PwC welcomes new intake

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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PwC welcomes new intake PwC Namibia welcomed a new intake of 30 trainees at the firm’s 2019 calendar year official opening held on 4 February.

A major player in training graduates towards becoming chartered accountants (CA), PwC has 43 chartered accountants and 72 trainee accountants, who are currently busy with their CA studies.

The new intake includes trainee IT and forensic specialists.

In the beginning of 2007 the PwC Tax Academy was launched.

The academy is the first of its kind in Namibia and reaffirms PwC’s commitment to Vision 2030 and the development of local tax professionals.

The firm currently has eight candidates enrolled on a three-year tax articles programme, while furthering their studies within various taxation fields. Since 2007, 20 candidates have completed their training.

Tax academy participants to date include 87.5% designated Namibians.

Most of these graduate recruits are beneficiaries of the PwC bursary scheme. The scheme is currently in excess of N$11.1 million. Besides providing on-the-job training, the firm currently sponsors 64 Namibian students, 45 of whom are from the previously racially disadvantaged group, studying at South African and Namibian universities.

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Discover unspoiled nature at Wolwedans

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Discover unspoiled nature at Wolwedans Wolwedans Dune Camp provides the perfect base from which to explore vast stretches of pristine nature where you will encounter small and large desert dwellers, intriguing flora and fascinating geology.

The charm of the camp lies in its tranquil, intimate atmosphere, capturing the romance of a bygone era.

During its most recent sustainability assessment by Eco Awards Namibia, Wolwedans Dune Camp scored very well – achieving full marks in the Management, Conservation, Energy and Guiding Sections – over 90% overall.

The outstanding assessment score enabled Wolwedans Dune Camp to qualify for entering the 2019 Responsible Tourism Awards (RTA), hosted by Namibia Media Holdings. Also, Wolwedans has been recognised as a Global Ecosphere Retreat by The Long Run, whose members balance the 4 Cs (community, conservation, commerce and culture) in order to achieve a sustainable balance between people, planet and profit.

Finalists for the RTA awards will be announced during March, and the winners will be announced during the official opening of the Namibia Tourism Expo in June 2019.

Diamonds from Katutura

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Diamonds from Katutura Local diamond cutting and polishing company Reign Investments, in partnership with an Israeli diamond polishing firm DYS Diamonds, said it is difficult to expand the company because they are struggling to secure enough high-quality stones.

DYS Diamond Manufacturers is a joint venture between Dalumi Diamonds, Yerushalmi Brothers and Sahar Atid Diamonds which are three major diamond cutting and polishing companies and each is a De Beers sightholder.

During a media tour at its polishing factory in Katutura this week, local director Kuirii Tjipangandjara said they can double their workforce once they get more rough diamonds with the right quality.

Local director Frans Ndoroma said they have decided to build the new purpose-built factory in Katutura close to the employees.

The initial factory was situated in the Prosperita industrial area.

“This is to cut unnecessary transport costs. Obviously we had a few questions. People asking 'this is Katutura, these are diamonds. Is it a wise move?'” He added that they have their eyes set on manufacturing jewellery but this still remains in the pipeline. Meanwhile DYS factory manager Edwin John said their manufacturing centres use the most advanced tools for all rare goods.

“The global team use a broad marketing network with global presence in Tel Aviv, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Japan and Singapore,” he said.

According to him they have been a sightholder since 2016 and are committed to the highest professional standards. According to him they currently employ 91 employees of which 13 are expatriates and the remainder, locals.

“We believe in strong skills transfer focussed on development and excellence. The local partners have 25% shareholding,” he said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Constitution is a covenant

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Constitution is a covenantBut poorest of poor still suffer Hailed as one of the most progressive constitutions in southern Africa, the benefit of freedom is yet to be felt by all. Namibians are happy they have a constitution and are proud of its lofty promises, but feel it is yet to come to life to improve the lives of ordinary Namibians.

Namibia marks Constitution Day on 9 February each year.

The much-acclaimed Namibian constitution was adopted in 1990 with 71 signatories and provides a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state is governed.

Former lawmaker and social activist Rosa Namises says the provisions of the Namibian constitution are supposed to improve the lives of Namibians but that has not happened yet.

She believes that annual celebrations should actually lay bare practical examples of what was achieved for the ordinary Namibian in a certain time.

“We have not done that; all that we have is to show this is the building built by the Chinese lady in Karibib. This is the flat we have erected in Windhoek. This is the money that was stolen. It is only those things. So to me our constitution has not made a change in the lives of ordinary Namibians,” she said.

The ombudsman, Advocate John Walters, says the shameful fact that Namibians are dying of hepatitis proves that the government has failed to deliver the provisions of the constitution.

