the time the crime report was issued.



Serious concern

The recent report on GBV indicated that one in three women between the ages of 15 and 49 have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence at the hands of their husbands.

A further 6% of women have experienced violence while they were pregnant and 15% of women never sought help or told anybody about being abused.

The report stressed the need for reliable and up-to-date data, which is a crucial starting point for the development of new strategies and the assessment of existing GBV prevention and response policies.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Angling bonanzas for three lucky winners

January 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Angling bonanzas for three lucky winners The Bonanza Angling Competition had a massive N$10 000 prize pot.

Participants had to purchase and provide proof of their Angling Bonanza ticket along with the video clips they made of the event.

The Angling Bonanza first-prize winner was Karin van Zijl from Swakopmund. She pocketed N$5 000 for her video clip depicting some of the fish weighed in at the competition.

In second place was Calem Nel from Okahandja. He asked a friend to capture a clip of him reeling in a fish and earned N$3 000 for his effort.

Pierre Cronje, all the way from Cape Town, won third place. He earned N$2 000 for an innovative video clip of him reeling in a surprise bonanza catch: A copy of the Republikein newspaper. Well done to all the winners!

Stars ready for Raja

January 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Stars ready for RajaCasablanca date confirmed The battle of north African and southern African football giants will begin at the Sam Nujoma Stadium this week. MTC Namibia Premier League NPL champions African Stars will reignite their African journey on Saturday when they host CAF Confederations Cup defending champions Raja Casablanca of Morocco at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in the 2018/19 CAF Confederations Cup.

Stars, who narrowly lost to Orlando Pirates of South Africa in December to bow of out the CAF Champions League in the second round of the preliminaries, are now taking on football giants Raja Casablanca in the Confederations Cup playoff round.

The first-leg match will be played on Saturday, 12 January at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 16:00.

Stars CEO Lesley Kozonguizi confirmed that tickets are on sale from Webticket outlets at Pick n Pay shops countrywide. They cost N$50 for general entrance and N$500 for VIP seats.

“We are representing Namibia and we want to leave a mark on the continent and we have so far done that with Pirates despite losing out. We get Raja now and this is one of the top clubs on the continent and we will see how it goes,” Kozonguizi said.

Stars started training at the NFA Technical Centre on Monday, with their latest Comorian signing Youssouf Ibroihim joining the team.

Cameroon match officials will handle the match. The date of Raja's arrival in Namibia is yet to be confirmed.

Stars and Raja are in contention to become one of the 16 teams that will qualify for the group matches.

The teams that progress will be divided into groups of four with each guaranteed at least US$275 000.

Stars will travel to Morocco to play Raja in the second leg on Sunday, 20 January.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

NCF riders ready for Mpumalanga

January 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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NCF riders ready for Mpumalanga The Namibian Cycling Federation (NCF) national team is ready to compete in South Africa's Mpumalanga Tour, slated for 11 to 17 January.

The six-stage race is the biggest road cycling event in South Africa and covers a total distance of 752 kilometres in Mpumalanga Province - from Loskopdam to Badplaas, Mbombela, Graskop and Blyderivier Canyon.

Johannes Hamunyela, Alex Miller, Xavier Papo, Fiffy Kashululu, Jafet Amukushu and team captain Drikus Coetzee will represent Namibia in the six-day road race.

Speaking to Nampa on Friday, team manager Jacob Kiyola said the team is ready to compete against the best teams and riders in that country.

“The Mpumalanga Tour is one of the best road tours in South Africa and as a team representing the NCF, we are happy to compete in this event because we prepared well as all our riders did over

1 000 km of training,” he said.

He said the 2019 cycling season will start with a real test of fitness and strength.

“This is a demanding tour for all teams. The competition will be very high as there are three professional continental teams that will compete in the tour,” said Kiyola.

Manager and support vehicle driver Ebben Ezer Iita agreed that this tour is good preparation for the National Championships that will be held from 1 to 3 February and the African Championships, where the NCF team will have an opportunity to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Team captain Coetzee, who will take part in the tour for the second time along with Kashalulu and Hamunyela, said they would try their best although it is hard to predict the outcome as it is the first race of the year for all the riders.

