When legends die paupers

January 15, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: 'Technical glitches' force plane to turn back

≪ Previous: Infighting rocks Grootfontein

$

0

0

When legends die paupers The death on Sunday of Bafana Bafana legend Phil Masinga and the outpouring of grief around his passing, especially in Namibia, has once again brought into firm focus the financially charmed lives that sportsmen and women lead.

Masinga, like many of our local players over the years, seemed to have it all in the 1990s, but he had to learn his money lessons the hard way.

In the late 1990s Masinga was a South African icon.

The Bafana Bafana striker was enjoying an international career that included two years with Leeds in the English Premier League, and in 1997 he scored that goal against Congo-Brazzaville that sent South Africa into the 1998 Fifa World Cup finals.

Off the field, however, he was facing the kinds of challenges that appear all too familiar for professional sportsmen and women.

According to a media report in 2017, before he moved to England, Masinga was earning R4 500 a month at Sundowns

“Then all of a sudden everything changed and I was earning £12 000 pounds. It was a big thing, and it was quite difficult to manage,” Masinga said during an interview.

Of course there were temptations and some very bad decisions, which led to Masinga landing in the doldrums after his playing days were over.

We are not here to judge, but it seems that all too often those that have brought us immense joy as sports figures end up on the rubbish heap, only to be celebrated once they die.

This week former Brave Warriors stalwart, Lolo Goraseb, who was a personal friend of Masinga, described him as a legend, but also began to lay bare the awful financial pain that sportsmen and women have to endure after the spotlight moves away from them. He urged football associations to plan for footballers after they are done with their playing careers, saying these players are only acknowledged after they die. This rings true for so many of our greats.

---

'Technical glitches' force plane to turn back

January 15, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Higher food, fuel prices expected

≪ Previous: When legends die paupers

$

0

0

'Technical glitches' force plane to turn back An Air Namibia Embraer ERJ 135 en route to Ondangwa from Windhoek had to turn around on Sunday evening and land at Eros Airport, from where it had taken off.

The passengers had to sleep over in the capital.

Air Namibia spokesperson Paul Nakawa confirmed the incident, but maintained that the aircraft did not have to make an emergency landing.

A passenger on board the flight told Namibian Sun that there had been “funny noises and smells” coming from the plane.

“There were some technical glitches with a flight to Ondangwa on Sunday evening.

“The aircraft had to turn around whilst it was on its way to Ondangwa and returned to base at the Eros Airport,” Nakawa said.

According to him, the aircraft landed a few minutes past 20:00.

“At the time, the crew rest took effect, meaning the time of the crew to operate was up so we had to accommodate our passengers at the Safari Court Hotel for the night and they were flown the next morning to Ondangwa.

“This is a norm and it is what we do when such a need arises,” Nakawa said.

The passengers, Nakawa said, were duly informed of what had transpired. He also extended his apologies.

“Our passengers were kept informed and we once again thank them for their support and convey our apology for any inconvenience caused,” he said.

According to him the incident was not an accident and there was no need for alarm.

The director of aircraft accident investigations in the ministry of transport, Errikson Nengola, said no incident was reported to him by Air Namibia.

“No one called me about that incident… I cannot confirm it,” Nengola said.



OGONE TLHAGE

Higher food, fuel prices expected

January 15, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Job desperation causes chaos

≪ Previous: 'Technical glitches' force plane to turn back

$

0

0

Higher food, fuel prices expected Consumers should brace themselves for even more expensive food and fuel this year.

Although motorists received a slight reprieve in fuel prices in December, this downward trend is not likely to continue, says economist Klaus Schade.

The drop in fuel prices - by N$1 per litre for petrol and N$0.40 per litre for diesel - slowed down inflation to 5.1% in December.

Despite a further drop in fuel prices this month, by N$0.90 per litre and N$1 per litre for petrol and diesel respectively, fuel prices remain higher than in January 2018 and will therefore contribute to the inflation rate, Schade says.

“We can expect oil price fluctuations influenced by changing global growth prospects.”

Schade points out that white maize and wheat prices on the South African Futures Exchange are currently 49% and 21% higher than in January 2018.

“This could result in further price pressure on bread and cereals, while the expected El Niño effect with below-average to average rainfall this season in the region could result in further price increases for crops, vegetables and fruit, while meat prices could decline further due to higher livestock marketing,” Schade says.

Namib Mills twice increased the price of its products last year. In October 2018 it increased the price of wheat flour by 20%, rice by about 14%, pasta by 16%, yeast by 15% and mahangu by 12%.

Prior to that there were smaller price increases in July: maize meal and wheat flour went up by 3.2%, rice by 4.4% and pasta products by 3.3%.

OGONE TLHAGE

Job desperation causes chaos

January 15, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Stepping-stone for Awillo

≪ Previous: Higher food, fuel prices expected

$

0

0

Job desperation causes chaosHordes of applicants for 40 TransNamib posts There was chaos at TransNamib's Ondangwa offices yesterday where hundreds of people turned up to apply for 40 posts announced over the radio. Masses of unemployed people flocked to TransNamib in Ondangwa yesterday to apply for 40 posts that had been announced on radio.

There were scenes of pandemonium as the jobless laid siege to the front gate - a clear sign of desperation among the country's 43.4% unemployed young people.

Given the high unemployment rate in the country, many have condemned the recruitment method used by TransNamib. The railway parastatal announced on radio that it was looking for 40 people to work on a long-term contract to repair the 315-kilometre railway between Oshikango and Tsumeb. Hundreds of unemployed youth from all over the northern regions gathered at the entrance of TransNamib Ondangwa.

Some of the jobseekers told Namibian Sun that they had slept in front of the gate in the hope that the company would use a first-come-first-served system, but due to the high turnout, there was no order. Jobseekers had to hand their CVs through the closed gate to TransNamib officials and security officers after Ondangwa Urban constituency councillor Elia Irimari advised the officials not to open the gate, in order to avoid a catastrophe.





However, jobseekers ended up throwing their CVs over the fence in desperation.



“Conducting such a recruitment process in one day was a big mistake. Earlier on we advised TransNamib to do the recruitment through the regional council offices, but they refused, saying that they wanted it to be a fair process.



“We are currently faced with a high unemployment rate and the youth are eager to take any opportunity that may come their way,” Irimari said.



“At our office we have a database of about 800 registered unemployed youth. If they could have approached us, we could have assisted them amicably.”



TransNamib CEO Johnny Smith could not be reached for comment.



Kennedy Shikongo from Uukwandongo village near Okahao in the Omusati Region said he was laid off from a mine last year and when he heard the news that TransNamib was recruiting, he travelled to Ondangwa.



“I came here at 03:00 in the morning and I found about 100 people already. There was no order, as everybody wants to work,” Shikongo said.



Another jobseeker, Kliopas Kalenga from Ondobe in Ohangwena Region, said he slept in Ondangwa in the hope of finding a job, but he gave up.



