Ramaphosa implicated in corruption allegations

January 17, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Ramaphosa implicated in corruption allegationsSA opposition calls on president for full investigation Millions per month spent on bribes to secure lucrative government contracts. Mmusi Maimane, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader: "Given this truly explosive testimony, I call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to instruct his government to immediately cancel all contracts and tenders with Bosasa.” Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane on Thursday called on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to cancel all existing government contracts with Bosasa and institute an inquiry following startling revelations that the company had paid bribes to government and state-owned companies to win tenders.

On Wednesday, former Bosasa chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi told the Zondo Commission that Bosasa chief executive Gavin Watson used his political ties to officials within the African National Congress (ANC) to win a lucrative catering, facilities management, and security contract for his company at various government institutions.

Agrizzi said Bosasa, now African Global Operations, spent between R4 million and R6 million per month to bribe officials in a bid to score lucrative government contracts worth more than R10 billion.

Agrizzi testified that the monies were paid in cash, often hand-delivered in cash bags. He implicated state-owned companies like Sasol, the Airports Company of South Africa, South African Airways, the Post Office and the Department of Correctional Services.

"Given this truly explosive testimony, I call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to instruct his government to immediately cancel all contracts and tenders with Bosasa, and place a strict moratorium on any new contracts with the company or any of its subsidiaries," Maimane said.

"It is also becoming increasingly difficult for the president to avoid the DA's earlier calls for an independent inquiry into Bosasa, covering the corrupt company's full relationship with the ANC and the state - including the relationship between the president's family and Bosasa. This inquiry should be set up immediately."

Watson allegedly paid R500 000 to Ramaphosa's campaign to become ANC president in 2017. Maimane said he has asked Ramaphosa when he will be paying back the "donation" received from Watson. He said Ramaphosa could not condemn state capture but avoid the same scrutiny when the alleged corruption involved him.

"The fact is that Ramaphosa received a R500 000 'donation' from a company that has been paying the ANC bribes since 1999. He can no longer mislead the public into believing that he did not know," Maimane said.

In November, the ANC said Ramaphosa would pay back the R500 000 donation that Watson made to fund his election campaign. Ramaphosa has said in a letter he wrote to the National Assembly Speaker, Baleka Mbete, that the money was paid into a trust fund account of his son Andile, without his knowledge. -Nampa/ANA

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Pensioner loses N$400k in scam

January 17, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Pensioner loses N$400k in scam A 60-year-old woman at Oshakati has lost N$405 000 in an extortion scam staged by fraudsters pretending to be police officers.

The incident happened between June and December last year, Commissioner Rauha Amwele of the Oshana police has confirmed.

The resident of Onangodhi village near Oshakati fell prey to fraudsters who pretended to be officers of the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS), the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Namibian police.

Commissioner Amwele says two suspects have been arrested and the police investigation continues.

Shafashike Immanuel (30) and Hendrick Haihambo (35) appeared before the Oshakati Magistrate Court on charges of robbery and theft under false pretence. They were denied bail.

It is alleged that after failing to obtain a learner's licence despite several attempts, the woman received a call from one of the accused who pretended to be a NaTIS official.

He offered to help her obtain a licence for a fee. The two agreed to meet where the victim was to hand over the money.

“While they were busy with their deal, the second suspect showed up in a vehicle pretending to be an ACC official. He ordered the two to pay him a certain amount of money or else he would get them arrested,” said a source familiar with the case.

It is reported that the victim cooperated and paid again. After a few days the suspects called her again, pretending to be police officers.

The blackmailers said a criminal case had been opened against her and that she had to pay to get the charges withdrawn.





According to the police source, the woman made several payments, totalling N$405 000.

The woman later reported the matter to the police and the two men were arrested.

Commissioner Amwele said when the case was first reported to her the amount was N$385 000.

“So far two suspects have been arrested in connection with this case and police investigations continue.”

Amwele said people should be wary of secret business dealings with strangers, because fraud cases are on the rise.

“We must try by all means to follow proper procedures to acquire whatever we want. If we fail, let just try again until such a time we can get it right,” Amwele said.

“We must also know how the police and ACC system works to avoid falling victim. When police or ACC officials are investigating you, they will inform you but they will never ask you to pay them.”

Amwele said the majority of people falling victim to fraud are those desperate to get rich quick.

ILENI NANDJATO

NDF defies court order

January 17, 2019, 2:00 pm

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NDF defies court order Four days after the Namibian Defence Force was ordered to vacate a Rehoboth shooting range it had illegally occupied in December, the army's locks remain on the gate.

Lawyer Norman Tjombe, acting on behalf of the Rehoboth Shooters Club, yesterday confirmed that the NDF had not yet unlocked the gates to the club in terms of Monday's High Court order. He said steps to involve the sheriff of the court would be taken later yesterday.

“They are ignoring the court order,” a member of the shooting club confirmed yesterday.

He said it was unclear why the lock had not yet been removed by the NDF.

Government attorney Ngatatue Kandovazu insisted that the court order had been complied with. Defence minister Penda Ya Ndakolo told Namibian Sun yesterday morning that he was unaware of the NDF ignoring the court order.

“It's news to me. I was out of the office, maybe they will brief me. I cannot comment now, I don't have any information,” he said. On Monday, acting judge Claudia Claasen ordered the minister of defence, the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) and the town council of Rehoboth to restore possession and occupation to the Rehoboth Shooters Club. An official at the Rehoboth town council told Namibian Sun that the council was not responsible for carrying out the court order, so he could not comment on the matter.

Namibian Sun last week reported that members of the shooting club had turned to the High Court to obtain an interdict against the illegal military take-over of the club's private shooting range in mid-December.

On 18 December, the military arrived, erecting a hand-written notice barring any person from entering the site and declaring it a “military area”.

On Monday, the court endorsed a settlement agreement reached between the applicants and respondents for the NDF to vacate the property. Claasen ordered the ministry and the NDF to pay the costs of the application.