The team will be accompanied by mechanic Martin Nghilifavali and NCF communication officer Benjamin Haidula.

The Mpumalanga Tour is described as ideal for cyclists to train for the South African Championships and the Cape Epic. The tour starts in the Limpopo Province, moving through the most scenic areas of Mpumalanga and comprises the following stages:

Stage 1 – Blyderivier to Swadini

Stage 2 – Swadini to Mount Sheba

Stage 3 – Mount Sheba to Mbombela Stadium

Stage 4 – White River to Mbombela via Umjindi

Stage 5 – Mbombela Stadium to eManzana

Stage 6 – eManzana to finish at Loskopdam

The Namibian team will leave today and are expected back in the country next Friday.

NAMPA

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Spurs ready for trophy charge

January 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Spurs ready for trophy chargeAlli vows to end 11-year drought Tottenham haven't won a leading competition since they beat Chelsea in the 2008 League Cup final. Dele Alli has pledged to end Tottenham's 11-year wait for a major trophy as his side heads into an explosive League Cup semi-final showdown with Chelsea tonight.

But Tottenham midfielder Alli is convinced the north London club will finally add to their trophy cabinet this season.

Tottenham are still in the Champions League and FA Cup, and also have an outside chance in the Premier League title race.

But it is the League Cup that presents their first opportunity to end the silverware drought, starting with their last four first leg clash against bitter rivals Chelsea at Wembley.

“I think every game, every competition, you want to win it,” Alli said.

“As players you want to get as far in the cup as we can, hopefully win it.

“We want to win trophies, that's our aim and we've been playing well.

“We've been getting quite far in recent years without quite having the finishing product at the end and not getting over the line.”

Tottenham crushed fourth tier minnows Tranmere 7-0 in the FA Cup third round on Friday as Pochettino used only three first-team regulars in a bid to keep his key men fresh for the Chelsea tie.

Alli was one of the trio who featured in the rout at Prenton Park and he expects Pochettino's plan to pay dividends against the Blues.

“Some people maybe expect you to prioritise different things, but I believe we've got a strong squad,” Alli said.

“Players work hard in the gym and on the training field to make sure we're fully fit and the manager makes changes.

“I think he's very good at that and as players we want to play every game anyway.

“We've just got to make sure everyone is on it and keep up the consistency because that's the big thing.

“When you're going into different competitions, you can't take your foot of the gas.

You've got to be consistent and keep up your top level.”

NAMPA/AFP

Olopota yiimbuluma

January 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Olopota yiimbuluma JANA-MARI SMITH

Ondjele yiimbuluma yomomagumbo inayi shuna pevi pethimbo lyiituthi yomatango omanene ya piti, sho kwa ningwa omatulo miipandelo ga thika po 20 shi na sha niipotha yomadhipago, omadhengo nomakwato koonkomdo.

Aalumentu 16 oya tulwa miipandeko omanga aakiintu yane ya tulwa woo miipandeko.

Aafekelwa omugoyi inaya tulwa miipandeko pethimbo olopota ndjika ya pitithwa kopolisi yaNamibia.

Olopota ya pitithwa muNovemba gwomvula ya piti oya holola kutya oonakuninga iihakanwa yiimbuluma yomomagumbo ya kalela po oopresenda 4 oya lopota iimbuluma mbyoka kopolisi.

Natango olopota yoLandscaping Gender-based Violence in Namibia ya pitithwa koshiputudhilo shoInstitute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) muNovemba gwomvula ya piti oya holola ompumbwe yomauyelele kombinga yiimbuluma yoludhi ndoka, nonando okwa dhidhilikwa moshilongo kutya iimbuluma mbyoka otayi londo pombanda noonkondo.

Olopota ya pitithwa kopolisi okuya pehulilo lyaNovemba nomasiku 2 gaJanuari oya holola kutya opolisi oya patulula iipotha itano yomakwatonkonga ga ningilwa aanona. Aakuluntu 12 aakiintu nayo oya lopota iipotha yomakwatonkonga pethimbo ndyoka.

Okanona kokakadhona koomvula mbali oka pondwa kuyina gwoomvula 33 na okwa fumbike okanona hoka melambo okuya pehulilo lyaNovemba.