“Given the number of people who turned up, I refused to hand in my CV. How can I throw my papers just like that and still have a hope of getting a job? This was a useless way of recruiting people. This was a joke.”



The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) councillor on the Ondangwa town council, Johnny Whiteman Martin, said the way TransNamib management and staff handled the recruitment process was unacceptable and an insult to the Namibian youth.



He said this not only showed how unprofessional the TransNamib management was, but was a waste of the applicants' money.



“No Namibian should be subjected to such unprofessional behaviour just because the company is offering employment.



“Employers should handle the recruitment process in a standard manner that will help ease the situation and make applicants happy,” Martin said



“PDM in Ondangwa is against what the TransNamib management did and we are asking for an apology and the postponement of this recruitment process, so that it can be done in a professional manner that will make all stakeholders happy.”



Martin said the government was also to blame for dumping school leavers on the streets because of its ineffective education system and sufficient funding for those who wished to further their studies.



Failing English in grade 10 and 12 was a major contributor to high youth unemployment, Martin said.



He said it was time to abolish English as a promotional subject, since not all professionals required English.

In 2017 the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) announced that the unemployment rate was 43.4% among those aged between 15 and 34. To make matters worse, many people have been laid off over the past two years because of the recession.

ILENI NANDJATO

Stepping-stone for Awillo

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: IRB World Cup fears

≪ Previous: Job desperation causes chaos

$

0

0

Stepping-stone for AwilloWill use Zambian top-flight to unlock bigger opportunities Willy 'Awillo' Stephanus has earned himself a spot in the Zambian Premier League. Brave Warriors midfielder and former AC Kajaani player, Willy 'Awillo' Stephanus, says he is over the moon about the six-month deal he has clinched with Zambian Premier League side Lusaka Dynamos, nicknamed 'The Elite'.

Stephanus said he signed a short-term contract with an eye on more lucrative deals in the future.

He is banking on bigger and better deals in the future, as the Warriors are on the verge of qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), which will take place in Egypt.

“I have faith and believe that Namibia can make it to Afcon. So I believe as players we can market ourselves better at the tournament,” the 27-year-old Mariental-born and Keetmanshoop-raised midfielder said. Stephanus is a product of the Fedics Football Club in Keetmanshoop. He later signed for Black Africa in 2009, winning several trophies including four consecutive league titles from 2011.

He moved to AC Kajaani in Finland last year, after spending six months in Thailand at Krabi FC.

'The Elite' move will allow him to play alongside national teammate Teberius 'Tebe' Lombard, who moved to Dynamos in February last year, where has settled in well.

“Lombard gave me heads-up about how physical matches are in Zambia, as I'm already familiar with living abroad,” Stephanus said.

The lethal player is yet to play a match for his new club, as the league is only scheduled to start next weekend.

He, however, said he has been doing well at training.

“It is very different from when I was in Finland, as it was more tactical. At Dynamos it's very physical and comes with a lot of running.

“Playing in Zambia will definitely help me as a player, and of course the national side, because it will give me a clear picture of the tactics of Zambian players,” he said.

Most African players are now flocking to Zambia, as it is fast becoming the preferred destination for most.

Zambia is on the rise to dislodge South Africa as the most lucrative country to play in.

The Zambian Premier League is also exclusively broadcasted by SuperSport, which exposes the players to more opportunities.

“In Namibia we don't really get seen on TV unless it's for national duty, so playing here is a great opportunity to also grow a fan base,” Stephanus said.

Dynamos are renowned for their ability to nurture upcoming footballers into fully-fledged ones.

They have sold players to German, Israeli, and South African clubs. Of late, the club has made a name by signing up some of the greatest talent from around Africa and have even had players from as far as Brazil on their roster.

The club, however, is yet to win a league title, with their best finish being fifth position in 2017. The club won their one and only trophy in the 2008 BP Top 8 Cup, after beating Zesco United 1-0 in the final.

They ended in 11th position on the 20-team log standings with 51 points last year.



Another one to watch

Defender Willem Mwedihanga is back in the Namibia Premier League (NPL) after leaving Platinum Stars. The no-nonsense defender who has not been called up to the national side in recent years, has been donning Unam colours of late.

“I'm always on the lookout out for players who fit into our plans and are doing well for the clubs,” said Brave Warriors gaffer Ricardo Mannetti, when asked if he is keeping an eye on Mwedihanga, who has 22 caps for the national side.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

IRB World Cup fears

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Jacobs jumps ship to Unam

≪ Previous: Stepping-stone for Awillo

$

0

0

IRB World Cup fearsTournament boss plans for typhoons, quakes in disaster-prone Japan Organisers of the upcoming Japan Rugby World Cup are gearing up to deal with potential disasters. With the final countdown to this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan well under way, organisers are focusing their efforts on contingency planning in the notoriously earthquake and typhoon-prone country, tournament director Alan Gilpin has said.

Gilpin predicted the 2019 edition of rugby's showpiece would be the “most competitive ever” with the narrowing gap between the top 15 teams, and hosts Japan “definitely” capable of reaching their first quarterfinal.

Japan is especially vulnerable to extreme weather in September, when the tournament will be in full swing, he noted.

In September last year a typhoon knocked out Osaka Airport and another lashed the whole country, forcing authorities to take the highly unusual step of cancelling public transport in Tokyo.

That month, a strong earthquake also rocked the northern island of Hokkaido, killing dozens and knocking out power.

“A lot of what we will do in the coming six months is contingency planning,” Gilpin said in an interview, adding organisers needed to plan for eventualities such as losing a stadium or major transport hub at the tournament's height.

“It would appear that it's that first period of the tournament when it is still typhoon season that we're likely to have some issues. That is the busiest part of the tournament so we've got to be ready.”

One year after typhoon Trami lashed Japan, the equivalent weekend in 2019 will see five games across the country, including the blockbuster Australia-Wales encounter in Tokyo and Japan taking on high-flying Ireland, Gilpin said.

However, he stressed it was possible to make plans even for the vagaries of the weather and seismic activity.

“Our view is that you can plan for it. You've just got to make sure you've worked through all those different permutations,” he said.

Knockout matches can be postponed but the pool schedule is too packed for this, meaning that an apparent mismatch such as New Zealand-Namibia could be declared a draw if the elements intervene.

After some initial worries over preparations for the first World Cup not held in a traditional rugby stronghold, Gilpin said his concerns had been addressed.

With new players and improved facilities as the legacy of the six-week tournament, the 2019 World Cup could be “the most impactful ever”, he said.

“We will have taken the sport forward more than we would have done in England or New Zealand or France and that is why we're here.”

The rugby hierarchy aims to use the World Cup as a springboard to promote the game throughout Asia and announced last month they had hit a target of one million participants in a continent seen as a huge growth area.

On the pitch, Gilpin said it could be a World Cup of shocks.

“What's interesting is that the top 15 teams are probably closer than they've ever been. It's very competitive now,” he said, noting that Fiji recently beat France for the first time.

Gilpin also mentioned Grand Slam champions Ireland, who defeated the All Blacks in November, as well as “great tournament sides” Argentina and Australia as potential challengers for New Zealand's crown.