Walters says the constitution is indeed a living document but it remains the responsibility of the Namibian government to uplift the lives of its citizens.

“The constitution cannot improve the ordinary citizen's life. The constitution cannot provide houses, neither can it provide us adequate standards of living. That is not the job of the constitution.

“The constitution set the principles and standards with which the government should comply in order to make these rights real entitlements for the people. And the government has not done that, not as far as economic and social rights are concerned,” he says.

Walters refers to the fact that President Hage Geingob has declared the mushrooming of shacks a humanitarian crisis, saying it points to government failure to provide access to sanitation and housing.

“More than half of the population do not have access to toilets. In this modern world in Namibia, people are still killed by hepatitis E, a preventable disease. We fought for the right to vote and now our people cannot even exercise the right to vote,” he said.

He added that Namibians must ensure the constitution remains a living document.

Information and communication technology minister Stanley Simataa says the constitution must serve as a fundamental framework which guides all dimensions of the government's operations and obligations.

“That is how critical the constitution is. It is a covenant. There is no modern state that can function without a constitution.

“I know that some of our fellow citizens are frustrated, however they need to understand the complexities of what government is doing in an attempt to improve the livelihood of its citizens,” he says.

He adds that improving citizens' lives is an ongoing undertaking that will never reach its conclusion.

He believes there has been substantive improvement in the lives of Namibians even though the government has not managed to address the plight of all Namibians.





JEMIMA BEUKES

A world of make believe

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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A world of make believe Creating relationships at the heart of acting Having started her acting career in Canada, Frances-Jane Van Wyk is now the new production coordinator for the National Theatre of Namibia. Justicia Shipena



Frances-Jane Van Wyk was appointed as the new production coordinator for the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) on 1 February.

Van Wyk works closely with the artistic director to produce quality shows for the theatre. Her roles also include programming and facilitating productions at the theatre and coordinating with all departments to make sure everything is running smoothly.

She attended her post-secondary education in Vancouver, Canada.

She holds an associate of arts degree in theatre and psychology, which she obtained at Douglas College in New Westminster.

Van Wyk also obtained diplomas in acting for film, television, theatre and voice-over from Douglas College and the Vancouver Acting School.

She told Careers that her training as an actor was always the key and she believes you never stop learning, and as an actor you should keep training. Hence, she trained professionally at Railtown Actors Studio in Vancouver until she moved back to Namibia in 2018.

“Psychology was a passion I picked up due to my support of mental health awareness and the need for more knowledge. As it turns out psychology is a great partner to have in the arts, especially acting,” she said.

She added that in acting you deal with your own emotions and your character’s emotions, your experiences and creating your character’s experiences, and having knowledge in psychology is an asset.

Before she joined NTN she was the store lead at the Children’s Place in Canada, as well as the front of house manager at Railtown Actors Studio.

Van Wyk said she has had many career highs as an actor and there is nothing like the feeling of being emotionally available for your character and scene partner.

She added one of the top highlights of her career happened in 2017 when she played Scarlett in the play ‘Lion in the Streets’ by Canadian playwright Judith Thompson.

“Scarlett was a young woman with advanced cerebral palsy, she was confined to a chair and very emotionally scarred due to her disability and insecurities brought on by the way others have treated her,” she said.

Van Wyk said although she was in the chair for most of her time on stage, she never felt freer as an actor. Scarlett allowed her to release emotions she didn’t realise she had or could produce. She said because of Scarlett’s very laissez-faire attitude she wasn’t constricted, despite being in a wheelchair.

“I learned how to be a commanding presence by just sitting and being present. She taught me power and how to use my voice and body to convey that power in stillness. My biggest lesson I learned from Scarlett, however, was compassion for others and their vulnerabilities,” she said.

Van Wyk told Careers that she has not faced any challenges at NTN as yet. However, should a challenge come her way she will face it head-on and handle it with patience, an open mind and with a sensitivity to others’ perspectives and their emotions.

She hopes to use her knowledge to produce quality work that all Namibians can enjoy as well as participate in. She also hopes to learn from her peers in the arts and hopes they can learn something from her.

“The theatre and the arts have a soft spot in my heart, I hope to see that passion realised in others through the work I produce,” she said.

Besides being in the office she spends time with her family and friends as they are her support system and have groomed her into the woman she is today. She enjoys kickboxing and yoga. To increase her creatively she reads, writes and paints.

“I’m a firm believer in engaging your creativity, no matter your skillset; it helps you open your mind and allows for different perspectives. Due to mental health awareness, my free time is spent taking care of myself mentally and physically, and being there for family and friends,” she added.

