Khorixas youth 'tired'

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Khorixas youth 'tired'Protest against the appointment of struggle kids at the town Local youth say they are being sidelined, when it comes to the filling of government posts at the town. Kunene regional governor Marius Sheya was “in the dark” yesterday about a demonstration by unemployed youth at Khorixas, who are against the appointment of struggle kids from outside the town in government posts.

The youth claim that 80% of public servants working in Khorixas are from outside the town.

Yesterday morning they marched through the streets clutching their CVs, while holding up placards demanding jobs.

According to their petition the protest was triggered by the appointment of a driver by the health ministry.

The youth also demanded that the new police station commander, a certain Inspector T. Ipinge, be removed and replaced with a local Khoekhoegowab-speaking police chief.

“When there are vacant positions, local people should be considered first for vacant positions at the ministry of health and social services, such as the one of the driver, as local people are also qualified and they know the area well,” protest organiser Marcelline Lambert said.

She said local youth are tired of being sidelined.

“We are surprised that not even one local was shortlisted for the position. There were many locals who applied; for example, Howard Groenewaldt, Rodney /Narib and Gino /Nanub, as well as many others. We are concerned that locals are sidelined and that those who are from outside are preferred,” the petition reads.

When Namibian Sun called Sheya at around 10:00 he had no idea that this march was going on, and still remained in the dark about the protest two hours later.

“I have not received any petition or anything, so I am still in the dark. I think it is best if you to call the people on the ground in Khorixas, maybe the councillor,” he said.

Lambert handed over their petition addressed to the council, the governor and Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila to constituency councillor Elias Xoagub.

“I will hand it over to the governor; these questions were directly for him. I have already channelled this to him. On Wednesday I will meet with him,” said Xoagub.

By 15:00 Sheya still insisted he did not receive the petition. “I cannot comment on something I have not yet received.”

The protestors demanded to be given the same treatment as so-called struggle kids and at the same demanded an explanation on how one qualifies to be a “struggle kid”.

“Our parents also suffered during the apartheid era, so why only give privilege to a certain youth. We demand that all Namibian youth be treated equally, because poverty and unemployment affects us all,” the petition said further.

The youth also demanded that interpreters be available at all government offices in Khorixas, in order to remove the language barrier for Khoekhoegowab-speaking elders.

“We demand an investigation into the appointment of Inspector T. Ipinge by the ministry of safety and security. Are the senior police officers who serve at Khorixas police station not worthy enough to be promoted, while they have served at the town for many years? We want a Khoekhoegowab-speaking police chief,” the petition read.

At the same time, the youth demanded that the ministry of education explain why Khoekhoegowab-speaking principals are not appointed at the town's schools.

“Is there a lack of Khoekhoegowab-speaking principals who can be appointed to schools in Khorixas? We demand such principals to be appointed to schools in Khorixas and in the surrounding areas, especially where Khoekhoegowab is the medium of instruction.”

Khorixas CEO Andreas /Howoseb confirmed that the unemployment rate is quite high in Khorixas.

Ministry of health executive director Ben Nangombe could not be reached for comment.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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PolyCare brings affordable homes into reach

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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PolyCare brings affordable homes into reach The PolyCare Research Technology Namibia factory was officially inaugurated yesterday by Vice-president Nangoloh Mbumba at Brakwater, just north of Windhoek.

Touted as a success story following the 2016 Invest in Namibia Conference, this technology revolutionises housing construction and can substantially contribute to homes for the many Namibians in need.

The factory is a joint venture between PolyCare GmbH from Germany and local partners KL Construction, Namibbeton and Guinas Investment.

With President Hage Geingob's recent statement of the housing situation being a humanitarian crisis, this factory could not have come at a better time.

“The technology offered by PolyCare is a welcome addition to the existing traditional building systems as it has many advantages,” Mbumba said. The system does not use water and is very efficient in its carbon footprint.

The construction method uses polymer bricks which are four times stronger than conventional concrete bricks and can be used to build any type of structure.

It is also very fast. It takes roughly two weeks to build a two-bedroom house at a starting price of N$295 000, excluding the cost of the land.

The factory represents an investment of N$38 million and moreover, PolyCare has undertaken to train SME builders to become part of the value chain. Bank Windhoek has agreed to funding prospective buyers in the lower- to medium-income brackets.

Readers will recall the show house constructed outside the Safari Hotel's conferencing centre during the 2016 investment indaba.

STAFF REPORTER

Containerised classroom inaugurated

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Containerised classroom inauguratedBeukes, sponsors assist Mount View High School Reschelle Beukes extended her heartfelt gratitude to all the sponsors that made the containerised classroom project possible. Michelline Nawatises



“The Good Samaritan in the Bible teaches us a few important lessons. This man was moved by compassion. He stopped, while others focused on their busy schedules, because mercy would not allow him to look the other way. Mercy compels you to get involved and to act constructively.”

These were the words used by Pastor Brian Philander, who opened the inauguration ceremony of a containerised classroom at Mount View High School with a scripture reading.

The school is located in the Babylon suburb of Katutura and the containerised classroom was successfully inaugurated on 29 January by Khomas education director Gerard Vries and Reschelle Beukes, the current junior mayor of the City of Windhoek, in her capacity as Miss Windhoek High School 2018/19 and a finalist in the Miss High School pageant.

Education is one of the most important ingredients to a successful life. Having access to a good education during childhood and in early adulthood can make a real difference later in life.

Education and educators inspire learners to open and expand their minds; even more importantly, a good education skilfully prepares young children for life.

Beukes extended her heartfelt gratitude to all the sponsors that made the containerised classroom project possible.

In her search for a project that would make a difference in the lives of others, she was introduced to Mount View High School by the planning department of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).

Beukes, who comes from a single-parent family herself, felt an instant connection with the school.

She mentioned hearing that the school's grade 10s of 2017 were ranked 14th in the Khomas Region, which was just another confirmation to her that she was at the right place.

Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) is the main organiser of the Miss High School pageant, which involves schools from across the country.

This pageant requires a project from each contestant and Standard Bank sponsored each finalist with N$500 to kick off their projects.

Vries gave a speech on behalf of education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa.

The speech mentioned that space remains a problem at Mount View High School, as it uses plots allocated to the Green Leaves and Dr Frans Aupa Indongo primary schools.

“Plans are afoot for the school to be relocated to another plot, as we are at loggerheads with the City of Windhoek,” Hanse-Himarwa said.

“The people of Namibia, and in particular those that are tasked with the responsibility of teaching and learning programmes, will take care of this facility and make use of it for generations to come.”

One of the sponsors, Sven Thieme from Ohlthaver & List, said: “I think that we as leaders have a responsibility; we need to get out there… the way Reschelle does. The Harambee Prosperity Plan is a testimony to our government's commitment to delivering basic human right for all Namibians. Education is a fundamental human right and a key driver to building a prosperous nation.”

Thieme further stressed that the nation must put the necessary resources behind education and skills development, so that Namibia is empowered and equipped to fill the skills gaps the country faces.