Claasen said the minister of defence and the NDF were “interdicted and restrained from unlawfully interfering with the Rehoboth Shooters Club's possession and occupation” of the area.







PREVIOUSLY



Nathalia /Goagoses, the representative of the urban and rural development minister tasked last year to head the interim Rehoboth town council, yesterday said she was still on leave and could not comment.



“I want to really only pronounce myself on this when I have all the necessary facts in front of me, and that is my priority when I come back to the office,” she said.



She added that in the meantime the court order must be obeyed.



/Goagoses said the town council was the owner of the land in question and had the right to allocate it to the most suitable tenant.



She knew of an application by the NDF last year to take over the shooting range, but the council never gave the go-ahead, she said.



“They approached the council long before my time and they came in November or December to follow up on the application for that land. I could not at that stage pronounce myself, as I needed to investigate,” she said.



/Goagoses said she had started investigating the shooting club's lease agreement before going on holiday.



The investigation was delayed because the council's records were “in disarray” and the relevant documents could not be traced in time.

Namcor prevails

January 17, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Namcor prevailsGets cabinet nod to manage N$5bn fuel facility Namcor is to invite bids for a partner to manage the Walvis Bay fuel storage facility on its behalf. The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) has been chosen to manage the strategic fuel storage facility in Walvis Bay, but will initially appoint a joint-venture partner to run the N$5.6 billion facility on its behalf.

Namcor outpaced Vitol, which at one stage was in the driving seat to operate the multibillion-dollar facility.

The facility will store 70 million litres of petroleum products such as petrol, diesel, paraffin and others.

Vitol had offered government a measly US$1 a month to rent the facility for ten years, which was constructed to the tune of N$5.6 billion.

“I confirm that cabinet has awarded the management and operation of the Walvis Bay fuel storage facility to Namcor,” Namcor spokesperson Utaara Hoveka told Namibian Sun.

Hoveka said the parastatal will now advertise a tender to select a company to manage the facility on its behalf.

The tender to select a joint-venture partner will be advertised in the first quarter of the year.

“We will not directly run the facility but will appoint a technical partner that will run the facility for about three years on our behalf,” said Hoveka.

At the end of that period, Hoveka explained, Namcor may elect to have another company manage the facility or they will manage it themselves.





Vitol, whose business case was escalated to cabinet by finance minister Calle Schlettwein, was willing to offer only 30 cubic metres or 30 000 litres of the total 70 000 cubic metres of petroleum storage space at the facility to government for emergency use.

The rest of the storage space, 69 997 cubic metres, would be used by Vitol. This meant that Vitol would use 99.9% of the facility, which was built to store Namibia's strategic petroleum reserves.

Vitol also promised to supply 19 000 cubic metres of diesel and 12 700 cubic metres of unleaded petrol to Namibian fuel stations - a proposal described by a source as a move that would hand the Swiss company 45% of the Namibian fuel market, The Namibian reported.

Asked how Namcor was readying itself for the eventual management of the storage facility, Hoveka said a team had been selected and were sent for further training.

“As for the readiness of our employees, we have sent them on training arranged by the ministry of mines and energy to ensure we are ready to run the facility,” he said.

Hoveka added the facility's commissioning in the first half of this year.



Benefits accruing

The facility, which was initially meant to cost government N$900 million, as well as the introduction of a fuel tariff, saw its construction costs spike astronomically. Against this backdrop, Namibian Sun asked Hoveka where the immediate benefits would come from, given the high costs incurred.

“At the moment the country runs on an extremely limited capacity. This is risky especially during high seasons in the oil market, taking into consideration that Namibia does not yet produce a drop of oil. It is also risky in the case of any unforeseen eventualities, either in South Africa or the oil-producing countries,” Hoveka said, while highlighting the need for the facility.

He added that the facility would make it possible for Namcor to import liquefied petroleum gas or liquefied natural gas - a first for Namibia.

“Namcor will further host other oil companies, thereby generating money through throughput fees related to the jetty and pipeline. Namcor will also no longer incur huge storage costs or a lack of storage in the town of Walvis Bay,” Hoveka said.

Namcor was also banking on using the facility to have its fuel import mandate restored. Namport up until 2010 was responsible for 50% of local fuel needs.

“Namcor will use the facility to effectively deliver on the 50% fuel import mandate, which we have been engaging government on,” Hoveka said.

According to him, Namcor was expectant that government will make a favourable decision regarding the fuel import mandate during the course of the year.

OGONE TLHAGE

Girl (7) commits suicide

January 19, 2019, 5:06 am

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Girl (7) commits suicide A seven-year-old girl is thought to have committed suicide while she was home alone in Walvis Bay’s Tutaleni residential area Thursday night.
According to a police report issued Saturday by Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu, Annastasia Tilomalenga Kampulu is thought to have hanged herself.
“The minor was left home alone when her mother went to church with her younger sister and the older brother went to work,” said the report.
When the girl's mother got home around midnight, she found her son waiting outside the house as he did not have a key.
Iikuyu said when they entered the house, they found her body hanging from a wardrobe with a cloth around her neck.
Kampulu was a Grade 2 learner at Immanuel Ruiters Primary School.
No foul play is suspected and her body has been taken to the Walvis Bay Police Mortuary for a post-mortem.
Police investigations continue.

Litwayi urges athletes to fight for qualification

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Litwayi urges athletes to fight for qualification Namibia National Paralympic Committee (NNPC) president Johannes Litwayi says 2019 will be busy year for athletes, as many competitions are lined up.

Litwayi said the planned activities for the year include the world champs, the All-Africa Games, the 11th Fazza International Athletics Championships to be held in Dubai, the South Africa Sport Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD) national champs, the para Coca-Cola national champs, ball games, blind soccer, events linked to the female development programme and the launch of sitting volleyball.