“Probably New Zealand is feeling a bit more nervous than they have been in the past few World Cups,” he said.

By running in five tries against the All Blacks late last year, hosts Japan have shown they could be a “dangerous side” for anyone in their group, which includes Ireland and Scotland.

“We'd love to see them doing well. It would really give the Japanese public something to cheer about,” he said of the Brave Blossoms.

Gilpin also clarified the tournament's position on tattoos worn by many rugby players but linked by some Japanese to organised crime.

He said there was no question of rugby officials demanding that body ink be covered up, but players would police themselves.

“They know if they are in a public area that it is appropriate to cover up tattoos. And they are very comfortable with that. It's not a question of us needing to lay out any rules,” he stressed.

“It's a bit of a non-issue for us, which has been turned into an issue here in Japan. I don't think there's any confusion among the teams or players.”





NAMPA/AFP

Jacobs jumps ship to Unam

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Air Namibia a yelitha olweendo lwokOndangwa ndoka lwa li kalekwa

≪ Previous: IRB World Cup fears

$

0

0

Jacobs jumps ship to Unam One of Namibia's most successful football coaches, Woody Jacobs, has landed a three-year deal with Unam Football Club.

Jacobs was coaching Okahandja United, but has jumped ship to mentor the Clever Boys, it was announced yesterday. The Clever Boys have been without a coach since Ronny Kanalelo resigned late last year.

“The University of Namibia undertook a fair, transparent and intensive recruitment process, which ensured that we attract the best candidate for the head coach position.

“Therefore, on behalf of Unam, it is with much enthusiasm and pride that we would like to inform all our fans, sponsors and the football nation at large of the appointment of Jacobs as the new head coach as of 16 January 2019.

“Coach Jacobs comes with a wealth of coaching experience and as a university we are confident that his experience and skills will enable us to reach our season goals and targets.

“We are also confident that he will develop our student-athletes to help them become the best version of themselves on and off the field,” Professor Frednard Gideon, Unam FC chairman said. Jacobs will be assisted by Marcello Wakudumo. “We are excited to have him on board, and are therefore confident that with his background and understanding of the game, alongside Jacobs, Unam will continue to be a formidable force in the premiership,” Gideon added.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Air Namibia a yelitha olweendo lwokOndangwa ndoka lwa li kalekwa

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Oondando dhiikulya nomahooli tadhi londo pombanda

≪ Previous: Jacobs jumps ship to Unam

$

0

0

Air Namibia a yelitha olweendo lwokOndangwa ndoka lwa li kalekwa Olweendo lyodhila yehangano lyoAir Namibia yonomola Embraer ERJ 135 okuya kOndangwa okuza kOvenduka olya li lwa kalekwa mOsoondaha nondhila ndjoka oya li ya shuna pokapale komatukodhila kaEros mpoka ya li ya tuka.

Aafaalelwa oya lala moshilandopangelo.

Omupopiliko gwehangano ndyoka, Paul Nakawa okwa koleke oshiningwanima shoka ihe okwa popi kutya odhila ndjoka kaya li ya ningi enambelo lyopaulumomhumbwe.

Aafaalelwa modhila ndjoka oya popi kutya omwa li ekudhilo oshowo ezimba tali limbilike modhila ndjoka.

“Opwa li uupyakadhi wopautekinika molweendo ndoka okuya kOndangwa ongulohi yOsoondaha. Ondhila oya galukile pokapale kaEros,” Nakwa a popi.

Okwa popi kutya aahingi yodhila ndjoka oya li ya ka vululukwa omanga aafaalelwa ya kongelwa omulalo mohotela yaSafari Court Hotel, na oya falwa kOndangwa ongula yesiku lya landula.

Okwa popi kutya aafaalelwa oya tseyithilwa shoka sha holoka po, na oya pewa ombili, ta popi kutya ndjoka onkalo owala ya holoka po na kasha li oshiponga.

Omukomeho gwomakonaakono giiponga yoodhila mUuministeli wIilonga nOmalweendo, Errikson Nengola, okwa popi kutya kape na shoka sha lopotelwa ombelewa ye kuAir Namibia.

OGONE TLHAGE

---

Oondando dhiikulya nomahooli tadhi londo pombanda

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: TransNamib ta pewa uusama omolwa omukalo ngoka a longitha

≪ Previous: Air Namibia a yelitha olweendo lwokOndangwa ndoka lwa li kalekwa

$

0

0

Oondando dhiikulya nomahooli tadhi londo pombanda Aalandi okwa tegelelwa ya ka longithe omwaalu omunene gwiimaliwa, sho oondando dhiikulya oshowo omahooli kwa tegelelwa dhi ye pombanda nuumvo.

Nonando aaniihauto oya li ya mbalipalelwa kashona muule woomwedhi dha piti sho ondando yomahooli ya gu pevi, egwo pevi lyondando yomahooli italit sikile we sho oondando kwa tengenekwa dhi londe pombanda.

Shoka osha tseyithwa komunongononi gwonkalo yeliko, Klaus Schade.

Egwo pevi lyondando yomahooli noN$1 molita yopetrol oshowo ooN$0.40 momahooli godiesel – olya etitha opo ondando dhi gwe pevi sigo oopresenda 5.1 momwedhi Desemba.

Natango nonando oondando odha gu pevi, egwo pevi nooN$0.90 molita momahooli gopetrol oshowo noN$1 momahooli godiesel, ondando yomahooli oyi li pombanda momwedhi Januari, naashoka otashi ka etithwa kelondo lyoondando, pahapu dha Schade.

Schade okwa popi kutya okwa dhidhilikwa e yo pombanda lyondando yepungu etokele, oshowo iilya momalanditho goSouth African Futures Exchange.

Namib Mills okwa londeke oondando dhiilandithomwa ye iikando iyali omvula ya piti. MuKotomba gwo 2018 ondando yomausila oya londo noopresenda 20, olwishi 20 omakoloni 16 omanga omahangu ga londo noopresenda 12.

MuJuli oondando odha londo pombanda sho omausila ga londo noopresenda 3.2, olwishi oopresenda 4.4 omanga omakoloni ga londo pombanda noopresenda 3.3.

OGONE TLHAGE

TransNamib ta pewa uusama omolwa omukalo ngoka a longitha

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: High demand for grade 9 placement

≪ Previous: Oondando dhiikulya nomahooli tadhi londo pombanda

$

0

0

TransNamib ta pewa uusama omolwa omukalo ngoka a longithaOmukalo ngoka gwa longithwa kagu li paunambelewa Okwa holoka omakuyunguto poombelelwa dhoTransNamib mOndangwa oshiwike shika sho aakongi yiilonga omayovi, ya li taya kondjele oompito dhiilonga dha thika po 40. Ongundu yaanyasha oya mbombolokele koombelewa dhaTransNamib mOndangwa mEtiyali opo ya ka ninge omaindilo gooposa ndhoka dhiigithwa moradio.