A skilled labour force not only means that more people are employed, but also that the nation is able to drive innovation, develop new businesses and further enhance sustainability, he said.

“It is our hope that through this humble gesture, our children and youth will be inspired enough to adopt and apply breakthrough thinking,” Thieme said.

Beukes said: “One of the lessons to take along is what can be accomplished when we work together. In this time of austerity measures, we need each more than ever to move forward as a nation.”

Pick n Pay Auas Valley provided the learners with cake and Ohlthaver & List gave each a child a can of cool drink.

Woman gang-raped near graveyard

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Woman gang-raped near graveyard A 34-year-old woman was gang-raped by two men near a cemetery in Mariental this past weekend.

According to the police the woman was drinking tombo at a house in Aimablaagte location on Saturday at about 22:50.

When she returned home, two men followed her to the side of a graveyard where they overpowered, undressed and raped her, one after the other. The woman reported the known suspects, but they have not been arrested.

In another incident at Oshikango location in Oshakati West on Friday at about 03:30, it is alleged that a man - age unknown - raped a woman and then burned down her shack. The suspect, who has not been arrested, is from Omahenene location in Oshakati West and fled after the incident.

In a separate incident a 19-year-old domestic worker allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl at Okatope. The girl is in grade 6 at the Engoyi Combined School.

The incident occurred on Saturday at about 18:00 at Engoyi village in the Onyaanya area. The suspect is allegedly a domestic worker at the house where the girl lives. He has been arrested. Meanwhile, at Okongo a 34-year-old soldier shot a 22-year-old woman after an argument erupted over N$30.

According to the police, the incident occurred on Saturday at around 09:00 at a house in Ohalushu village.

It is alleged that the woman had borrowed N$30 from someone else using the soldier's name. The soldier allegedly shot the victim twice in the leg and abdomen with a 9 mm pistol. The victim was admitted to the Engela district hospital and she is in a stable condition. The soldier was arrested and his licensed firearm was confiscated. At Rehoboth, a 45-year-old man allegedly first stabbed another man to death and then critically stabbed another victim after a quarrel over N$10. The police say the suspect fatally stabbed 26-year-old Saul van Wyk in the chest with a knife at Sonderwater at about 05:00 on Sunday. Van Wyk died instantly.

Then the assailant allegedly stabbed a 29-year-old victim in the chest and upper arm. The second victim was rushed to hospital and is in a serious condition. The suspect has been arrested. In another stabbing incident at Rehoboth, a 26-year-old suspect allegedly stabbed a 22-year-old victim in the stomach on Friday.

The incident happened at Oudrew Bar in Blikkiesdorp, Block E.

The victim was rushed to a local hospital and was transferred to the Katutura state hospital in Windhoek in a critical condition. The suspect has been arrested.

In another incident over the weekend the body of a 24-year-old man was found in Keetmanshoop on Friday with multiple stab wounds to the chest. According to the police, the body of Rayno Jakob Rooi was discovered at about 02:45 on Friday near the La Tropicana four-way stop in town. It is suspected that he was involved in a gang fight. Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man allegedly stabbed two school learners, aged 22 and 25, with an Okapi knife on Friday. The incident happened at 15:30 near Elao Bar in Okongo.

According to the police, the 25-year-old learner is in grade 12 learner at Oshela Senior Secondary School and was transferred to the Oshakati state hospital where he is in a critical condition. The 22-year-old learner was reported to be in stable condition in the Okongo state hospital. The suspect was arrested and the knife recovered.

A robbery case was opened after a woman was ambushed while driving home near the Otjomuise fire station in Windhoek.

According to the police, the woman was heading home on Saturday at about 03:00 when she saw a man lying in the road. When she stopped to see if he was injured, three other men emerged from the bush and threatened her with a firearm.

The suspects drove off with her white VW Polo, which was later recovered in Antilia Street, Dorado Park. One suspect aged 24 was arrested after he was found in possession of the car. In a separate incident in Wanaheda, six suspects attacked a man with knives and robbed him.

The incident occurred on Saturday at around 03:00 in a riverbed in the Okuryangava area and the victim was stabbed and robbed of his cellphone and cash. The victim is in critical condition in the Katutura state hospital. Three suspects were arrested, while the others are still at large.

ELLANIE SMIT

Diescho leaves country

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Diescho leaves countryClaims all doors shut to him The professor says it is very difficult to have no role to play in his motherland. Professor Joseph Diescho left Namibia for Berlin, Germany on Thursday last week, saying it was “necessary to get out” of Namibia after his longstanding public feud with President Hage Geingob and alleged subsequent hostility from public institutions.

“I arrived in Europe to join the long queue of African professionals who are pushed out of their countries of birth by hostile and anti-intellectual environments wherein they are not allowed to serve their nations as producers and transmitters of knowledge,” Diescho yesterday said while he was in transit in Frankfurt.

He said he was not certain how long he would remain in self-imposed exile.

“Europe and America have their own disease of anti-foreigners, which makes things doubly difficult for those running away from their governments. I am looking for meaning and relevance in areas where I have some competency and pray to God that something will come up,” Diescho wrote of his future prospects abroad.

Diescho said he had hoped that a small country such as Namibia “with so much goodwill” in its people, could manage differences of opinion better than what the country has learnt from the rest of Africa.

“I have committed no crime, broken no law nor breached my employment agreement [with the Namibian Institute for Public Administration and Management, Nipam],” Diescho said.

Diescho was dismissed as executive director of Nipam in 2015, which he said was a politically motivated move to punish him for his critical column, 'Diescho's Dictum', which was published in the state-owned New Era newspaper.

He said after his dismissal he had been approached by four government ministries that wanted to utilise his skills “but were blocked at a higher level”.

He said banks for which he had conducted services to while he was still working in South Africa - before his return to Namibia and short employment at Nipam - would not use his services anymore since he was now considered a “political risk”.

Moreover, he said the NBC cancelled a one-on-one interview with him on the morning of the production, with the excuse that it was “not safe” to continue.

He said the Namibia Qualification Authority (NQA), which last year approached him and a Zimbabwean national to assist with qualification assessments, had also at the last minute cancelled the arrangement with him saying he was “not welcome due to the political climate”.

Also last year Unesco, after having invited him to participate in a project, was “advised” by National Assembly Speaker Peter Katjavivi that this would “not go down well with State House”.

“I could not even participate in the conference. At the insistence of Prof Katjavivi I was allowed to attend but when I entered the hall well-meaning people from our parliament advised me not to say anything,” Diescho claimed.

He said after having been invited by the Roman Catholic seminary to its first graduation, he was informed three days before the event that he was no longer welcome because there would be “important guests”.

Diescho said he was also blocked from speaking to the Southern Africa Civil Society Coalition of the Catholic Church in Gaborone, Botswana, last year, allegedly because the Namibian government “was not happy” with him.

Diescho said his request to sit in as an observer at the second national land conference was also “flatly” denied by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.