He said there are financial challenges and capacity issues, but athletes can look forward to these competitions, as they are doing their best to keep them active throughout the year.

Litwayi urged athletes who want to compete in these major competitions to fight for qualification.

“Athletes have to qualify for the SASAPD champs and only athletes that are classified will be able to compete,” he said.

“So we urge athletes who hold licenses to train hard, as we will be selecting the cream of the crop for the competition.”

He added they want athletes to record good qualification standards, which will ensure that they qualify for the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Back2School ­activation

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Back2School ­activation Namibia Media Holdings under the banner My Zone is back again with its 2019 Back2School activations edition as we visited over five primary schools across ­Windhoek. Below are some exciting moments of the learners as The Zone team spent time with them while also handing over back-to-school booklets.

Stars knocked out of Confederation Cup

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Stars knocked out of Confederation Cup African Stars bowed out of the 2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup after a 0-1 defeat by Raja Casablanca of Morocco on Sunday.

The Namibian club played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg match of the preliminary at the Sam Nujoma Stadium last week, but their failure to find the back of the net in Morocco on Sunday saw them go down 1-2 on aggregate.

African Stars started the game like a house on fire, as they had most of the possession in the opening minutes of the first half, but could not find the back of the net.

Raja Casablanca threatened their opponents in front of goal on numerous occasions, but none of their attempts saw the back of the net either, as the match was 0-0 at halftime.

In the second half the home team picked up their tempo in the opening 10 minutes and scored from a free-kick in the 56th minute via their captain, whom Stars players thought was offside. The Namibian team picked up the tempo once again after conceding a goal, but their attempts did not bear any fruit, as their final touch failed them.

A fight broke out in the second minute of additional time, after frustrated African Stars goalkeeper Ratanda Mbazuvara got into an altercation with a Raja Casablanca striker, who attempted to score a goal that was blown offside by the referee.

Mbazuvara got himself a yellow card for his actions, but seconds later his teammate Treasure Kauapirura got himself red-carded along with a Raja Casablanca player he was involved in a fight with.

With the defeat, the Namibia Premier League (NPL) champions will now turn their attention to their league game against Young Brazilians in Karasburg on Saturday.

NAMPA

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Dembele sparkles for club Barca

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Dembele sparkles for club BarcaMessi needed off the bench to rescue Spanish giants Ousmane Dembele gave Barcelona a glimpse into the future, but the Spanish giants still needed a Lionel Messi rescue effort to beat Leganes 3-1 on Sunday and restore their five-point lead at the top of La Liga. Lionel Messi started on the bench against Leganes on Sunday, after initially being rested by coach Ernesto Valverde, and for just over an hour at the Camp Nou, Ousmane Dembele filled the void by scoring the opening goal in a sparkling individual display.

The 21-year-old, however, limped off with a sprained ankle in the 69th minute, shortly after Leganes had equalised through Martin Braithwaite and Valverde responded by introducing Messi.

He needed only seven minutes to make an impact as his bending shot was followed up by Luis Suarez, who poked the ball in ahead of Leganes goalkeeper Pichu Cuellar. Messi then rounded off the win by scoring himself in injury-time.

Leganes had protested against Suarez's finish, convinced that Pichu had been fouled by a high foot.

“It was a clear foul,” coach Mauricio Pellegrino said. “Barca don't need these kind of decisions to help them.”

But the video assistant referee (VAR) disagreed and Barca advanced to what was, in truth, a fully deserved victory. It means they regain their hefty advantage over Atletico Madrid at the top of the table; with the difference ahead of Real Madrid also back to 10 points.

Leganes had beaten Barcelona at home in September but that remains the high point of their season. They stay 14th. Valverde was accused of failing to rest key players last season, to the detriment of their progress in the Champions League, and his gamble to spare his star player just about paid off.

“There are lots of games,” Valverde said. “We talk to the players and decide when it may be good for them to rest. It was difficult with and without Messi,” Pellegrino said.

Barcelona needed him in the end, but for a while Dembele and the 21-year-old Carles Alena in midfield, had shown there may yet be life after Messi, who turns 32 in June.



Medical tests

Dembele underwent a medical test yesterday. “We will miss him a lot,” Valverde said. “We hope it is not too long.”

He was at the heart of everything in the first half, his hips slaloming through the hapless Leganes defence, who swarmed around him in numbers but always seemed a step behind.

A cheeky nutmeg was followed by an audacious scoop, which found Suarez, but he poked wide. It was a classy finish for the opener too, although the goal owed more to the collective than the individual.

Gerard Pique started it, driving from deep in defence down the wing. Alena took over and found Dembele, who spread the ball wide to Jordi Alba. When the ball came back, Dembele opened up his body and his right foot, guiding the ball first-time into the bottom corner.

After halftime, Philippe Coutinho fired over after another Dembele flick and it felt like only a matter of time before another goal would come.

It did, but Leganes scored it, with their second shot on target. Alba was caught out and Youssef En-Neysri nipped in. His fizzing cross found Braithwaite, who darted ahead of Pique to prod home.

Messi had been warming up and was quickly introduced. Alena made way and shortly after Dembele followed, his brilliant night cut short, Malcom came on.

Seven minutes passed between Messi's substitution and Suarez's goal. Messi cut in from the right and curled a shot towards the top corner, where Pichu dived to meet it and palmed the ball into the air.

As it dropped, Suarez got there first, stabbing in the rebound at around hip-height before clattering into the keeper's chest. The VAR checked and Leganes protested. The goal stood.

Suarez should have scored again but shot straight at Pichu, who gathered, rushed out and barged into the shoulder of the Uruguayan.

Any doubt was dispelled, however, as Messi exchanged with Alba in injury-time. A swoop of the Argentinean's right

Suarez should have scored again but shot straight at Pichu, who gathered, rushed out and barged into the shoulder of the Uruguayan.