Omaundulathano ngoka ga ningwa posheelo shoombelewa ndhoka otaga ulike nkene aakwashigwana ya sa ondjala yoompito yiilonga, moshilongo shoka shi na ondjele yaantu kaye na iilonga ye li po 43.4.

Omolwa ondjele yi li pombanda yokwaahena iilonga moshilongo, aantu oyendji oya kondema omukalo ngoka gwa longithwa kehangano ndyoka mokugandja oompito dhoka dhiilonga.

Ehangano ndyoka olya tseyitha moradio kutya otali kongo aantu ye li po 40 opo yaka longe kokondalaka yuule woomwedhi ndhontumba opo ya wapaleke elila lyeshina lyokolutenda lyoshinano shookilometa 315 pokati kOshikango noTsumeb.

Aanyasha omathele ya za miitopolwa yonooli yoshilongo oya gongala poombelewa dhoTransNamib mOndangwa taya kongo iilonga.

Oya lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya oya lala pomweelo gwoombelewa ndhoka ya na omukumo kutya ehangano otali ka longitha omulandu gwaangoka e ya po tango, ihe omolwa omwaalu gwaantu oyendji kapwa li elandulathano.

Aakongi yiilonga oya gandjele oombaapila dhawo momiyelo dha patwa kaanambelewa yehangano ndyoka oshowo oosekuriti, sha landula sho kansela goshikandjohogololo Ondangwa Urban, Elia Irimari a gandja omayele kaanambelewa opo kaya egulule omweelo ku kuyandwe omakuyunguto.

Nonando ongaaka aakongi yiilonga oya ka tameka taya umbile oombaapila dhawo dhomaindilo meni lyodhalate.

“Okugandja oompito dhiilonga to longitha omukalo ngoka epuko enene. Otwa li twa gandja omayele kuTransNamib opo ya ningile ekuto ndyoka moombelewa dhiikandjohogoloo ihe oya tindi molwaashoka oyali yahala omukalo gu ningwe pauyuuki.”

“Otwa taalela ondjele yokwaahena iilonga yi li pombanda mokati kaanyasha na otaya kambadhala okukonga ompito kehe taya mono,” Irimari a popi.

“Kombelewa yetu otu na omusholondondo gwaanyasha mboka kaye na iilonga ye li po 800, ngele oya li ya konga ekwatho kutse andola otwe ya yambidhidha owala.” Omunambelewa Omukuluntu gwoTransNamib, Johnny Smith ina vula okumonika a tye sha.

Kennedy Shikongo a za momukunda Uukwandongo popepi nOkahao okwa popi kutya konima nkene a kanitha iilonga omina moka a li ha longo omvula ya piti, sho uuvu onkundana ndjoka okwa yi kOndangwa opo a ka kambadhale elago lye.

“Onde ya potundi onti 03:00 yongula na onda a dha po aantu ya thika pe 100, kapwa li elanduathano kehe gumwe okwa hala iilonga,” Shikongo a popi.

Kliopas Kalenga a za mOndobe moshitopolwa shaHangwena, okwa lala mOndangwa e na omukumo kutya ota ka mona iilonga ihe okwa kanitha omukumo.

“Okutala komwaalu gwaantu, onda tindi okugandja oombaapila dhandje. Otandi umbu ngiini oombaapila dhandje momukalo ngoka, nokukala ndi na omukumo kutya otandi mono iilonga. Nguka omukalo gwa puka gwokukonga aaniilonga, omashendjo unene.”

Kansela gwoPopular Democratic Movement (PDM) mondoolopa yaNdangwa, Johnny Whiteman Martin, okwa popi kutya omukalo ngoka gwa longithwa kuTransNamib mokukonga aaniilonga ogwa puka noonkondo, na ogu li etukano enene kaanyasha yaNamibia.

Okwa popi kutya omukalo ngoka gwa longithwa kagu li palandulathano na ogu li woo ehepeko lyiimaliwa yaakongi yiilonga.

Okwa popi nguka ongundu yawo itayi popile omukalo ngoka gwa longithwa na oya hala elelo lyaTransNamib li gandje ombili, nokuningulula egandjo lyiilonga momukalo gwopaunambelewa.

Martin okwa gandja woo uusama kepangelo kutya otali ekele oonakuthiga po ooskola momapandanda omolwa ompumbwe yiimaliwa yokwiilongitha kwaamboka yahala okutsikila nomailongo gawo.

Endopo lyoshilongwa shelaka lyOshiingilisa mondondo onti 10 oshowo 12 oshimwe tashi fala pombanda ondjele yokwaahena iilonga.

Okwa pula opo ku kuthwe po elaka ndyoka molwaashoka omaithano agehe ihaga pula ontseyo yelaka ndyoka.

Momvula yo 2017, Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) okwa tseyitha kutya ondjele yokwaahena iilonga oyi li poopresenda 43.4 mokati kaanyasha yoomvula 15 no 34.

ILENI NANDJATO

High demand for grade 9 placement

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Weather outlook remains murky

≪ Previous: TransNamib ta pewa uusama omolwa omukalo ngoka a longitha

$

0

0

High demand for grade 9 placement Capacity concerns have forced some Windhoek secondary schools to give preference to their own learners who failed grade 10.

The principal of A Shipena Secondary School, Moses Haufiku, says some learners want to repeat grade 9 because they failed grade 10 under the old curriculum, but they also had to take classroom capacity and the age limit into consideration.

The age limit for a learner who wants to repeat the Junior Secondary Certificate (JSC) from grade 9 is 17 years.

Haufiku says the school has 56 learners who failed grade 10, of whom 27 are 17 years old and are eligible to repeat the grade.

Grade 10 candidates from external institutions who were not promoted to grade 11 wanted to repeat grade 9 at ASS but the school's grade 9 class had reached its full capacity.

Haufiku says the school currently has 230 learners who have been promoted from grade 8, plus 56 who failed grade 9 and have to repeat the grade.

“And then you have 27 that failed grade 10 [who want] to repeat grade 9. So grade 9 is really in demand,” he says.

The principal of Augustineum Secondary School, Rudolf Matengu, says the school has re-enrolled more than 25 learners for JSC.

“What I'm experiencing is learners coming from other schools who failed grade 10, but first priority is our learners,” he says.

The education ministry has announced that full-time learners who failed grade 10 last year have to repeat grade 9 under the new JSC curriculum.

Semi-external examinations will be written at the end of grade 9 this year and those who pass will proceed to the senior secondary phase in 2020 and enrol for the new National Senior Secondary Ordinary Level (NSSCO) course.

NAMPA

Weather outlook remains murky

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Company news in brief

≪ Previous: High demand for grade 9 placement

$

0

0

Weather outlook remains murkyExperts say farmers should prepare for the worst The 2018/19 season will probably be remembered as one of the most difficult seasons in terms of rainfall forecasts, according to weather experts. It remains a coin toss whether good rainfall or dry conditions will dominate the rest of the rainfall season in Namibia, say experts who are cautioning farmers to prepare for the worst rather than expect a wet season.