In 2016 he said he was invited by the HaMbukushu's cultural festival to read the history of the community, but that was foiled by a phone call from the president's office.

When Fumu Ervin Munika refused this instruction, President Geingob refused to attend the event, Diescho claims.

“And so on,” Diescho illustrated the ongoing tussle with the president.

He said he had “no idea” what he had done to offend President Geingob. He said he had sought the president's advice and was willing to apologise if he had done something wrong. Diescho said he engaged former President Hifikepunye Pohamba and both vice-presidents, as well as intelligence officials, while judicial officers had “looked into the matter”, who “without exception” could find nothing wrong.

“I can tell you it has been very difficult to be without any role in my motherland,” Diescho wrote.

Worse, he said, friends and relatives started avoiding him after having received calls from “state officials” on “what they were doing” with him.

“[We] are now entering a violent and lawless phase of our national history and I do not know where I will be and it does not matter anymore,” Diescho wrote.

Presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari said State House would respond to Diescho's assertions at a later date.

CATHERINE SASMAN

Chestnuts, sticks and stones

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Chestnuts, sticks and stones Justicia Shipena



According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), health is “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

If one accepts this definition of “health”, as I assure you I do, then there are a lot of behaviours that have the ability to affect a lifestyle that is by definition “healthy”.

Something I have noticed over the course of the summer as a friend, sister and journalist is the power of my attitude in contributing to a more “complete state of mental and social well-being”, which is so intricately connected to my physical well-being.

The sarcastic side of my brain doesn’t really agree with what my many observations and experiences demonstrate. Sure, when I’m snarky, it doesn’t really make my day better; and sure, when I treat people with openness and good humour, my day does go better.

But I’m sure that’s a coincidence. After all, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”, right?

Wrong. Words have unimaginable power and as we all learned from the sage Uncle Ben in the movie Spider-Man, “with great power comes great responsibility”.

Is this cliché? Yes, definitely, but clichés, adages and proverbs are the oft-repeated, pithy statements that we know and love for a reason: they’re salient observations about the human condition, at least the adages that keep up with current best practices on health and well-being, are. No more “sticks and stones”, please.

In this reality where the way we treat each other has the power to affect emotional health, which is really just “health”, we should pay better attention to what we say to each other. Simply asking someone how he or she is or offering a seemingly minor compliment or note of gratitude makes an immeasurable difference in that person’s day.

I’ll pause for a moment to refute possible naysayers before I forge on. I’m not saying that we should be the “politically correct police” and jump on people every time they say something insensitive, and I’m not saying we should treat each other with kid gloves and avoid having conflict of any kind.

Policing opinions stifle productive conversation rather than encouraging it; conflict is part of a functioning society. No, what I’m suggesting is paying attention to the routine and the trivial and adjusting the ways we treat each other to reflect the way we ourselves would want to be treated; the golden rule is truly an adage worth repeating.

The routine and the trivial can sometimes be confused with the insignificant. First, I’d like to counter that with another excellent cliché, this time from Aristotle: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

What we habitually do, the trivial niceties we undertake each and every day, are important. Treating others excellently should extend beyond those that we know and like; we must make a habit of treating those we don’t know or those who test our patience, excellently too.

When we ask for something at a store, we should do so politely, taking into account that that person on the other side of the counter is a human, and that showing a bit of kindness will go a long way toward making his or her day significantly better. Treating everyone with this same respect and kindness, when it’s a habit, becomes excellence.

What’s exceptionally noteworthy about making kindness a habit is the way it feels to the person being kind, based on my observations. When I treat someone well, I feel good about it, and it’s something I carry through to the rest of my day. When I can look at my behaviour with pride, or on some days without reproach, I feel general goodwill and excitement about life. I have energy, and I want to keep the happy feelings going.

By contrast, when I’m rude and I can see how I’ve affected someone else intentionally or not, I am annoyed with myself and the feeling lingers. Where I once had positive energy, I instead feel tired and pessimistic.

To me, it’s clear: the reward for treating others with kindness, or failing to do so, is always twofold. Treating others well is good for both parties; treating others poorly is bad for both parties.

I know what’s right and I know what’s better for my well-being, so kindness even when it seems inconsequential, is of the utmost importance. After all, according to Aesop, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

justicia@myzone.com.na

European telecoms face dilemma

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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European telecoms face dilemmaHuawei or the highway? China's Huawei has quietly become a leading supplier of the backbone equipment for mobile networks Many want to avoid the Chinese but they are currently the most advanced in the area. - Victor Marcais, Specialist: Roland Berger Erwan Lucas - It's a dilemma for European telecoms firms: Should they steal a march on competitors and rapidly roll out next-generation 5G mobile networks using equipment from top supplier Huawei? Or should they heed US-led warnings of security threats and sit tight, and possibly fall behind?

Getting it right will have big consequences as 5G networks are the next milestone in the digital revolution, bringing near-instantaneous connectivity, vast data capacity and futuristic technologies.

No operator wants to be left behind, and neither do governments who see 5G technology as a future key driver of economic growth.

China's Huawei has quietly become a leading supplier of the backbone equipment for mobile networks, particularly in developing markets thanks to cheaper prices.

Spearheading cutting-edge 5G equipment has also seen it make inroads into developed markets.

However, a growing number of Western states are turning their backs on Huawei, fearful that its equipment could be a Trojan horse for Beijing's intrusive security apparatus as Chinese laws require its firms to cooperate with intelligence services.

Huawei strenuously denies its equipment could be used for espionage.

While most European governments are trying to make up their minds, mobile operators must make their own choice, and it's a tough one.

Operators

Several operators have already begun tests with Huawei equipment, such as Bouygues Telecom and SFR have in several French cities.

"Huawei is today more expensive than its rivals but it is also much better, they have really moved ahead in terms of quality of network equipment over their European competitors," said an executive of one European mobile operator recently on condition of anonymity.

Experts say Huawei is between six months and one year ahead of Sweden's Ericsson in terms of the quality of its 5G equipment.

The number two mobile network equipment manufacturer, Finland's Nokia, is said to be even further behind.

"Many want to avoid the Chinese but they are currently the most advanced in the area," said Victor Marcais, a telecoms and media specialist at Roland Berger consultancy.

"Huawei has moved in the past few years from being the 'low cost' option to becoming the 5G leader."

Several sources said that Huawei even helped Nokia in research and development to avoid facing off alone against Ericsson in 5G.

Huawei would only say that it has "long-term partnerships" with several of its competitors in areas such as production methods, standards and patents.

"We have always defended the principle of open innovation and collaboration to facilitate the development of the telecoms industry," a Huawei spokesman said.

Investment

After establishing itself as a player on 4G networks, the Shenzhen-based group has doubled down to dominate 5G.

Each year it invests between 10% and 15% of its sales revenue on research and development. It spent US$13.8 billion on R&D in 2017 and US$15 billion last year.

The strategy is paying dividends.