Any doubt was dispelled, however, as Messi exchanged with Alba in injury-time. A swoop of the Argentinean's right foot was all it needed.



NAMPA/AFP

Federer to play French Open

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Federer to play French Open Swiss great Roger Federer denied on Sunday his defeat to Greek young gun Stefanos Tsitsipas signalled a changing of the guard, as he announced he will play the French Open this year for the first time since 2015.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion was shocked by a man 17 years his junior in the last 16 of the Australian Open 6-7 (11-13), 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 and 7-6 (7/5) at the Rod Laver Arena. But Federer, the defending champion, played down suggestions it was the beginning of the end for a man who has dominated the sport for so long. “I've heard that story the last 10 years. From that standpoint, (there is) nothing new there,” he said. And in a signal that he is hungry for more, the 37-year-old said he planned to play on clay again this year for the first time since 2015.

“It's a bit of a desire. I'm in a phase where I want to have fun and I've missed not doing it,” he told reporters of the French Open. He missed Roland Garros in 2016 with an injury and skipped the clay season the last two years.

“I don't feel it is necessary to have a big break again,” he added. The long-haired Tsitsipas, seeded 14, has been touted as a future Grand Slam champion and Federer had nothing but praise, saying he saw similarities to himself.

“He has a one-handed backhand and I used to have long hair, too,” said the world number three. “Yeah, so maybe a little bit, sure. He has more of a continental grip than players nowadays. That's a bit more my way than, let's say, Rafa's way. I see him definitely being high up in the game for a long time. That was a good night for him tonight.” Federer conceded he had “massive regrets” about losing and said he didn't win because he struggled to convert his 12 break points, making none of them count. “I have massive regrets, you know, tonight. I might not look the part, but I am. I felt like I had to win the second set. “I don't care how I do it, but I have to do it. Cost me the game tonight. “There is always multiple factors that play into a match like this,” he added. “But it definitely didn't go the way I was hoping on the break points. I also didn't break him at the Hopman Cup, so clearly something is wrong.”





NAMPA/AFP

Egandjo lyookota dhoohi inali ningwa natango

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Egandjo lyookota dhoohi inali ningwa natangoOtaku ka longithwa iipumbiwa ihetatu mokuhogolola mboka taya ka pe wa ookota Uuministeli woohi noonzo dhomomeya otawu ka tseyitha omadhina gaaningi yomaindilo gookukwata oohi, mboka ya zi mo moshihogololitho, muule woomwedhi mbali twa taalela. JANA-MARI SMITH

Amushanga guuministeli mboka, Moses Maurihungirire, okwa popi kutya natango oyiipyakidhila nokuhogolola mo mboka taya ka pewa ookota ndhoka, mokati kaaningi yomaindilo ya thika po 5 100.

Omadhina gaaningi yomaindilo yeli po 5 176 ga Ii ga tseyithilwa oshigwana muNovemba gwomvula ya piti, nuuministeli pethimbo owali wa tseyitha kutya mboka ya zi mo moshihogololitho otaya ka tseyitha okuya pehulilo lyomvula nenge kuyele nuumvo.

Nonando ookota dhoka dhomaludhi ga thika poomugoyi inadhi tulwa po natango, omusholondondo gwaaningi yomaindilo otagu ulike kutya aantu ye li po 1 852 oya ninga omaindilo gookota dhoohake, omanga ye li pe 1 663 ya ninga omaindilo gokukwata oohorse mackerel nomahangano 6 99 oga ninga omaindilo gokukwata oomonkfish.





Omwaalu omushona gwaaningi yomaindilo ya thika pe 155 oya ninga omaindilo gorock lobster omanga 149 ya ninga omaindilo go line fish no 101 oya ninga omaindilo pelagic species, mwa kwatelwa otuna.

MuNovemba gwomvula ya piti, Ominista Bernhardt Esau oya tula miilonga omulandu omupe ngoka tagu ka longithwa mokuhogolola mboka taya ka za mo moshihogololitho nomulandu ngoka otagu ka tala woo kutya otaya pewa ookota dha thika pungapi.

Minista okwa popi kutya sho ya ningi omapekaapeko okutala kwaamboka ya ningi omaindilo gokukwata oohi oya mono kutya oyendji uumwene womahangano ngoka kawu li momake gAaNamibia, na itashi ti we kutya ngele omuntu okuna uuthemba wokukwata oohi nena okwiilongela okupewa ookota dhokukwata oohi.

Ngashiingeyi ookota otadhi ka gandja kwiikwatelelwa kiipumbiwa ya thika pu 8 oshowo kuyilwe ya gwedhwa po, shi na sha nomashangitho.

Okwa tsikile kutya omulandu ngoka tagu longithwa otagu ka kwashilipaleka kutya ookota ndhoka odha gandja uuwanawa nokunkondopeka AaNamibia.

Ombili otayi ka pangela tuu moDRC?

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Ombili otayi ka pangela tuu moDRC? JEMIMA BEUKES

Omupresidende Hage Geingob mehuliloshiwike okwa gandja omahaleloyambeko ge komupresidende gwaDRC, Felix Tshisekedi ngoka a sindanapo omahogololo gopashigwana ngoka ga ningwa moshilongo moka momwedhi gwa piti, sha landula sho Ompangu yEkotampango moshilongo ya tindi eindilo ndyoka lya ningwa kunakudhengwa mo momahogololo ngoka.

Ompangu yEkotampango moDRC oya ekelehi eindilo lya ningwa komuleli gwongundu yompilameno Martin Fayulu, ngoka ta mono eyambidhidho okuza kiilongo yomuuzilo oshowo ongeleka yaCatholic Church moshilongo shoka.

Iizemo mbyoka ya pitithwa kokomisi yomahoglolo moshilongo moka oya holola kutya Tshisekedi okwa sindana po omahogololo noopresenda 38, e vule Fayulu noopresenda 4.