Okanona kokamati koomvula mbali okwa pi nayi sho ka tilwa omeya omapyu. Omuniilonga omusilishisho gwokanona hoka okwa tulwa miipandeko ihe lwanima okwa mangululwa sho kape na omaumbangi ga gwana.

Okanona kokakadhona koomwedhi ndatu oka adhika ka hulitha keehama komuste.

Omunamimvo 19 okwa tulwa miipandeko mEpukiro momasiku 30 gaNovemba omolwa oshipotha shekwatokonga okakadhona koomvula 12.

Mondoolopa yaUsakos, omulithi gwiimuna gwoomvula 56 okwa tulwa miipandeko momasiku 11 gaDesemba omolwa ekwatonkonga lyokanona koomvula 9. Opolisi otayi konaakona oshipotha shekwatopombambyona oshowo eningilo lyomiyonena dhiihulo okakadhona koomvula 15 hoka kali ka kwatwa po uule womasiku gatatu komulumentu gwoomvula 35 pofaalama yi li popepi noDordabis.

Okakadhona koomvua 16 okaningi etegelelo konima sho omulumentu gwoomvula 21 a tulwa miipandeko okuya pehulilo lyaDesemba sho a kala ta kwatwa onkonga okanona hoka nokukadhenga pokati komwedhi Maalitsa oshowo Desemba.

Omulumentu gumwe ota kongwa kopolisi sho a kwatele onkonga okakadhona koomvula 15 mondunda ye yokulala moGobabis.

Pokati komwedhi Desemba omukiintu gwoomvula 20 gwomOtjomuise okwa ningilwa omatilitho nombele na okwa nanena momulamba moka a kwatwa onkonga kaantu ye li yane.

Miipotha yilwe yomahepekathano gomomagumbo mbyoka ya lopotwa, omukiintu gwoomvula 38 okwa dhengwa noongonyo na okwa dhengwa woo momutse nemanya kohonda ye yoomvula 50, sha ningilwa popepi nomukunda Etunda moRuacana.

Omukiintu gwoomvula 25 natango okwa dhengwa nokukwatwa onkonga momukunda Ondudu, kohonda ye nale yoomvula, ndjoka ya tulwa miipandeko.

Mesiku lyahugunina gwomvula yo 2018, omunamimvo 24 okwa tulwa miipandeko miipotha yonkambadhala yedhipago sho a nkapa omukadhona gwe gwoomvula 19 nekatana nokumweehameka noonkondo.

Mesiku lyotango lyomvula ndjika, omulumentu gwoomvula 32 okwa tulwa miipandeko moMaltahöhe omolwa oshipotha shomuyonena gwomegumbo, sho a tsu nombele sigo omeso omukadhona gwe gwoomvula 31.

Momasiku gaali gaJanuari okwa tulwa miipandeko omulumentu gwoomvula 22 ta tamanekelwa oshipotha shekwatonkonga lya ningilwa mOshivelo. Otaku hokololwa a ponokele omukiintu noshiti na okwe mu kwata onkonga, ayehe mboka yaali oya li taya nwine pamwe pondingosho.

Otaku konaakonwa oshipotha shekwatonkonga momukunda Omakuva sho omukiintu a kwatwa onkonga kohonda ye yoomvula 22.

Momasiku 25 gaDecemba omukiintu gwoomvula 43 okwa tsuwa nombele na okwa kwatwa onkonga komulumentu ngoka a yaka po woo nongodhi ye yopeke. Omufekelwa okwa tulwa miipandeko.

Mesiku ndyoka natango, omukiintu iihumbata gwoomvula 35 okwa kwatwa onkonga komunamimvo 20 omanga a li molweendo lwe okuya kegumbo uusiku. Omufekelwa okwa tulwa miipandeko. Natango okwa patululwa oshipotha moHenties Bay momasiku 30 gaDesemba mokaomukiintu gwoomvula 72 akwatwa onkonga megumbo lye komulumenu ngoka a li e mu pula omeya gokunwa. Kape na ngoka a tulwa miipandeko.