In 2017 Huawei was by far the number one supplier of equipment for telecom networks, with a 22% market share, according to IHS Markit. Nokia trailed with a 13% share and Ericsson with 11%.

That gap could grow as more operators across the world develop 5G networks, although the current geopolitical tensions pose a risk to Huawei exploiting its technological lead.

Rapid roll-out

European nations, like those in Asia and the United States, want a rapid rollout of 5G with the first services expected to be running next year. A target that is difficult to attain without recourse to Huawei.

"The regulators and governments have quite ambitious timetables while the operators see 5G as a way to reduce costs per gigabyte as data volumes explode," said Marcais at Roland Berger.

"However we see in Germany, for example, they aren't happy the way things are shaping up."

Deutsche Telekom, in an internal document obtained by Bloomberg, warned that Europe could fall behind China and the United States by as much as two years if it forgoes using Huawei's 5G equipment. – Nampa/AFP

GSMA considers crisis meeting in Barcelona

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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GSMA considers crisis meeting in Barcelona PARIS/FRANKFURT - Mobile communications industry body GSMA has proposed its members discuss the possibility that Chinese network vendor Huawei is excluded from key markets, amid concerns such a development could set operators back by years.

The European Commission is weighing a de facto ban on Huawei's 5G network equipment for next-generation mobile networks in the European Union due to security concerns, sources in Brussels have told Reuters.

GSMA director general Mats Granryd has written to members proposing to put the debate around Huawei onto the agenda of its next board meeting, a spokesman for the federation told Reuters on Saturday.

The meeting will be held in late February on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress, the industry's biggest annual gathering, in Barcelona.

"It is to be confirmed for now," he said.

Concerns

Some Western countries, including the United States and Australia, have restricted Huawei from building next-generation mobile networks, citing concerns that its equipment may contain 'back doors' opening it up to cyber-espionage.

Western governments are also concerned that China's National Intelligence Law requires its companies and people to collaborate in espionage efforts.

Huawei, the global market leader with annual sales of more than US$100 billion, denies the existence of any back doors. The company and its founder Ren Zhengfei have repeatedly denied they would spy for China.

Many operators rely on Huawei to build out 5G networks, and a de-facto ban would be a considerable setback for Europe's efforts to stay competitive in communications, with implications for connected factories, self-driving cars and medical technology.

Deutsche Telekom, Europe's largest telecoms company, has said that, if it had to rip out Huawei equipment from its existing networks, this could delay its plans to roll out new services by two to three years. – Nampa/Reuters

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Politicians must be held accountable

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Politicians must be held accountable Although the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) is yet to declare campaigning for the 2019 general election officially open, the stage has already been set for what could be an interesting electioneering year.

The sudden caring attitude portrayed by the presidency, when it declared informal settlements a humanitarian crisis, has been met with mixed feelings, and rightly so. Obviously, our ever-reactive political parties have also jumped on the bandwagon by dismissing the so-called intervention by the head of state as another empty promise. After years of consistently voting the ruling party into power, there is a feeling among the party faithful that Swapo has not delivered on its electoral promises, considering the lack of political will to tackle the challenges of poverty, housing, public healthcare and quality education. The government of the day is also visibly struggling to restart the growth engines of the economy, given that there exists no actionable plans emphasising how the economy should be industrialised or how broad-based economic empowerment can be achieved. The government has an important role to play in the economic activities of any nation, and helping the private sector to create the bulk of jobs, must be accompanied by facilitative policies, and an enabling environment. Politicians preach economic emancipation all the time, but once in power, they totally forget about those who mandated them to lead in the first place. It is equally disturbing that politicians only opt to make the right noises during an election year. Our nation would have seen its fair share of social and economic transformation over the last couple of years, had politicians delivered on the election promises of yesteryear. Burning issues are often put on the backburner, until an election rolls around. Therefore, it is necessary that parties and candidates address issues that confront our nation on a daily basis. We must ensure that politicians are held accountable and responsible for their empty promises, and for ultimately preying on the poor citizens of this country, with their lofty and unachievable targets.

Global economy: Slump or slowdown?

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Global economy: Slump or slowdown? Services hold the balance Somewhat over half of recessions in the manufacturing sector lead to the economy as a whole taking a tumble, estimates Oxford Economics. If we see the weakness from manufacturing start to bleed across into services, then that will be worrying. – Adam Slater: Oxford Economics David Milliken - A month into 2019, market fears that the world is heading for recession have abated - but the fragile, more positive outlook hinges on the large services sectors of major economies resisting the jitters that have roiled manufacturers.

Global share prices are up nearly 8% since the start of the year, their biggest January gain on record, even as the month's manufacturing surveys showed the weakest activity in years, due to slower demand and trade tensions between the United States and China.

The theory that greater resilience in the larger services sectors in the world's two biggest economies will keep growth from slowing too sharply will be put to the test over the coming days, as purchasing managers' surveys trickle out.

"Everyone over-focuses on the manufacturing numbers," HSBC economist James Pomeroy said. "Some of the industrial cycle data is clearly rolling over a bit, but global growth is unlikely to capitulate."

China

Chinese data no longer looked like it was in free-fall, and investors had underestimated the effectiveness of stimulus that was working its way through the economy, he added.

"The market is definitely coming round to a more benign view about China than the hard-landing, crisis-type stuff that was being talked about in December," he said.

US president Donald Trump's statement late Thursday that he was willing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to try to seal a comprehensive trade deal reduced the risk of trade tensions escalating in the short term, said Geoffrey Yu, an investment strategist at UBS Wealth Management.

Domestic consumer demand in China was holding up, but that alone would not stop a slowdown.

"The bottom line is resilience is not good enough to keep growth where we are used to," Yu said.

Growth

The International Monetary Fund forecast last month that global growth this year would slow to 3.5% from 3.7%, with advanced economies seeing a fall to 2.0%, the weakest since 2016 but well short of recession.

Unemployment is low and nominal wage growth is at or near its fastest since the global financial crisis in the United States, Germany and Britain, supporting consumer demand.

US jobs data on Friday showed the fastest hiring in nearly a year and no discernible impact from a government shutdown.

However, factory output is often seen as the canary in the coalmine for growth, due to its exposure to international demand, greater volatility and role in driving investment.

Somewhat over half of recessions in the manufacturing sector lead to the economy as a whole taking a tumble, estimates Adam Slater of British consultancy firm Oxford Economics.

German industrial orders and output numbers will be under close scrutiny, after a series of declines wrongfooted forecasters and raised fears about the world economy.

"If we see the weakness from manufacturing start to bleed across into services, then that will be worrying," Slater said.

Central banks

Much of the recovery in share prices this year reflected the belief -- vindicated on Jan. 30 - that the US Federal Reserve would scale back its plans to raise interest rates in 2019 due to market turmoil and an uncertain economic outlook.

"They have clearly prepared the ground to reverse course if they need to. But it's a bit early," Slater said.