Fayulu okwa popi kutya oye a sindanapo omahogololo ngoka, ta gwedha po kutya Tshisekedi okwa ningi etsokumwe nomupresidende nale gwaDRC Joseph Kabila, opo a tseyithwe onga omusindani.

Pankatu ye onga omunashipundi gwoSADC , Geingob okwa popi kutya aantu yaDRc naya taambeko iizemo yomahogololo.

Okwa pula opo aakwashigwana ayehe ya taambeko iizemo nokukalekapo ombili moshilongo, ye ta pula woo aakuthimbinga ayehe ya yambidhidhe omuleli ngoka a hogololwa opamwe nepangelo lye yo ya vule okukalekapo ombili moshilongo.

Oshizemo shomahogololo gaDRC okwa hololwa sha topola aaleli yaSADC pethimbo lyomutumba ngoka gwa ningilwa moAddis Ababa sha Ethiopia oshiwike sha piti, moka aaleli ya kundathana onkalo yiizemo yomahogololo ngoka ga ningwa pehulilo lyaDesemba gwomvula yo 2018.

SADC Double Troika Summit oya pititha omukanda moka ya pula opo uuyuni wu simaneke omilandu noompango dhaDRC ngaashi woo tashi hololwa koAfrican Union (AU) Constitutive Act oshowo SADC Treaty.

Nonando ongaaka Iigwana yaHangana momukanda ngoka oya pititha mEtine lya piti omukanda moka ya pula opo oshilongo shoka shi kaleke manga etseyitho lyiizemo ya hugunina nokuyalululula omawi giizemo sha landula sho Fayulu pamwe naayambidhidhi ye ya pula opo omawi gaahogololi ga yalululwe.

Ompangu yEkotampango moshilongo shoka oya tindi eindilo ndyoka lya ningwa kuFayulu opo ku kuthwe oonkondo iizemo yomahogololo ngoka ga ningwa nokuyalula ishewe omawi gaahogololi.

Nonando ongaaka Fayulu okwa nyana na okwa tindi eyamukulo lyompangu, ta popi kutya otayi popile uukayamukulwa.

Uutile wiikolokosha

Sho Fayulu iitseyitha yemwene kutya oye omusindani na okwa pula kuha ningwe omahogololomadhilaadhilo kage li pambili, aanongononi yonkalo yopolotika moNamibia oya holola uutile wiikolokosha.

Ndumba Kamwanyah okwa popi kutya onkalo ya Fayulu, otashi vulika yikeetithe iikolokosha.

Kamwanyah okwa gwedha po kutya Ompango yEkotampango oshowo Okomisi yomahogololo moshilongo moka oya longa oshilonga shasimana.

“Kandi wete pe na omatompelo kutya omolwashike Fayulu ita vulu okutaambako iizemo. Ito vulu okufala oshipotha kompangu ndele to kala owala wu na kutya ongoye to sindana po oshipotha shoka. Otashi ulike nale kutya iikolokosha otayi ka tukuka moshilongo moka sho ngashiingeyi Fayulu a tindi iizemo mbyoka.”

Landless and left out

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Landless and left outSkaaprivier Valley farmworkers make impassioned plea to Geingob Government has been asked to explain why Skaaprivier Valley farmworkers have not been given preference in terms of resettlement in the area. Skaaprivier Valley farmworkers, who live in corridors within the Khomas Hochland, have pleaded with President Hage Geingob to address their homelessness, so their children do not inherit a drifter's life.

A group of protestors gathered on Saturday at Aris, about 20 kilometres south of Windhoek, where they handed over a petition to Windhoek Rural constituency councillor Penina Ita.

Upon receipt of the petition, Ita urged the community to unite and reminded them that the Namibian government caters for all its people.

One of the petitioners, Immanuel Karukuao, asked the government to explain why they have not been given preference in terms of resettlement in the area.

“Our parents were born here, we were born here. We have nowhere else to go, we have been chased off the farms by the new farmers,” he said.

Karukuao said it is painful that they cannot - like “white people” - take their children around their land and say “this is where your great-grandfather was buried”.

According to him some of the farm owners in the area have even demolished their ancestral graves.

“They brought bulldozers to wipe away the graves. Now the bones are scattered. On other farms the wild animals have dug up the bones,” he said

The leader of the protestors, Lazarus Awaseb, said their biggest heartache is that they have not had access to ancestral graves on these farms for years.

In fact, they themselves have no place where they can be buried, when they die one day.

Awaseb also said most of the farms in the Skaaprivier Valley belong to absentee landlords, who have appointed locals as foremen.

“Imagine, we started working on these farms as 12-year-olds. We opened the gates for their guests, we looked after their animals and now that we are old we are chased off like animals,” he said.



Demands

The group, who identify themselves as the Gugagub community, demanded that they be recognised as the indigenous people of this particular area.

They also are demanding land so they can make a decent living and have a place they can call home. “We trust and hope that our call for fair and justifiable land reform, as a previously oppressed and marginalised society, will receive the necessary attention it deserves and that lost ancestral land will be reallocated to the indigenous people of the Skaaprivier in the southeast of Khomas rural,” the petition said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Too few secondary schools in Gobabis

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Too few secondary schools in Gobabis The limited number of secondary schools in Gobabis continues to pose a challenge for the regional education directorate.

Gobabis, the Omaheke Region's main economic centre, only has two secondary schools which have been battling to cope with the high number of learners coming from primary schools.

Omaheke's education director, Peka Semba in an interview with Nampa said the town has five primary schools which feed the secondary schools.

The situation has led to an unhealthy learning environment as the two secondary schools are filled to the brim with learners, exceeding their legal intake ceiling.

The two schools - Epako Secondary School and Wennie Du Plessis Secondary School - currently have 1 200 and 1 000 learners respectively.

Epako was built to only accommodate 600 learners, while Wennie Du Plessis was meant to cater for 700 learners, Semba said.