Iikunino yepangelo itayi silwa oshipwuyu

January 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Iikunino yepangelo itayi silwa oshipwuyuAaniilonga ya thika po 200 ya kuthwa miilonga Iikunino yiiyimati yepangelo ya thika po 56 monooli yepangelo oya ethiwa yi se po okuya pehulilo lyomvula ya piti sho uuministeli wuunamapya wa kutha miilonga aaniilonga mboka ya kala haya sile oshipwiyu iikunino mbyoka. ILENI NANDJATO

Ekutho miilonga ndyoka kuya pehulilo lyomvula ya piti olya etitha iikunino kayi silwe we oshipwiyu niiyimati yi kale owala tayi likolwa ko kaakwashigwana.

Omvula yimwe owala ya piti, Uuministeli wUunamapya owa li wa holola kutya owuuvite nawa omolwa e yo komeho ndyoka lya ningwa mopoloyeka yetsiko lyomiti ndjoka ya tulwa miilonga momvula yo 2003, na oya li ya totopo oompito dhiilonga odhindji.

Opoloyeka ndjoka oya li ya nuninwa okuninga omalolelo gokutsika omiti dhiiyimati moshitopolwa shaHangwena, Omusati, Oshana nOshikoto.





MuNovemba gwomvula yo 2017, amushanga gOshikondo shUunamapya, Percy Misika okwa popi kutya iikunino mbyoka yi li po 56 oyuunene woohecta 364. Omiti ndhoka odha gandja iiyemo yi li pooN$120 400 moshikakomvula sho 2016/2017, okuza piiyemo yooN$65 993 mbyoka ya li ya monika po momumvo gwayi.

Sho ya ningilwa omapulo kombinga yonkalo ndjoka, uuministeli wuunamapya inawu yamukula komapulo ngoka wa ningilwa.

Onzo yimwe ndjoka ya ningwa nayo oonkundathana koNamibian Sun oya popi kutya aaniilonga mboka oyali ye hole iilonga yawo, na oya li ya haluka noonkondo okuya pehulilo lyomvula ya piti sho ya tseyithilwa kutya omayakulo gawo itaga pumbiwa we.

Onzo ndjoka oya popi kutya sho ya tseyithilwa ngaaka inapu ningwa omalongekidho gasha opo omiti ndhoka dhi kale tadhi silwa oshisho, na omolwa onkalo ya pupyala noonkondo omiti ndhoka odha ende tadhi si po na otashi ehameke noonkondo kwaamboka ya kala taya longo miikunino mbyoka.

Aaniilonga mbyoka inaya lombwelwa kutya omolwashike taya kuthwa miilonga.

Kuyele Misika okwa li a lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya momvula yo 2001, omukokoli presidende Sam Nujoma okwa li a gandja elombwelo kutya naku tsikwe omiti dhiiyimati moombuga opo ku vule okugamenwa omahala ngoka okuza kembugalo, sho omahala ngoka haga longithwa unene muulithilo.

Etsiko ndyoka olya pula nawa komeho nokonima yoomvula 15 omiti dhimwe odha koko nawa.

Momvula yo 2014/15 ootona dhiiyimati yomamango dhi li 13, ootona 4 dhomakwaava, otona 1.5 yoongongo oshowo otona 0.6 dhomalemune odha likolwa miikunino mbyoka, na odha landithwa po kongushu yiimaliwa ya thika poo$89 423.

Momvula yo 2015/16 ootona dhiiyimati yomamango dhi li 10, ootona 0.72 dhomakwaava, otona 3 dhoongongo oshowo otona 0.6 dhomalemune odha likolwa miikunino mbyoka, na odha landithwa po kongushu yiimaliwa ya thika pooN$65 993.

Nuumvo uuministeli inawu likola sha okuza miikunino mbyoka, nonando Misika okwa uvaneke kutya uuministeli otawu tsikile nokutsika omiti dhiiyimati moshilongo.



Okwa li a popi kutya uuministeli otawu totopo oompangela dhokukondolola iikunino mbyoka yepangelo nokuya momatsokumwe niiputudhilo yimwe ngaashi AMTA ngele tashi ya kelanditho lyiiyimati mbyoka hayi likolwa okuza miikunino moka.

Okwa gwedha po kutya uuministeli otawu pangele woo okuya momatsokumwe niiputudhilo yopaumwene mesiloshisho lyiikunino mbyoka.