Although there are indications for improved chances of rain for the next week, weather experts say the long-term outlook for the summer remains less certain, and at worst, highly unfavourable, which will impact livestock grazing conditions.

A report issued by Johan van den Berg, a climatologist at Santam Crop Insurance in South Africa, states that the “uncertainty about rainfall for the rest of the summer season remains high”, not only for parts of South Africa but Namibia too.

In early January, Namibian Sun quoted Van den Berg, who especially warned farmers in Namibia to guard against optimistic hopes for a wet rainfall season. He said they should instead prepare for dry months ahead.

“Should it turn out differently, they should see that as a bonus and not the other way around.”

In a new report on climate and agricultural conditions released on 11 January, he the “2018/19 season will probably be remembered as one of the most difficult seasons in terms of rainfall forecasts”, due to a number of issues.

The report states that for Namibia and parts of South Africa, short-term forecasts are showing improved probabilities for rainfall from 15 to 23 January, but warned “there is a very high level of uncertainty about expected rainfall for the rest of the summer season”.

The report highlighted two possible scenarios in terms of the current season going forward - the first being a 70% probability of average rainfall for the rest of January and the first part of February, with dry conditions in the last part of the season, when the El Niño effect comes into play.

The report states that the conditions contributing to the difficulty in forecasting rainfall for the rest of the season is partly due to a “very volatile set up of sea surface temperatures in both the Indian and Pacific oceans”.

El Niño conditions in terms of sea surface temperatures exceeded limits only in October 2018, following forecasts of much earlier development, the report notes.

As a result, by the end of December there was still no coupling of El Niño and weather systems, with the Southern Oscillation Index still on the La Nina side of neutral.

Moreover, van den Berg said “there is a large pool of cooler than normal sea surface temperatures just to the south of the Niño-areas and that it is possible that this pool may disturb the normal effect of El Niño or neutralise the effect”.

Although there are indications that El Niño has “probably reached its peak and can start to decay… we know from experience that there are phases of development that can strengthen it again”, report explains

“[The] bottom line indicates still a high level of uncertainty.”

A second scenario in terms of the current season forward, with a 30% probability according to van den Berg, is that the “El Niño reaction” won't be typical or can weaken rapidly, which could mean “good rainfall for the rest of the season”.

The report further noted that the southern parts of Namibia, which can be compared in climate outlook to the western parts of the Northern Cape, are facing poor prospects for rainfall.

A 11 January daily flood bulletin issued by the Hydrological Services Namibia noted that water levels on Namibia's northern borders, namely the Zambezi, Okavango and Kunene rivers, have been steadily rising due to “good rainfall received in their headwaters” over the previous days.

On the southern border, the Lower Orange River is experiencing very low water levels.

The water levels of major dams remain a concern overall, with the Swakoppoort Dam at 22.2% capacity, compared to 40.5% capacity one year ago.

The Von Bach Dam level, as per the 14 January dam bulletin, was at 51.3% capacity, compared to 52.1% capacity one week ago and 58.3% capacity the previous year.

The Hardap Dam is at 33.3% capacity currently, compared to 34.2% the previous year.

Water levels at the Naute Dam are currently at 64.6% capacity, compared to 65.5% a year ago.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Company news in brief

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Socialism with Namibian characteristics

≪ Previous: Weather outlook remains murky

$

0

0

Company news in brief Vedanta says pollution case belongs in Zambia

Lawyers for Vedanta Resources told England's Supreme Court on Tuesday that a case raised against the mining company by nearly 2 000 Zambian villagers should be heard in Zambia not London.

India-listed Vedanta, which delisted from London last year but maintains a legal base in Britain, is appealing a lower court ruling that a case in which villagers alleged their land was polluted by a Vedanta unit could be heard in England.

Vedanta's legal team argued that Zambia was the "natural forum" for the case and said the parent company did not control operations in Zambia, which were governed by Zambian law.

In 2017, London's Court of Appeal had found that 1 826 Zambian citizens living in Zambia's Copperbelt had the right to sue Vedanta in the English courts. Vedanta is challenging this.

The villagers allege their land and livelihood have been destroyed by water pollution caused by the Nchanga Copper Mine, owned by Vedanta through its subsidiary Konkola Copper Mines. – Nampa/Reuters

Ford, IBM in Congo cobalt blockchain project

Carmaker Ford, technology giant IBM, South Korean cathode maker LG Chem and China's Huayou Cobalt have joined forces in the first blockchain project to monitor cobalt supplies from Democratic Republic of Congo.

The pilot, overseen by responsible-sourcing group RCS Global, aims to help manufacturers ensure that cobalt used in lithium-ion batteries has not been mined by children or used to fuel conflict.

Companies are under pressure from consumers and investors to prove that minerals are sourced without human rights abuses, but tracking raw materials throughout their journey is challenging.

The project announced yesterday has been quietly under way since December. Starting with industrially mined cobalt in Congo, it is monitoring supplies all the way to lithium-ion batteries for Ford vehicles.

Supplies of cobalt, expected to be needed in huge quantities for electric vehicles and electronic devices, are concentrated in Congo, a sprawling, volatile nation that has been racked by civil war and political tension. – Nampa/Reuters

JPMorgan misses profit estimates

JPMorgan Chase & Co missed profit estimates for the fourth quarter as a slump in bond trading revenue overpowered strong consumer loan growth and record revenues.

It was the first time JPMorgan Chase, the largest US bank by assets, has underperformed earnings-per-share expectations in 16 quarters, according to Barclays equity analyst Jason Goldberg.

JPMorgan was the second large US bank to point the finger at choppy markets in December for its bond revenue losses. Citigroup Inc on Monday posted a sharp drop in fixed income revenue, blaming widening credit spreads, or the premium investors demand for holding corporate bonds over safer US Treasury securities.

Well Fargo & Co, which relies less on trading, said on Tuesday that fourth-quarter revenue missed expectations as revenue across all its banking units declined, especially at community banking.

Despite an 18% drop in JPMorgan's quarterly fixed-income revenue, Chief Financial Officer Marianne Lake said one down quarter does not make a trend. – Nampa/Reuters

McDonald's loses ‘Big Mac’ trademark case

McDonald's Corp has lost its rights to the trademark "Big Mac" in a European Union case ruling in favour of Ireland-based fast-food chain Supermac's, a decision from the EU's Spain-based Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) showed.

The judgment revoked McDonald's registration of the trademark, saying that the world's largest fast-food chain had not proven genuine use of it over the five years prior to the case being lodged in 2017.

McDonald's was not immediately available to comment on the decision. The decision said the company can still appeal.

With the revocation, Supermac's said it can now expand in the United Kingdom and Europe. The ruling also allows the Irish chain to use the "Big Mac" name on any food items it will sell.

Supermac's said it had never had a product called "Big Mac" and that McDonald's had just used the similarity of the two names to block the Irish chain's expansion. – Nampa/Reuters

Airbnb profitable for two straight years

Home-renting company Airbnb Inc said on Tuesday it was profitable on an adjusted basis for the second year in a row, ahead of a widely anticipated initial public offering this year.