The Bank of England, whose governor Mark Carney gives a quarterly economic update on Thursday, is likely to continue to say it plans to raise interest rates gradually to head off inflation threats from a tight British labour market.

But with the world's fifth-largest economy still at risk of a disruptive departure from the European Union on March 29, due to an impasse over potential EU requirements for border checks with Ireland, immediate BoE action is off the table.

Nonetheless a minority of analysts, including HSBC, think one of the BoE's nine Monetary Policy Committee members will put out a marker by calling for a rate rise now.

The Reserve Bank of India, which also announces its next policy decision on Thursday, is seen keeping rates on hold too, shifting its policy stance to neutral and preparing for a rate cut by mid-year, according to a Reuters poll - a sharp change from just a few months ago.

While political pressures may play a role in India's case, so too does the global environment of subdued growth and limited underlying inflation pressures.

"The global rhetoric of lower policy rates is not just a developed market one, it is an emerging market one," Pomeroy said. – Nampa/Reuters

Oil prices hit 2019 highs as sanctions, OPEC cuts bite

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Oil prices hit 2019 highs as sanctions, OPEC cuts bite Henning Gloystein - Oil prices rose to their highest so far this year yesterday as OPEC-led supply cuts and US sanctions against Venezuela's petroleum industry tightened markets.

International Brent crude oil futures climbed to a 2019 high of US$63.37 per barrel around 0800 GMT after already rising by 3% the previous session.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures hit a 2019 high of US$55.68 per barrel around the same after already gaining 2.73% in the last session.

Higher crude oil prices helped drag Asian refinery margins to their lowest levels since 2010 yesterday, Refinitiv data showed.

Output declines from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as they make good on their pact to curb a supply overhang were compounded by falling US oil rig counts and sanctions on Venezuelan oil sales.

"While Venezuela's output reportedly rose last month, fresh US sanctions on the country could see 0.5 to 1% of global supply curtailed," Vivek Dhar, commodities analyst for Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said in a note yesterday.

The sanctions will sharply limit oil transactions between Venezuela and other countries and are similar to those imposed on Iran last year, experts said after examining details posted by the Treasury Department.

Russia

OPEC oil supply fell in January by the largest amount in two years despite sluggish production declines from Russia, according to a Reuters survey.

Russian oil output in January missed the target for the output cuts, energy ministry data showed on Saturday. Production last month declined to 11.38 million barrels per day (bpd), but that was only down by 35 000 bpd from its October 2018 level that is the baseline for the pact.

Russian energy minister Alexander Novak has said the country's overall cuts from the October baseline would total 50 000 bpd in January. Russia has pledged to reduce oil output by 230 000 bpd from October.

US energy firms last week cut the number of oil rigs operating to their lowest in eight months, to 847, as some drillers followed through on plans to spend less on new wells this year.

"The collapse in oil prices late last year has resulted in more cautious spending by US oil explorers," said Dhar.

Fitch Solutions said yesterday that oil markets overall had a "fundamentally bullish outlook due mainly to the supply cuts led by OPEC as well as increasing oil demand despite the slowdown in economic growth". – Nampa/Reuters

Quiet diplomacy is not working

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Quiet diplomacy is not working SADC's quiet diplomacy is not helping the situation in Zimbabwe and the regional body must publicly condemn the human rights violations and address the legitimacy of Emmerson Mnangagwa's presidency and the ailing Zimbabwean economy, analysts say.

The country was plunged into chaos in January following an unprecedented fuel price increase, an internet blackout and widespread human rights violations. Zimbabwean economics professor John Robertson yesterday described the situation in Zimbabwe as “messy”. He said fuel prices remain high and a loaf of bread now costs US$2.30 (N$30), making life extremely difficult for the ordinary Zimbabwean. He added that they expected the central bank to make a decision to stabilise prices.

“There is an instability caused by a lack of a good pricing system. We don't have our own currency and exchange rates against the US dollar are very uncertain. And the people who have US dollars are unsure of the rates. There is a lot of instability,” he said.





According to him there are demands for higher pay, which is tricky because employers cannot afford to raise wages amidst the economic crisis.

When asked whether human rights violations continued in Zimbabwe he said: “It appears so.”

The country's security forces are widely accused of gross human rights violations, some captured on video clips posted on social media.

The army and police have also been accused of raping women in recent weeks.

On Monday a new video surfaced of soldiers beating women in the streets of Harare.

Local social commentator Dr Admire Mare rejected claims from local media that things have returned to normal in Zimbabwe.

In fact, he said, they did not even see this kind of brutality during the regime of former president Robert Mugabe.

“Things are not normal. It is really unheard of. I think we have gone beyond Mugabe. As much as he was bad, as much as he failed, I think he was not brutal. We have reached a certain level of brutally that Zimbabweans have never seen,” he said.



Legitimacy of presidency

Mare believes the main factor behind Zimbabwe's social and economic crisis is the legitimacy of the president's rule.

“There are so many people who voted for the opposition who still don't believe the incumbent won fairly. And because of that people are not investing in the country because they feel something really went wrong in terms of the elections.

“And those who have the money in Zimbabwe are not prepared to put the money in the economy because they feel the person who ultimately was declared the winner is not the one who won the election,” he said.

In an interview with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation President Hage Geingob said SADC leaders were consulting and he cannot just make announcements and decisions on his own.

Geingob, who is the current SADC chairperson, said he was in contact with the regional heads of state.

“You see, what I have done as chairman is to establish personal relations. I can tell you since I took over I have the direct telephone numbers of about ten presidents. Even on the Zimbabwean question, they say I am quiet.

“But when President Mnangagwa came back he called me and he told me what he was going to do. We are interacting. As a chairperson you cannot just deny on behalf of your country, other countries must be consulted,” said Geingob.



SADC has long been accused of handling the Zimbabwean situation with kid gloves.



Quiet diplomacy

Mare also believes that the Zimbabwe issue requires an open discourse and that quiet diplomacy is not taking them anywhere.

He acknowledged that he was aware of talks between SADC leaders.

“I think Zimbabweans are tired of it. They don't see how it works; they have not seen it work anywhere. So they would rather want a situation where you condemn something when it happens rather than keeping quiet and hoping that things will be fine,” said Mare.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Farmers in dire straits

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Farmers in dire straitsUnions to present emergency action plan to !Naruseb Suppressed rainfall over most parts of Namibia has bedevilled the first part of the rainy season, and alarm bells have now been sounded by two of the country's most prominent farmers' unions. An emergency action plan has been compiled to reduce the impact of the ongoing drought in Namibia, which is already a “national crisis”.

The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) and the Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers' Union (NECFCU) compiled the drought action plan.

According to them the current drought is the worst in recent years, as no part of Namibia has received good rains to date.

“During recent drought conditions, such as in 2016, some parts of the country received good rains, which allowed for the build-up of fodder and hay. This was then donated to drought-stricken farmers. However, currently this is not the case as there is very little hay on the market.”