He said the ministry has already submitted its proposal to the National Planning Commission for a third school in the town to solve the problem, but the process could take some time before coming to fruition.

“We have a real problem on our hands; one that we have been battling for years. We are however hopeful that once a new secondary school is constructed, the problem will be solved,” he said.

Semba said the matter is made more complex by parents choosing to send their children to Gobabis from rural schools, instead of considering schools available in their areas. He said this is propelled by the false impression that schools in urban areas offer better education than those in rural settings.

“There is a school in just about all other six constituencies of the region outside Gobabis, so there is no justification to send a child from Otjinene if there is a secondary school just next to the primary school the learner attended,” said Semba. The education director called on parents to desist from the practice, as it places undue strain on the directorate in placing these learners into the two secondary schools available.

Nampa last year reported how learners at Epako were forced to work from the floor due to a shortage of desks and chairs as a result of overcrowding.

Although the situation has since improved, they are not out of the woods yet and overcrowding still prevails.

Moreover, Semba added that the education ministry will upgrade and renovate facilities at two schools' hostels this year.

He said the upgrading of the facilities, which are in a dilapidated state, will enhance teaching and learning and raise the morale of the learners residing in these hostels.

The upgrading of hostel facilities at the Ernst Meyer Primary School and the Epukiro Post 3 Junior Secondary School will start soon.

Ernst Meyer is located some 45 kilometres east of Gobabis along the Trans-Kalahari Highway, while the Epukiro Post 3 Secondary School is located at the settlement with the same name, some 130km east of Gobabis in the Epukiro Constituency.

Semba said funding for the renovation of the two facilities will come from the African Development Bank.

Although he could not state the total cost of the project, Semba said both existing hostels will be demolished to make way for the construction of modern facilities.

“It is something that we welcome a lot in our region due to the current state of infrastructure at these two hostels,” he said.

While Ernst Meyer is in a better position, learners at Epukiro Post 3 hostel are forced to sleep in dormitories with broken windows and there are also not enough beds.

Toilet facilities are also damaged, as they are mostly blocked or drainage pipes leak.

Semba called on learners and hostel staff to guard against wastage of water and electricity at government hostels across the region.

The director said water and electricity bills for the facilities are exorbitant and the regional education directorate is forced to fork out the money to keep these facilities running.

“We will monitor the usage closely and enforce punitive measures where negligence is found to be the cause of these high bills,” he said.

He said the general culture of vandalism and ignorance when it comes to government property also has to stop, as those found guilty of such wastage will be made to account for their actions.

He noted that money saved from such wastage could be put into the betterment of actual teaching and learning, which is the core function of the ministry.

NAMPA

Innovation conference next month

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Innovation conference next month The ministry of higher education, training and innovation will host a national innovation conference in Windhoek between 6 and 8 February.

The conference, held in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and Korea International Cooperation Agency, will focus on the development of innovation acceleration platforms, science parks and technology business incubators in Namibia.

A media statement issued by the ministry’s acting permanent secretary, Dr Lisho Mundia, said the three-day event will take place under the theme ‘Forging a Namibian consensus on innovation.’

There will be four sub-themes: innovation support, innovation value chains, innovation acceleration and innovation strategy roadmap.

“The objective is to take stock of the current creative and innovation initiatives within the national innovation system, to develop a contextually relevant innovation policy, strategy and implementation roadmap towards enhancing Namibia’s global competitiveness,” the statement said.

The conference will be open to multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary actors in the national innovation system, including policymakers, civil society, universities, research and innovation institutions, the private sector and venture capitalists. - NAMPA

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Namibia, SA take hands in fishing sector

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Namibia, SA take hands in fishing sectorSign agreement to work together A new MoU will ensure that Namibia and South Africa share a precious and critical resource while taking care of it sustainably. Namibia and South Africa have joined forces to improve cross-border collaboration and the security of marine resources.

Yesterday, Namibia's fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau and his South African counterpart Senzeni Zokwana, on a visit to Namibia, signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture at the ministry's headquarters in Windhoek.

Both emphasised the importance of the “blue economy” and the sustainable use of maritime resources for economic growth, boosting livelihoods of South Africans and Namibians and preserving jobs and the marine resources equally.

Esau noted that the agreement is in line with the fact that the two countries are natural partners in the fisheries sectors.

“We are both coastal neighbours in the same ocean. Consequently, we have many similar fish species, some of which migrate routinely between our exclusive economic zones, and others which are straddling between our waters.”

Moreover, fisheries constitutes one of the main traded commodities between Namibia and South Africa, Esau said, and the value chains of several of the fish species shared between the two countries are “quite intertwined, and several of our fishing companies are integrated in both countries”.

A major focus point of the agreement lies in the power of combining forces to address the scourge of illegal fishing, with the two parties keen to launch joint policing operations, including patrols to monitor and combat illegal fishing activities.

Esau again emphasised the rising problem on the northern and southern borders of Namibia and said it's time “to tackle this problem” head-on, a mission that would be strengthened with the help of South African authorities.

“As such, it is in our common interest to cooperate in areas such as monitoring, control and surveillance activities, stocks assessments for sustainable fishing, and sharing ideas on how we can maximise our fisheries' contribution to the socioeconomic development of our two countries,” Esau said.

The agreement includes nine key areas of cooperation, including research on fisheries and aquaculture, monitoring and surveillance, capacity building and development, data and information collection, policy collaboration and collaboration on economic development opportunities.

Further, collaboration on value addition, fisheries aspects in the blue economy and promoting the development of common positions are also addressed.

Both ministers stressed the benefit of the agreement noting that it will do much to help achieve sustainable development goals in the fisheries sector, for both countries.

Namibia and South Africa already cooperate on several fishery forums, including their joint membership in the Benguela Current Commission, together with Angola, and in several international fisheries management organisations including the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO).