Airbnb's expected listing in 2019 would be among a string of public debuts by highly valued Silicon Valley companies, including ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc, rival Lyft Inc and workplace messaging firm Slack.

Uber and Lyft remain unprofitable.

San Francisco, California-based Airbnb, valued by private investors at US$31 billion, has in recent months turned to new services and offerings to fuel growth by adding luxury vacation homes and hotels to its platform.

Without revealing other numbers such as revenue and profit, the company said it was profitable before accounting for interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). – Nampa/Reuters

Socialism with Namibian characteristics

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Hong Kong's red-hot property market cools

≪ Previous: Company news in brief

$

0

0

Socialism with Namibian characteristics By Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange



The end of 2018 was a time to be remembered.

I do not remember any other time towards the end of the year during the 28 years of our independence where we had lively debates as the ones that happened during the Swapo extraordinary congress.

Although the extraordinary congress passed numerous resolution there was one resolution that caught me by surprise - the resolution on the socialism with Namibian characteristics.

When I saw this draft resolution I thought I was dreaming and I immediately pinched one of my hands and then realised I am not dreaming.

Although we had enough of what happened in the past and now is the time to concentrate seriously on thinking about what we have to do for the future development of our country, my mind immediately went back to the time when we were about to achieve our independence. What came to my mind was what the South African colonial regime and their Western allies did in their desperate efforts to prevent any socialist economic system to be introduced in Namibia, which was about to become independent.

The colonial foreign minister Pik Botha is on record undiplomatically saying that South Africa could not allow Marxist terrorists to overrun the territory, meaning Swapo.

The five Western countries all of a sudden came into play and rushed into preparing the so-called constitutional principles.

Those so-called principles were intended and designed to pre-empt a radical and revolutionary change in Namibia.

What was perceived by the Western countries as extremist and revolutionary policies of some parties, such as Swapo and Swanu, were to be diluted and watered down in favour and in the interests of some moderate and reactionary groups. Some of these Western countries preferred that decisions on how to run our country should rather be made and taken in other countries, instead of by ourselves.



Capitalism

With this in mind, they would have liked our leaders to always consult the Western capitals before taking any vital decisions, in order for our country to adhere to Western values but not to what we believe is in the best interests of our people.

What the Western countries succeeded in was to impose the economic system, which predominantly is a capitalist system.

Now that we have been politically independent for 28 years, the masses of the people should now introduce an economic system of their own choice, which will improve their living standards.

It is against this background that I believe that adopting the resolution on socialism with Namibian characteristics is indeed a progressive and timely development. Those who conceived this idea deserve our overwhelming support and praise.

Some people may wonder why we came up with this resolution only 28 years after independence. We have to accept the reality that at independence the situation was difficult and complicated, and we had to go through trying times.

We had to decide that there would be “all we want and no compromise”, and that could have led to a prolonged struggle, to the detriment of independence.

Even the socialist countries that were helping us to fight against the South African colonial regime became victims of the big traps laid by international monopolists.

This situation negatively affected not only the liberation movement but also the working classes of the former socialist countries.

The South African colonial regime, supported by bureaucratic capitalists and a comprador bourgeoisie, saw the change in former socialist countries as a good opportunity for them to suppress the liberation movement, which they perceived to be communist terrorists. However, be that as it may, Namibian revolutionaries uphold correct and progressive policies.

Accepting some of the colonial laws, including the constitutional principles, was indeed not a sign of capitulation and did not mean that the liberation leaders had abandoned the radical principles of the struggle, neither did they agree to end the armed struggle without a commitment by the colonisers to leave Namibia. But at that time it was absolutely critical and logical for negotiating parties to seek ways and means to speed up the liberation struggle and end the war.

Now, 28 years after independence, the time has come for us to achieve the aims and objectives of the liberation struggle without compromise. The time is now for Namibia to seriously implement the resolution of the Swapo extraordinary congress, which concerns the introduction of a socialist system with Namibian characteristics. It is obvious that the implementation of this new policy may require some drastic changes in our laws, including some provisions of the Namibian Constitution. Such changes should surely not be retrogressive but progressive, since they are intended to bring about a good life and equal benefits for the masses of our people. One thing is for sure, we as a revolutionary people cannot just stick to something, even if that thing has become an intolerable albatross.

I really hope that the system of socialism with Namibia characteristics will address the burning issues that affect the masses of our people and level the economic playing field, where all stakeholders will feel that they are benefiting equally from the economic resources of the country.



Mammoth task

The extraordinary congress adopted the resolution as a policy instrument, therefore there must be a special committee that will work out details of what we mean when we are talking about socialism with Namibian characteristics. This is, indeed, a mammoth task.

The time is now that we have to resist the pressure from those countries that want us to believe that it is only through capitalism that we can develop our economy; hence the need for all of us to support the resolution.

One vital fact that we must have in mind when we talk about socialism with Namibian characteristics is that we should not fail to analyse Namibian society and identify the class forces. If we cannot do so, we will just rely on phrase-mongering, and whatever resolution and actions we adopt and take will be doomed to lead to confession.

We should also not use imperialists' money to promote and build socialism, because this should not be in the interest of capitalist classes. The intended socialism with Namibian characteristics may enable the state to reduce the unemployment rate, thus improving the living conditions of the working class. We have to understand that good and wonderful phrase-mongering will not change the capitalist mentality of the capitalist classes. Moreover, we must seriously consider having revolutionaries with ideological grounding in positions of power. Right now eclecticism prevails amongst us and this allows pseudo-revolutionaries and pseudo-socialists to push and direct the perceived party ideology.

Proper principles of socialism can only be upheld and achieved in our party and the country if the party structures are headed by cadres armed with a scientific ideology. Fake leaders in positions of power therefore are just likely to drive the party and the country into a political and economic demise.

It is therefore clear that it will be difficult for the party and state machinery, which is serving the interest of the bourgeoisies, to adjust and serve the interest of the labouring classes.

Now that we are entering an era of introducing socialism with Namibian characteristics, the ideological struggle will go on.

We must therefore find a clear and constructive way forward, instead of trying to impress and please those who will never shed tears if we happen to fail. Finally, the party must avoid having people in leadership positions who are just in those positions to use phrase-mongering for their own political and economic interests.

Ideological clarity and revolutionary commitment will be the only ability that will help the party cadres to understand where they are leading the people. Aluta continua is not only meant to continue the struggle with military equipment, but more so with a clear revolutionary and progressive mindset, which is going to liberate people from the evils of poverty and a miserable life. But military equipment must always be there to protect our hard-won independence and freedom; without that we cannot maintain our peace and stability.

Hong Kong's red-hot property market cools

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: NIP hearings drag on

≪ Previous: Socialism with Namibian characteristics

$

0

0

Hong Kong's red-hot property market cools For young Hong Kong residents like Wilson Leung getting a foothold on the city's property ladder has long been a near impossible task, but with the notoriously overpriced housing market facing a downturn, they now have a chance of realising their dream.