The unions say that since 2013, Namibia has experienced below-normal rainfall conditions for five out the seven years. This depleted the growth reserves of rangelands, as well as carryover fodder on the veld.





Also, the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in South Africa resulted in producer prices of sheep and weaners dropping with about 30%, in comparison to December 2018.

Producers therefore have to urgently remove livestock from the veld at much lower prices.

According to the unions, rain prospects for the rest of the season are not good and therefore they have jointly drafted a drought action plan that must be implemented.

An urgent meeting has been requested with agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb, so he can be informed about the severity of the current drought and be provided with the initial proposal to mitigate its impacts.

The goal is to have all three farmers' unions, including the Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU), represented at the meeting, so one unified proposal can be given to the minister.

A joint NAU and NECFCU statement said it is of utmost importance that livestock exports not be limited, in order to enable producers to market their animals as soon as possible in order to reduce the impact on rangelands.

The ministry and the Meat Board of Namibia will therefore be urgently requested to remove all policies restricting livestock exports in order to minimise financial and livestock losses.

The unions further requested the government to release emergency funds to help with the implementation of a marketing incentive scheme to encourage farmers to sell their livestock.

It was also mentioned that due to the FMD outbreak in South Africa, no hay or silage could be imported to Namibia.

The agriculture ministry conditionally lifted the ban on imports of baled hay and silage on Friday.

The unions also touched on the implementation of the Biosafety Act, which stipulates that no maize containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) may be imported from 6 February 2019, unless approval is granted by the Biosafety Council.

“Therefore, any farmer who needs to import maize containing GMOs from South Africa to feed livestock will have to undergo the same application procedure as do millers and feed manufacturers.”

The unions have requested that the National Council for Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) urgently exempt farmers from this Act and its procedures.

It was further stressed that the price stability for slaughter animals in the local market is critical for the next three months, in order to enable producers to take decisions about preparing slaughter animals.

“In discussions with Meatco, it was requested that Meatco provide farmers with a three-month price strategy to help farmers make informed decisions on whether to fatten animals or not, based on the prices made available to them.”

The unions also said that most of the livestock currently in the veld are not in a slaughter-ready condition.

However, in order to encourage farmers to invest in additional feed to fatten their animals before marketing, it was suggested that abattoirs come to the aid of farmers by fixing the price for the next three to four months.

This would stimulate and build trust along the value chain and ensure the sustainability of the industry in the future. The unions suggested that another option would be for feedlots to buy livestock now and pay farmers only after three months, or possibly financing the feed, to curb cash-flow challenges.

Meatco has already announced that it will reactivate the contract feeding scheme with immediate effect.

Meatco's contract feeding scheme, introduced through the Backwards Integration Initiative, is an agreement that allows Meatco to buy cattle and place them at a producer's individual farm or feedlot until they are ready for slaughter. The animal is, thus, raised or fed in accordance with Meatco's requirements.

Overall, the producer remains responsible for the performance, growth and health of the cattle. Meatco slaughters the animals when they are ready and pays the producer for each kilogram of live growth achieved during the contract feeding period.

The statement by the unions said currently energy concentrates to fatten livestock are sourced from Zambia and South Africa, but the availability of different commodities is being investigated to provide farmers with affordable solutions.

Advice on the use of bush as fodder during drought is already available, and farmers have been urged to explore these opportunities.

The unions also requested the implementation of assistance measures by financial institutions, in order to ease cash-flow management woes for producers resulting from the drought.

Such measures could include the extension of payments on subsidised loans to survive the effects of the drought.

The Meat Board meanwhile said that considering the current drought, especially in the south of Namibia, and as part of the sheep marketing scheme, a mechanism has been implemented to assist sheep producers who have acquired grazing land in South Africa, to now export their breeding stock to that country.

Such breeding stock must comply with the export conditions of Namibia and the import conditions of South Africa.

Suppressed rainfall over most parts of Namibia has bedevilled the first part of the rainy season, stretching from October to December.

The 2018/19 rainy season started 30 to 60 days late in eastern South Africa, Lesotho, southern Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Angola, and northern Namibia. Rainfall totals in these areas are 30% or more below average.

The delayed and below-average rainfall has been accompanied by above-average temperatures, resulting in moisture deficits across the region and drought conditions.

ELLANIE SMIT

Mysterious vanishings at Tsumkwe

February 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Mysterious vanishings at Tsumkwe The Otjozondjupa police are concerned about an increasing number of people disappearing without a trace at Tsumkwe.

Since 2016, four people, including a police officer, have gone missing and were never found.

The latest missing person is five-year-old Elven Bergers, who went missing on 24 December last year.

The boy, from Oluhepo village in the Mangetti area of the Tsumkwe constituency, went missing while harvesting wild fruit with his three brothers, aged 9, 10 and 11.

The barefoot boy was wearing a grey T-shirt and blue shorts.

According to the Otjozondjupa police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Maureen Mbeha, all four boys were reported missing, but three of them were found.





One was found on 27 December and the other two a day later.

“The youngest was never discovered despite an operation by the police force, the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) and nature conservation officials. They were dispatched to conduct an intensive search in the area, but the child could not be found,” Mbeha said.

“The Otjozondjupa police are seriously concerned about the mysterious way in which people are disappearing at Tsumkwe, who are never found. I now call on members of the public to refrain from going far into the bush when visiting or living at Tsumkwe.”

On 8 December last year, Johannes Kadhiya (43), who was employed at a 24-hour butchery at Ondangwa, went missing in the Rooidag Gate area while loading cattle. Efforts to trace him have proved futile. In 2017, a 55-year-old police officer, Sergeant Petrus Nghinananye Lukas, went missing in the Gam area and was never found.

In 2016, a woman went missing in the Tsumkwe settlement and was never found.

“We do not understand what is going on in that area; people are just missing and they are never found. In some areas police can search for a person and later on they discover bones, and in most cases the forensic tests can match them to a missing person, but in the area of Tsumkwe not even bones were found,” Mbeha said. She said Tsumkwe is a vast area and the biggest part of it is covered by dense bush.

Tsumkwe constituency councillor Fransina Gauz confirmed that four people have been reported missing in Tsumkwe since 2016.

“That place is bushy and sometimes police officers might also be afraid to go there. We understand that the area is more problematic when it is raining. I do not know whether it is the rain that is a problem or what is really the problem,” Gauz said.

“I requested a meeting with the regional police head just to brief me on what is really going on in Tsumkwe. We need to understand the whole story, including information from the investigating officers.”