Namibia has similar agreements in place with the Galician government in Spain, and with Angola and the DRC, which are all aimed at facilitating the development and market access of Namibian fisheries products.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Are we living in a police state?

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Are we living in a police state? Are we living in a police state?

Vitalio Angula



We are all in agreement with regard to crime in Namibia. It has reached alarming proportions and citizens just don't feel safe anymore.

Regardless, whether in the comfort of their homes, taking an afternoon jog on the Avis trail, driving to visit an acquaintance or out clubbing with friends, most Namibians have been or know of someone close to them who has been the victim of a violent crime. Housebreakings, armed robberies, hijackings or having a cellphone stolen has become part and parcel of the everyday Namibian experience.

In order to curtail the prevalence of crime within our society, President Hage Geingob launched Operation Hornkranz, a joint policing effort by the armed forces, namely the police, the army and members of correctional services, to increase law-enforcement visibility in an effort to deter crime. But the noble initiative seems to have backfired with social media set abuzz with pictures and videos of the army and police abusing their authority by using maximum force on defenseless citizens in the form of physical assaults and public humiliation through punishments, such as forced push-ups and people being made to hug each other. The recordings circulating on social media mainly take place at drinking establishments for night time revellers.

The characteristics of a police state denote a state in which the power of the police is used in a manner contrary to established law. The Namibian constitution guarantees all its citizens the right to due process, the right to move freely throughout Namibia and the right to human dignity, which means that no person shall be subject to torture or to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment and punishment.

What the police and army are doing is an infringement on the fundamental human rights and freedom guaranteed in chapter 3 of the Namibian constitution.

However, there is a catch! The police have reported a decrease in crime over the festive season. Amongst the successes of the joint police operation is the confiscation of weapons including knives, guns and pangas, which could have been used to hurt innocent people had it not been for the vigilance and foresight of the police. One can argue that the police have done the best they could given the set of circumstances within which they operate and that the ends justifies the means.

A decrease in crime means greater security for our nation's citizens, right?

Those who were unfortunate to have been victims of police brutality can be counted as collateral damage - a necessary evil that brings forth a greater good.

Operation Hornkranz put on display the darker side of law-enforcement. On Facebook, there were mixed reactions regarding the assaults carried out by the men in uniform. Celebrating violence when perpetrated against another human being speaks of an underlying insensitivity towards the humanity of another. It relegates the human being to the status of a thing that can be kicked and slapped around because it has no feelings, and doing so carries no recourse against the government enforcers.

With the operation coming to an end towards the second week of January, this dark episode in Namibia's history is worth interrogating. Some will breathe a sigh of relief, others will wish for a return of the police on the streets. All I know is that the world has suffered too much violence and that violence begets more violence. Those who have been harmed will need time to heal from their cuts and bruises. As for the trauma, those bruises require more time to heal, if they ever heal at all.



*Vitalio Angula is a socio-political commentator and independent columnist.

Anglican bishops tackle malaria

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Anglican bishops tackle malaria Bishop Luke Lungile Pato of the Anglican Diocese of Namibia says leaders of the faith community can play an important role in supporting efforts to eliminate malaria because of their close connection with people at grassroots level.

“It is important for faith leaders and churches to be involved in combating malaria. Churches are present in communities. They are trusted, respected and active everywhere. Churches extend the reach of existing national services and can use their experiential knowledge of the local context to identify and take action against the specific local drivers of malaria,” Pato says.

He is one of four southern African Anglican bishops who have declared war on malaria, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) says still kills approximately 445 000 people globally annually. More than 90% of these deaths occur in Africa. Children form a significant percentage of people who die of malaria in Africa.

The other bishops are Archbishop Albert Chama, archbishop of central Africa, Bishop Cleopha Lunga of the Diocese of Matabeleland in Zimbabwe, Bishop David Njovu of the Diocese of Lusaka in Zambia; and Bishop Andre Soares of the Diocese of Angola.

Towards the end of last year Pato and his fellow bishops visited the United States to drum up support for efforts to rid the region of malaria.

“There are many players who grapple with other diseases such as the Aids pandemic and tuberculosis (TB). Very few people have committed to eliminating malaria. Yet interventions to eliminate malaria require joint efforts. Together we can eliminate malaria for good,” Pato says.

In a recent interview Pato said churches could not sit idly by while malaria ravaged their congregants.

“Malaria kills if it is not diagnosed and treated early. A large part of the population in the Diocese of Namibia live in northern Namibia where many cases of malaria have been reported especially in the Kavango region,” he said.

On what role church leaders can play, Pato highlighted creating awareness about the dangers of malaria, dismissing myths and encouraging people to seek treatment where necessary.

“We can help train nurses and volunteers to conduct rapid diagnostic tests and to distribute mosquito nets, especially in remote inaccessible areas.”

The bishop said the Diocese of Namibia has done a lot to combat malaria.

“The diocese recently distributed 6 500 mosquito nets to communities and hospitals, especially in the Omusati and Ohangwena regions. Our key partner is the ministry of health and social services in those regions. Our main donor partner is the JC Flowers Foundation from New York.”

On the recent trip to the USA, Pato said the objective was to motivate those with influence in decision-making in the US “to triple efforts in financing the fight against malaria”.

He said mosquitoes are developing resistance to insecticides and malaria parasites are developing resistance to existing treatment.

Pato said while in the USA the bishops met five senators individually. His assessment is that all the senators they met were in favour of influencing the US government to significantly increase its financial contribution towards the Global Fund project.

“The USA has been the biggest contributor towards this fund and its contribution has influenced other countries in the past. The Global Fund project supports Sustainable Development Goal Three, which strives to ensure healthy lives and promote the wellbeing for all people.

“The goal is to end the epidemics of Aids, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases and to combat hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases. The senators assured us of their support,” he said.

On how the financial support that the bishops have been canvassing would be used, Pato said the funds would not go to the Anglican Church but to the governments of the countries in which the bishops reside.