The crammed financial hub regularly tops the list of cities with the least affordable housing in the world, with even cheap apartments out of the reach of most regular workers.

However, after a decade of near continual growth Hong Kong is about to join a global downturn that is buffeting markets including London, Vancouver, Sydney and Shanghai.

And the good news for first-time buyers like Leung, who works in sales and lives with his parents, most analysts believe the trend will continue into 2019 as the China-US trade dispute rumbles on and the Chinese economy stutters.

Many analysts are predicting further dips, fuelled by the fallout of the US-China trade war, the slowing mainland economy, a weakening yuan and the prospect of further interest rate rises.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) last month said property prices declined for two consecutive months while sales volumes have been down for four months straight, the longest losing streak since 2008 at the height of the global financial crisis.

Demand from buyers in mainland China, a cash-rich demographic that has been a key driver of the bubble, much to the frustration of Hong Kong residents, has also been negative for the past four months.

"Against this backdrop, expectations for prices and sales volumes remain firmly rooted in negative territory over the next three months and 12 months," RICS wrote.

Iris Pang, ING's Greater China economist, said residential prices have fallen by as much as 15% in some areas. She said jitters over the trade war were having the most significant effect given the "potential impact on the Hong Kong economy, including job security, wage growth and asset price trend in general".

"This makes the market sentiment negative currently, and will continue to be so unless we see significant progress from the trade truce," she told AFP, predicting a further 10-15% drop in prices in 2019.

Until recently, the financial hub's property has provided handsome returns for the wealthy as prices have doubled since 2008. - Nampa/AFP

---

NIP hearings drag on

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Conservancies make a difference

≪ Previous: Hong Kong's red-hot property market cools

$

0

0

NIP hearings drag on Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) acting CEO Mecky Nghipandulwa has confirmed that disciplinary hearings into the activities of its five suspended executives are still under way.

The NIP in June last year suspended its chief operations officer Harold Kaura, chief financial officer Cleophas Mbahijova and chief strategy and business development officer Jennifer Kauapirura. This was followed by the suspensions of chief human capital officer Monika Pendukeni and chief technology officer Valerie Garises in August.

Former NIP CEO Augustinus Katiti was suspended in June 2018 and subsequently fired in September. Providing an update on the matter, Ngipandulwa said: “This is not public information. The process started last year and is in the hands of the lawyers.”

Nghipandulwa would also not be drawn into how the absence of the five suspended executives was affecting the NIP.

“I cannot comment on those matters,” said Nghipandulwa.

At the time of their suspension Katiti, Kaura, Mbahijova and Kauapirura faced charges of failing to protect the interests of the NIP and bringing the name of their employer into disrepute.

Katiti was also accused of approving a tender exemption for the procurement of IT infrastructure and the transportation of specimens from health facilities in the Zambezi, Omusati, Kavango West and East and Ohangwena regions without board approval.

Pendukeni was suspended for allegedly allowing three positions to be created in the company without board approval, while Garises was accused of allowing a tender for the procurement of IT infrastructure to sail through without following proper procedures, it was earlier reported. Public enterprises minister Leon Jooste had voiced concern about the vacuum created by the suspensions. At the time, Jooste wrote to former health minister Bernard Haufiku to express his concern.

“Experience has shown that the outcome of most of these suspensions is less than ideal, and to the detriment of the public enterprise from both a financial as well as an operational point of view,” he wrote.

OGONE TLHAGE

Conservancies make a difference

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Legal threat over manganese

≪ Previous: NIP hearings drag on

$

0

0

Conservancies make a difference Community conservation, encompassing 19% of Namibia's land and over 210 000 rural residents, is contributing to the national economy, rural development and to poverty alleviation.

A total of N$7.11 billion has been contributed to Namibia's net national income through community conservation from 1990 to the end of 2017, while the net national income contributed in 2017 was about N$807 million.

In comparison, N$2.3 billion has been invested in the conservancy programme since 1990, the bulk of which was donor funding.

According to the 2017 State of Community Conservation in Namibia report, community conservation facilitated 5 350 jobs and generated over N$132 million in returns for local communities in 2017.

“The total cash income and in-kind benefits generated in conservancies, including the Kyaramacan Association, grew from less than N$1 million in 1998 to more than N$132 million in 2017,” says the report.

Of this amount tourism generated N$80 117 and trophy hunting N$32 503. This figure includes meat distributed to conservancy residents, valued at N$12 566. Other indigenous natural products generated N$5 191 and miscellaneous income was N$2 446.

The report notes that direct benefit distribution from conservancies to members grew by N$5 million in 2017. “This is largely because conservancies are understanding the wishes of members better, spending proportionally less on management, and ploughing more into benefits in cash and community projects.”

Conservancy residents earned a total cash income of N$65 828 from enterprise wages, of which N$42 081 was from joint-venture tourism, N$18 861 from conservancies, N$3 558 from trophy hunting and N$1 326 from SMEs.

According to the report conservancy residents earned cash income of N$4 632 from indigenous plants and N$1 429 from crafts.

A total of N$16 159 was distributed to residents and used to support community projects.

According to the report there were 83 registered communal conservancies in 2017, where over 200 000 rural residents were benefiting from the wildlife-based economy.

There are also 32 community forests in the country, most of which overlap conservancies and are jointly managed, and one community association located inside the Bwabwata National Park: the Kyaramacan Association.

This community association is constituted and works like a conservancy. A total of 163 151 square kilometres of land was encompassed by the 83 communal conservancies at the end of 2017. This represents 52.9% of all communal land in Namibia and 19.8% of Namibia's total land area.

At the same time, 32 community forests covering an area of 30 828 square kilometres had been gazetted. Of these, 18 overlap with conservancies.

The area covered by conservancies and community forests has rapidly grown to 166 267 square kilometres, which is 53.2% of all communal land.

At the end of 2017, there were an estimated 212 092 people living in conservancies, with another 6 170 members of the Kyaramacan Association living in Bwabwata National Park.

Of this area, conservancies manage 163 151 square kilometres, which comprises 19.8% of Namibia, while community forests cover 30 828 square kilometres, of which 89.9% overlaps with conservancies.

“At independence in 1990, there were no registered community conservation areas, freehold conservancies did not exist, and a mere 14% of land was under recognised conservation management,” the report states.



ELLANIE SMIT

Legal threat over manganese

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Coding for African girls

≪ Previous: Conservancies make a difference

$

0

0

Legal threat over manganeseFears remain top of Lüderitz agenda A public meeting slated for next Monday is set to discuss the possible health effects of manganese ore on humans and freshwater and marine environments. Concerned members of the Lüderitz community are gearing up for an open meeting on Monday to discuss the issues around the recent manganese debacle, including possible legal action and a petition.

A notice distributed this week informed residents and authorities that the public meeting, scheduled for Monday next week, would offer a platform to talk about the possible health effects of manganese ore on humans, on freshwater and marine environments, as well as the possible impacts of manganese exports through Lüderitz.