Japan’s tax on travellers

January 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Japan’s tax on travellers NAMPA / AFP

Japan yesterday started levying a 1000 yen (N$133) departure tax on each person leaving the country, a measure aimed at raising funds to further boost tourism.

The International Tourist Tax will cover everyone regardless of nationality, from business people to holidaymakers older than two years of age, and will be tacked on to the price of an airline ticket.

The government wants to use an estimated 50 billion yen (N$6.6 billion) it will generate in additional tax revenue to improve tourism infrastructure; such as making airport immigration processes faster and encouraging visitors to explore areas beyond traditionally popular destinations such as Tokyo and Kyoto.

Japan has been aggressively courting international tourists as a new pillar of economic growth.

More than 30 million foreigners were estimated to have visited Japan in 2018, a new record, thanks to a steady flow of tourists from Asia; particularly China, South Korea and Taiwan.

The nation aims to boost visitor figures to 40 million by 2020, when Tokyo hosts the Olympic Games.

Record tuna auction in Japan

January 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Record tuna auction in JapanClose to N$45 million for giant tuna World's biggest fish market marks the New Year in a new home KARYN NISHIMURA-POUPEE

A Japanese sushi entrepreneur paid a record US$3.1 million (N$44,6 million) for a giant tuna on Saturday as Tokyo's new fish market, which replaced the world-famous Tsukiji late last year, held its first pre-dawn New Year's auction.

Bidding stopped at a whopping 333.6 million yen for the enormous 278-kilogram (612-pound) fish, an endangered species, that was caught off Japan's northern coast.

Self-styled ‘Tuna King’ Kiyoshi Kimura paid the top price, which doubled the previous record of 155 million yen also paid by him in 2013.

"It's the best tuna. I was able to buy a delicious, super fresh tuna," the sushi restaurant chain owner proudly told reporters.

"The price was higher than originally thought, but I hope our customers will eat this excellent tuna," Kimura said after the auction.

Tsukiji was the world's biggest fish market and a popular tourist attraction in an area packed with restaurants and shops. It was moved in October to Toyosu, a former gas plant a bit further east.

Opened in 1935, Tsukiji was best known for its pre-dawn daily auctions of tuna, caught from all corners of the world, for use by everyone from top Michelin-star sushi chefs to ordinary grocery stores.

Especially at the first auction of the new year, wholesalers and sushi tycoons have been known to pay eye-watering prices for the biggest and best fish.

Despite the relocation, the auction ritual remained intact: before dawn, buyers in rubber boots were inspecting the quality of the giant fresh and frozen tunas by examining the neatly cut tail end with flashlights and rubbing slices between their fingers.

At 5:10 am, hand bells rang to signal the auction was under way and the air filled with the sound of auctioneers yelling prices at buyers, who raised fingers to indicate interest.

In a roar of wholesalers surrounding the day's best tuna, an auctioneer hammered the top price as the Kimura side outbid his rival wholesaler in a thrilling head-to-head battle.

Japan consumes a large portion of the global bluefin tuna catch, a highly prized sushi ingredient known in Japan as "kuro maguro" (black tuna) and dubbed by sushi connoisseurs as the "black diamond" because of its scarcity.

A single piece of "otoro", or the fish's fatty underbelly, can cost dozens of dollars at high-end Tokyo restaurants.

The new market has already opened its auction warehouse to visitors to witness the organised pre-dawn chaos from a balcony, hoping to take over a must-see spot for tourists from Tsukiji.

"Finally, the first New Year auction was held at Toyosu market," said Yoshihiko Otaki, a market official. "We have a lot of tuna here like we did in Tsukiji," he said.

Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, wearing white rubber boots, said: "I sincerely hope this market will be loved by many people." The relocation was a lengthy and controversial process. Few would contest the fact that Tsukiji was past its prime, and there were concerns about out-dated fire regulations and hygiene controls.

In contrast, the new market, located around two kilometres to the east at Toyosu, boasts state-of-the-art refrigeration facilities and is nearly twice as big again as Tsukiji.

But Toyosu is located on the site of a former gas plant and the soil was found to be contaminated, forcing local authorities to spend millions of dollars to clean it up and delaying the move.