“The churches partner with the health ministries to access funding. Our visit was sponsored by the JC Flowers Foundation, which is committed to work with the churches in sub-Saharan Africa.”

Pato said the diocese of Namibia has a cross-border agreement with Angola to bolster efforts to eliminate malaria.

“This agreement recognises that malaria knows no borders.”

He said between 1 May 2017 and 30 September 2018 the Namibian Diocese supported the training of 35 nurses (26 Angolan, 9 Namibian), 14 outreach officers in Angola and four environmental health officials in Namibia.

MOSES MAGADZA

China population reaches 1.395 billion

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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China population reaches 1.395 billionChina's population rose by 15.23 million people in 2018 The world's most populous nation continues to decrease its growth rate. China's population rose by 15.23 million people in 2018, marking a continued decrease in the growth rate of the world's most populous nation.

Numbers released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday (21 January 2019) put the population at 1.395 billion in 2018, marking a growth rate of 3.81% over the previous year.

The total included 30 million more men than women, considered a long-time outcome of the recently abandoned one-child policy under which boys were favoured over girls for cultural reasons.

The government estimates China's population will peak at 1.442 billion in 2029 before beginning to decline the year after.

India, the world's second most populous nation, has also been experiencing slower population growth. Its total population stood at 1.362 billion this month based on United Nations estimates.

China added more than 17 million people to its population in 2016 and 2017 following the scrapping of the one-child policy, but the effect hasn't endured.

Care for the elderly is a rising government concern as the working-age population continues to fall as a percentage of the total.

Chinese increasingly enjoy better living standards, education and health care, but a yawning gap between the wealthy and poor has experts saying the country will grow old before it grows rich.

Also yesterday, the government announced that China's 2018 economic growth fell to a three-decade low, adding to pressure on Beijing to settle a tariff war with Washington.

The world's second-largest economy expanded by 6,6% over a year earlier, down from 2017's 6,9 %, official data showed.

China's ruling Communist Party is trying to steer China to slower, more self-sustaining growth based on consumer spending instead of trade and investment.

But the deceleration has been sharper than expected, prompting Beijing to step up government spending and order banks to lend more to shore up growth and avoid politically dangerous job losses. - Nampa/AP

Free education’ a burden

January 21, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Free education’ a burden Financial strain a reality for parents Children receive free education, but the financial strains continue when parents have to purchase stationery and other items. Justicia Shipena





In December 2012 free primary education was introduced in Namibia, in accordance with article 20 of the Namibian Constitution on free and compulsory primary education.

The constitution of Namibia under article 20 states and mandates that all persons shall have the right to education, primary education shall be compulsory and that the state shall provide reasonable facilities to render effective this right for every resident within Namibia, by establishing and maintaining state schools at which primary education will be provided free.

Children should not be allowed to leave school until they have completed their primary education or have attained the age of 16 years, whichever occurs sooner, unless this happens on the grounds of health or other considerations pertaining to the public interest.

Four years later, from 2016, all state secondary schools in the country started to offer free education.

Despite this so-called free education some parents and teachers have spoken of a financial strain, when interviewed by The Zone.

Kambala Thomas, who is a parent to a grade 7 learner at Onanghonda Combined School, said his child receives education without the need to pay school fees.

“My child has been receiving free education ever since 2015 with no registration fees asked for,” he said.

Thomas, however, added there are a number of items that his child uses for school activities.

Thomas said he has to pay a school contribution fee, but this is not expensive and is put to good use.

He said the amount he spends on stationery depends on the number of items on the school list.

“Since we don't pay school fees it’s not an issue buying stationery, plus buying stationery should be something all parents should budget and plan for, before leaving for the holidays; especially knowing that you have children to send to school,” he said.

A Khomas parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she pays fees to the school, including a transport fee for her child.

She said the stationery list is fair, since she only buys a certain amount of items and some others, like books, the child receives at the school. She, however, does not need to pay a contribution fee because the amount the parents pay for fees covers the school maintenance costs.

Another parent argued that the items his child takes to school are unnecessary, as they hardly get to use them.

He said his child is asked to take things like air freshener, Handy Andy and soap, but when you visit the school the toilets are not tidy.

“There is hardly toilet paper in their bathrooms, but children are expected to bring them,” he said.

Ndamononghenda Hangula, a teacher at Onaanda Combined School in the Omusati Region, said some of the items the learners have to bring to school are way too expensive, compared to the ones government used to provide.

Some schools ask for a certain amount to cater for the learner's stationary and this amount also differs from school to school.

She added that not all the items learners bring are used to their advantage.

Hangula said the school cannot afford to cater for all the learning materials, such as textbooks, which are a concern.

“I have a class of 40 learners and only three textbooks are available and in that situation the teaching and learning process cannot go smoothly. This is especially so in rural areas where there is only one computer at the school and learners cannot do their homework, due to lack of textbooks and no access to internet,” she said.

Hangula added that the education system today is not fulfilling its aims, but is rather putting children into the streets.

She said often grade 9 and 10 failures are left with no option but to drift into the streets.

“Although the grade 9 learners who did not make it are transferred to grade 10, there are not enough classrooms at schools with grade 10. The new curriculum thus leads to learners travelling long distances of close to 20km to and from school and they have to be in class by 06:30. By the time a learner reaches school he or she is tired and not in the mood for learning, thus making them vulnerable to failure,’’ she said.

This is a typical grade 1 stationery list for a government school:

· Beginners pencil (jumbo) x2

· Colour pencils x2

· Scissors x1

· Thick wax crayons x2

· Rolls of thick plastic x3

· Mondi rota trim 500 copy paper x3

· Large Pritt x1

· Sharpener x1

· 2 litre ice cream container with child’s name x1

· Retractable wax crayons x3

· Flip file x1

· HB pencils x10

· Thin wax crayons x2

· Thin cellotape x1

· Ponal wood glue x1

· Skipping rope x1