Reginald Hercules has actively campaigned to highlight the dangers associated with manganese pollution and asked questions on the handling of the ore at the town in recent weeks.

He says the meeting is an opportunity to hold accountable those who have “recklessly endangered” residents and the environment with the illegal handling of manganese ore. He says it will also offer a chance to address the fact that 620 tonnes of the ore is being stored in a warehouse at the port under conditions many allege are possibly unsafe.

Moreover, the public notice indicates intentions to launch a petition and to discuss “possible legal action on the recent dumping and storage of manganese ore at Lüderitz without well-advertised open public consultations and an environmental clearance certificate.”

Namibian Sun reported earlier this month that a South African company, TradePort, one of two companies that reportedly signed a deal with NamPort to export manganese ore to China from Lüderitz, was ordered to stop offloading the ore at an open site near the town. The environment ministry confirmed that the company was dumping the ore illegally and had not been granted an environmental clearance certificate as required by law.

Trucks containing ore were impounded and the product was taken to the port after the ministry gave NamPort the go-ahead to store it temporarily.



Safety concerns

Hiskia Mbura of the ministry's environmental division confirmed to Namibian Sun last week that the storage of the manganese by NamPort was “a remedial measure to effect a compliance order issued by this office and thus within the law.” He addressed concerns raised by some residents that the two Rubb Halls were inadequately equipped to store hazardous material, did not pose a health or other threat. Rubb Halls are large, tent-like structures used for temporary storage of construction materials or humanitarian relief supplies.

Mbura said the storage would be monitored by the police and environmental inspectors to ensure compliance with safety conditions. Mbura added that “the significant health and safety risks associated with manganese are limited to the handling and haulage of the manganese in an open environment, where it is exposed to wind.” He added that the ministry and NamPort ensured that “additional measures were employed to prevent infiltration of the contaminated water in the warehouse, and watering is discontinued once the dust is contained and therefore the quantity of water used is very minimal in that runoff does not occur.”



Cleaning up

In response to health concerns raised by residents, NamPort CEO Bisey /Uirab said the “cargo owner hired a local contractor based in Lüderitz” to transport the ore to the port warehouse.

Unfortunately, the contractor hired by TradePort Namibia CC did not comply with personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements but the Namport safety and health officer was on site to rectify the situation, he said.

/Uirab said when NamPort and other authorities arrived, the contractor was only suppressing dust by spraying water over the manganese. “The loading only commenced when NamPort, ministry of environment and tourism [officials] and police arrived on the scene and all safety measures were in place. This product was handled strictly according to the environment ministry and NamPort requirements,” he assured.

/Uirab added that the “quick intervention of the ministry of environment and tourism rectified the situation by containing the manganese ore in an enclosed space”.

He said Lüderitz residents could rest assured the project posed no further danger to the community.



JANA-MARI SMITH

Coding for African girls

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: New boss for NDTC

≪ Previous: Legal threat over manganese

$

0

0

Coding for African girls Africa Code Week (ACW) 2018 exceeded all expectations by empowering 2.3 million young people from 37 African countries with digital and coding skills, compared to 1.3 million from 35 countries in the previous edition.

More than 46% of this year’s 2.3 million participants were female, reflecting a huge appetite for digital skills development among Africa's girls.

Dedicated grants from key partner BMZ, who has been supporting ACW since 2016 as part of the #eSkills4Girls initiative, across 15 emerging and developing countries, introduced 13 791 girls to digital skills and employment perspectives.

SAP further collaborated with Unesco and BMZ/GIZ to strengthen the gender component of the Train-the-Teacher package for Africa Code Week.

"Female representation in African companies in STEM-related fields currently stands at only 30%, requiring powerful public-private partnerships to start turning the tide and creating more equitable opportunities for African youth to contribute to the continent’s economic development and success,” says Sunil Geness, director of government relations and CSR at SAP Africa and global coordinator of ACW 2018.

According to Cathy Smith, managing director of SAP Africa, the resounding success of Africa Code Week is a wake-up call unveiling what the young generation actually needs and rightfully expects: “Young people in Africa don’t just need opportunities: they need to know how to take the first steps to get there. They need role models and guidance."

Focusing on the introducing coding skills to African youth and raising awareness of the importance of digital education, ACW augmented efforts in 2018 through capacity-building with governments, schools and non-profit organisations. As a result, close to 23 000 teachers were trained on the ACW digital learning curriculum in the run-up to October 2018 events.

ACW is an award-winning initiative taking place every year in the month of October. It is now actively supported by key partners Unesco YouthMobile, Google, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Cape Town Science Centre, the Camden Education Trust, 28 African governments including Namibia, over 130 implementing partners and 120 ambassadors across the continent.

For the third year in a row, Google expanded their grant allocations in 2018, awarding micro-grants to 53 non-profit organisations and allowing more than 100 000 young people from 11 countries to be exposed to computer science and coding skills, 57% of whom were girls. – SAP News Centre

New boss for NDTC

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: The jobs bomb has exploded

≪ Previous: Coding for African girls

$

0

0

New boss for NDTCNdjaba retires after 11 years Eiseb appointed to take over at the diamond trading company. The Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) board of directors has announced the retirement of chief executive officer Shihaleni Ellis Ndjaba.

Ndjaba had led the pioneering entity for 11 years. He is succeeded by Brent Eiseb, who previously served as senior manager for sales and marketing. Eiseb’s appointment is effective from 1 January 2019.

Ndjaba served as director of operations in the ministry of fisheries and marine resources before he took up the role of deputy permanent secretary in the ministry of finance.

He was later appointed as permanent secretary in the ministry of works, transport and communication in 2005. In the same year he made his debut in the diamond industry when he was tasked to lead the government negotiating team to negotiate the sales agreement between Namibia and the De Beers Group.

This agreement paved the way for the establishment of NDTC, among other developments that supported further development in the diamond industry. Ndjaba briefly served as NDTC’s first board chairperson in 2007 and was then appointed as CEO in 2008.

He has overseen the establishment and growth of NDTC, resulting directly in the expansion of the local diamond manufacturing industry and realising downstream beneficiation.

The Namibian diamond sector has seen significant improvements in a number of areas such as skills development and technology.

Eiseb started with the De Beers group 23 years ago when he joined as a trainee sorter. After completing 12 months of on-the-job training, Eiseb joined the rough diamond division and occupied a variety of roles over the next few years.

During this time he took up a secondment to the De Beers UK office which laid the foundation for what would become his deep-rooted passion for diamonds.

After ten years in the rough diamond division, he joined the sales team in London before returning to Namibia in December 2007.

After the migration of sales from London to Botswana, he relocated to Gaborone to take up the role of vice president sales Eastern Hemisphere for De Beers Global Sightholder sales, responsible for the Indian and the Far East markets.

returned to Namibia in May 2016 as senior manager for sales and marketing at NDTC and was instrumental in the successful implementation of the new Namibian sorting, valuing, sales and marketing agreement.