ILENI NANDJATO

Geingob lashes media, ministers

February 5, 2019, 1:36 am

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Geingob lashes media, ministers
President Hage Geingob was livid this morning when he responded to criticism accusing him of being a hypocrite about the crisis of homelessness in Namibia and said shacks are nothing new to him as he was born in one.
“Don’t lecture me about ghettos, I was born in a ghetto. I have families there. I go visit them, my security officials can tell you,” said Geingob.
Geingob has come under fire after he declared the mushrooming of shacks in the country a humanitarian crisis, some saying he is not genuine and serious about addressing the issue but instead it is just an election ploy.
Speaking during the first decision-making Cabinet meeting yesterday Geingob said he understands that some rich people rent out their homes and instead go and stay in shacks.
Geingob also chastised his ministers for failing to speak to the media but at the same time grilled the media for distorting and omitting important information given during interviews.
According to him the government’s good intentions to be transparent and open to the media are trampled upon.
“They (media) say ministers don’t respond, I hope you will answer that and say whether it is correct or not. But that is what they say. But on the other hand my office is available and some ministers are available and they are interviewed, even for one hour. But when the interview is broadcast, it is one minute – distorted and voice overrun and sometimes your message is not coming out,” he scolded.
According to him, some journalists are only rushing to stories thinking of “how am I going to get him” and that a preconceived story has already been typed up.
“We cannot blame this government that it is not open to the press, definitely not, but what are we getting in return?” he repeated.
Geingob also took on his ministers for refusing to speak to the media.
“Equally, I hear quite often that the press don’t get information from ministers. If this is the case let us change the culture and be more accountable and transparent when it comes to the provision of information,” he said.
At the same time he rapped ministers over the knuckles for jeopardising foreign investments by avoiding investors.
“I am disappointed to note that on many occasions cabinet ministers do not avail themselves to meet with local and international investors and are sometimes evasive, leaving many entrepreneurs stranded and unable to effectively pursue business ideas,” said Geingob.
JEMIMA BEUKES

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It will be difficult - Isaacs

February 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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It will be difficult - Isaacs LIMBA MUPETAMI

Civics head coach Brian Isaacs and his charges will face African Stars tonight at the Sam Nujoma Stadium at 20:00 in a 2018/19 Namibia Premier League (NPL) clash.

Isaacs said a match of this magnitude does not require one to motivate the players, as they are aware of what is at stake.

“We need to get results in every match we play. The players know what they need to do, even though their form is not good at the moment. We need to be on top of our game, hence the bad position we find ourselves in on the log at the moment,” Isaacs said.

He added that Stars are in ‘full momentum” because they have just returned from CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup clashes.

Ronald Ketjijere, a senior player at Stars, said the match will be a tough one because their opponents are desperate for a win.

“We have a history with Civics. They are not an easy team to beat, and looking at the situation they are in at the moment, they will come out guns blazing.

“It is up to us to hit them on the attack and to take our chances when they are presented to us,” said Ketjijere.

Civics are currently 13th on the log with seven points, while Stars sit in 10th with nine points.

Black Africa lead the log with 23 points, followed by Mighty Gunners on 21 points.

Tickets to all premier league matches cost N$30.

Disaster-prone Japan a worry

February 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Disaster-prone Japan a worryMensah to meet with embassy officials NRU president Corrie Mensah president says they will engage with the Japanese embassy in due course in order to prepare local players travelling to the Rugby World Cup in the disaster-prone nation. Outspoken Namibia Rugby Union president Corrie Mensah says he is worried about the safety of Namibian players travelling to Japan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, slated for 20 September to 2 November.

Mensah, who has never been to Japan, said the NRU plans on covering all aspects before they head out to compete at the global rugby spectacle.

Japan is notorious for earthquakes and typhoons and concerns are rife about player safety.

Namibian Sun wanted to know what precautions rugby administrators are taking to ensure peace of mind for the players, who are busy training on the terms of NRU business wing, Namibia Rugby Limited (NRL), even though they are yet to sign any contracts.

“We will engage the Japanese embassy to brief us or to assist us with courses, as well as additional insurance for the players.

“We will do this in order to put all the family members of the travelling squad at ease.

“We have a good relationship with the people at the embassy and will definitely cover all aspects,” Mensah emphasised.

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

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.

Also during September last year, a strong earthquake rocked the northern island of Hokkaido, killing dozens and knocking out power.

When interviewed by international media recently, World Cup director Alan Gilpin opened up about the contingency plans that are being put in place over the next six months, adding that the organisers needed to plan for eventualities such as losing a stadium or a major transport hub at the tournament’s height.



Unresolved issues

Regarding the unresolved saga between the NRU and NRL, Mensah said there are minor issues that need to be ironed out, and when that happens, all stakeholders will be informed about the way forward.

The two entities have been at loggerheads over who should be running the country’s rugby affairs.

The NRU under Mensah, according to a source, has threatened not to sign off on the players travelling to Japan, if they are not given full control over Namibia’s rugby affairs.

This resulted in World Rugby stepping in to assess the situation, as they give performance grants to NRL.

A World Rugby delegation sent to the country has given its recommendations and there is currently communication taking place between the NRU and the global body on the way forward.

The source also said that Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL), which sponsors the national side, threatened to pull the plug if the NRU is given control over the nation’s rugby affairs.

When asked last year if any of this was true Ian Stevenson, NBL’s manager for events and sponsorships, said there are discussions taking place between World Rugby, the NRU, NRL, the players and sponsors to find the best way forward to prepare for the World Cup in Japan.

Once this has been determined, it will be shared.”

When asked yesterday if any consensus was reached, NBL responded by saying there were no developments at this stage.

“I promise to let you know once there is more information to share,” said Roux-ché Loux, spokesperson for the Ohlthaver & List Group, which owns NBL.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Keimuine nurses hamstring

February 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Keimuine nurses hamstringDire Dawa City striker still in recovery Itamunua Keimuine has scored four goals in seven appearances for his Ethiopian club. Dire Dawa City Sport Club (SC) striker Itamunua Keimuine says he is recovering well from a hamstring injury.

The player did not feature in Dire Dawa City's match over the weekend, due to his injury.

The team managed to beat Hawassa Keneme FC 1-0.

Keimuine is, however, optimistic that he will recover and play a part in the club's matches going forward.

The former Tura Magic striker joined the Ethiopian outfit on 30 September 2018.

“Well, I have been nursing a hamstring injury and that is why I was not in action over the weekend.

“I am, however, recovering well and hope to contribute more to the team in the coming weeks and months.

“I have two more weeks before I can play again or return to full strength.

“Life here is great and I am enjoying my stay here in Ethiopia,” Keimuine said.

The Ethiopian team has been struggling to escape from the bottom half of the table and are in dire need of the Namibian striker's scoring prowess.

Keimuine made his debut for the Brave Warriors on 10 September 2014 against Swaziland and was part of the squad that won the 2015 edition of the Cosafa Cup in South Africa.

He has over 20 caps for Namibia and has scored three goals for the national team.

Dire Dawa City were founded in 2003 with the hope of restoring the city's historic place in Ethiopian football.

The following year (2004/05), the club played in a regional league which was then considered the third tier of Ethiopian football.

In 2005/06 the club entered the second tier of Ethiopian football, then called the Ethiopian National League (now called the Ethiopian Higher League).

The club entered the Ethiopian Premier League for the first time in the 2007/08 season.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Company news

February 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Company news Eskom sees wider loss

South Africa's struggling power firm Eskom expects to make a wider R20 billion loss in the current financial year and wants steeper tariff hikes than it previously sought, its chief financial officer said on Monday.

The chief executive also said the government should consider injecting extra capital into state-owned Eskom to help it cope with what he said were low electricity tariffs.

Chief financial officer Calib Cassim said the larger forecast loss would be due to higher-than-anticipated power plant maintenance costs and increased use of diesel and gas, which is typically more costly than coal for generation.

Cassim said Eskom was now requesting electricity tariff hikes of 17.1% in 2019/20, 15.4% in 2020/21 and 15.5% in 2021/22, steeper than a previous application for increases of 15.0% in each of those three years.

Eskom said the new request was based on changes to its sales forecasts and production plans, arguing that significant time had elapsed since it made its initial request. If granted the revised tariff hikes, Eskom would still turn a profit only in 2022, Cassim said. – Nampa/Reuters

BP's 2018 profit doubles as output soars

BP's profit doubled to US$12.7 billion in 2018, driven by strong growth in oil and gas output following the acquisition of a large portfolio of US shale assets.

The company's debt rose however, and the pace of its share buyback scheme slowed in the last quarter as it completed the US$10.5 billion BHP acquisition.

Rivals Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil and Chevron all reported stronger-than-forecast earnings last week driven by higher production in US shale basins where oil Majors have invested billions in recent years.

For the year, BP's profit rose to US$12.7 billion, double the previous year's US$6.17 billion. Analysts expected 2018 profits of US$11.88 billion.

BP's production rose in 2018 to 3.7 million barrels of oil equivalent per day after it completed the acquisition of BHP's onshore US shale portfolio and thanks to the start up of new fields including the 120 000 barrel per day Clair Ridge project in the North Sea. – Nampa/Reuters

VEON aims to buy out Egypt's Global Telecom

Telecoms operator VEON Ltd said yesterday it intends to offer 5.30 Egyptian pounds (US$0.3005) per share for the 42.3% of Cairo-listed Global Telecom Holding it does not already own.

The offer for the stake in Global, formerly known as Orascom, represents a 20% premium to its closing price on Monday and is worth $600 million.

VEON, based in Amsterdam, operates telecommunications companies in Russia and in developing countries in Asia and North Africa. It holds a 55.6% stake in Global, which operates the Djezzy network in Algeria, Mobilink in Pakistan and Sheba Telecom in Bangladesh.

Veon said in a statement it has not yet submitted the offer to Egyptian financial authorities and it would not comment further. It called off a previous attempt to buy out Global's assets in October. – Nampa/Reuters

Aeroflot warns fuel prices to cost it US$732 mln

Aeroflot estimates rising fuel prices will cost it 48 billion roubles (US$732.37 million) for 2018, Russia's largest airline said on Monday.

Fuel prices have risen at Russian airports along with global oil prices since mid-2017, peaking in the summer.

Aeroflot's standalone net profit under local accounting rules plunged 10-fold to 2.796 billion roubles, while fuel expenses surged by 41.75 billion roubles, or 47.7%, the airline said.

The Russian Association for Air Transport Operators, which unites several major Russian carriers, estimated last year that rising fuel prices will cost Russian airlines 75-80 billion roubles in additional spending. – Nampa/Reuters

Brazilian court shutters Vale tailings dams

Vale SA said on Monday that a Brazilian state court has ordered it to stop using eight tailings dams in the wake of a disaster last month that likely killed more than 300 people, a step that will crimp nearly 9% of the company's annual iron ore output.

The move is the first step by Brazilian officials to limit production by the world's largest iron ore miner since the disaster, which has sparked a global outcry over common mining practices that many now are decrying as unsafe.

With 134 people confirmed dead and another 199 still missing, according to the latest tally on Monday, the Brumadinho dam burst could be Brazil's deadliest mine disaster on record.

The move is not expected to affect Vale's overall production as it already produces an excess of the market's current needs. Still, analysts expect it to have a ripple effect.

"This is likely to unnerve iron ore markets further," analyst at RBC Capital Markets wrote in a note to clients. – Nampa/Reuters

Aantu ya kana mo Tsumkwe

February 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Aantu ya kana mo Tsumkwe Opolisi moshitopolwa shaOtjozondjupa oyi li momalimbililo kombinga yomwaalu tagu londo pombanda gwaantu taya kana moTsumkwe.

Okuza omvula yo 2016 aantu yane oya kana mwakwatelwa omunambelewa gwopolisi, na inaya monika sigo onena.

Omuntu ngoka a kana ngashiingeyi omunamimvo 5 Elven Bergers, ngoka a kana momasiku 24 gaDesemba omvula ya piti.

Okamati hoka okaza momukunda Oluhepo momudhingoloko gwaMangetti moshikandjohogololo

Tsumkwe na oka kana omanga kali taka likola iiyimati mokuti, opamwe naamwayinamati yoomvula 9, 10 oshowo 11.

Okamati hoka oka li oompadhi kombanda ka zala okambindja kafa elowa oshowo okambulukweya okahupi okabulawu.

Palopota yopolisi mOtjozondjupa, Omupopiliko gwopolisi ndjoka, Warrant Officer Maureen Mbeha, okwa popi kutya uumati awuhe owa li wa lopotwa wa kana, ihe utatu owa monika.

Kamwe oka monika momasiku 27 gaDesemba omanga uukwawo wa monika esiku lya landula.

Hoka okashona inaka monika nonando okwa ningwa olukongo lwa kwata miiti kopolisi yaNamibia oshowo Etanga lyEgameno mwakwatelwa woo aanambelewa yomakuti.

Mbeha okwa popi kutya opolisi oya limbilikwa komukalo ngoka aantu taya kana na itaya monika moTsumkwe, na okwa indile aakalimo nenge mboka taya talelepo omudhingoloko ngoka, yiikaleke okuya momakuti.

Momasiku ga 8 gaDesemba omvula ya piti, Johannes Kadhiya (43), omuniilonga gwo 24-hour butchery mOndangwa, okwa kanene momudhingoloko gwaRooidag Gate omanga ta londeke iimuna, oonkambadhala dhokumukonga odha hulile muunyengwi.

Momvula yo 2017, omunambelewa gwopolsii omunamimvo 55, Petrus Nghinananye Lukas, okwa kanene omumudhingoloko gwaGam na ina monika sigo onena.

Momvula yo 2016, omukiintu gumwe okwa kanene omudhingoloko gwaTsumkwe na ina monika. Kansela gwoshikandjohogololo shoka, Fransina Gauz okwa koleke kutya aantu yane oya kana moTsumkwe okuza omvula yo 2016.

Okwa popi kutya omudhingoloko ogu na omakuti omanene onkene otaga tilitha okuya na oya pumbwa okuningwa omitumba naanambelewa aakonaakoni yiipotha mbyoka opo ku uvike kutya uupyakadhi owuli peni.

ILENI NANDJATO