TB Consortium MoU inked

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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TB Consortium MoU inked Elizabeth Joseph

On 31 January, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed for the establishment of the TB Consortium by the Namibian University of Science and Technology (Nust), the health ministry, the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP), the University of Stellenbosch and the N/a’ankuse Foundation.

Among the guests was Nust vice-chancellor Tjama Tjivikua who highlighted the importance of holding hands to fight the ever-growing disease of tuberculosis.

“In Namibia we have a high TB rate, recording over 10 000 cases. TB significantly affects our economic growth and we need to come together to find a lasting solution.

“I am particularly excited by the prospects for funding opportunities, the creation or access to state-of-the-art infrastructure in TB diagnostics, management and research, and the offering of TB-focused postgraduate training and professional development to students, as well as staff and student exchanges and mentorship opportunities,” Tjivikua said.

Consequently, Namibia will understand the TB disease burden better, including the roles and impact of drug-resistant TB and the associated health challenges in Namibia, he said.

Dr Sehaam Khan, who is the dean of the Nust faculty of health and applied sciences, said although the MoU was only signed by five parties, it is not an exclusive agreement and they are waiting for more members to join the initiative.

Health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe said although starting the consortium was difficult, he is proud to see it reaching these heights.

“I believe that everyone has already said everything. If we continue to work together, as we did when we started, then even the sky wouldn’t be the limit,” Nangombe said.

The MoU was signed at the health ministry’s offices.

Oshakati Town Council to develop Onawa village

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Oshakati Town Council to develop Onawa villageN$25 million invested 500 erven will be serviced in the first phase of the project. Its completion time is not yet determined due to limited resources at our disposal. – Katarina Kamari, Spokesperson: Oshakati Town Council OSHAKATI – The Oshakati Town Council has invested N$25 million in the servicing of land at Onawa village on the outskirts of the town during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 financial years.

The council’s spokesperson, Katarina Kamari, said the servicing will see the provision of water lines, electricity, an access and main road, as well as residential plots for low- and middle-income earners.

Onawa, Kamari said, will be used as the town’s reception area.

“The project will be carried out in various phases, but 500 erven are to be serviced in this first phase, which is due to start in the 2020 financial year. Its completion time is not yet determined due to limited resources at our disposal,” she explained.

Kamari added that 300 erven are to be serviced by the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia, adding that a total of 3 000 erven are to be built at Onawa, depending on the availability of the funds.

The town council in December 2018 appointed John Namusheshe Construction and Investment CC to construct the access and main roads of Onawa.

The company, Kamari said, is anticipated to complete the roads by April this year. - Nampa

World food prices rise in January

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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World food prices rise in January ROME- World food prices rose in January, buoyed by a rebound in dairy prices and stronger showings for vegetable oils and sugar, the United Nations food agency said yesterday.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 164.8 points last month against 161.8 in December.

Despite the rise, the index was still 2.2% below its January 2018 level.

The FAO dairy price index jumped 7.2% from December's value, ending seven months of declines. FAO said limited export supplies from Europe, caused by strong internal demand, was the main driving force behind the increase.

FAO's vegetable oil price index rose 4.3% from the previous month, while its sugar index rose 1.3% and its cereal index made marginal gains on December. The meat price index was largely unchanged.

FAO lifted its latest world cereal production forecast for 2018 to 2.611 billion tonnes, slightly higher than the December reading, reflecting upward revisions for maize, wheat and rice.

"Much of the projected growth is associated with expected increases in Europe, where beneficial weather has so far shored up yield prospects while also sowings are forecast to expand, largely driven by attractive prices," FAO said.

Despite the rise in the latest projections, global cereal production is still expected to remain 1.8% below the record high of 2017. – Nampa/Reuters

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Phosphate mining on hold for court decision

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Phosphate mining on hold for court decision ?



There will be no pronouncement on environmental clearance for marine phosphate mining in Namibia before another court battle on the matter is finalised.

On 21 June last year, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta set aside the environmental clearance that had been granted to Namibian Marine Phosphate in September 2016 for marine phosphate mining.

The environmental clearance had been issued by environmental commissioner Theofillius Nghitila for the Sandpiper Project located about 120 km southwest of Walvis Bay.

In November that year the clearance was withdrawn following a public outcry, court applications and an appeal to the ministry lodged by community activist Michael Gawaseb.

Last year, a judge ruled that Namibian Marine Phosphate had not been given a fair hearing before their clearance was withdrawn and therefore Shifeta decided to hold a public hearing on the matter.

Following this public hearing, Shifeta decided to set aside the clearance certificate granted to Namibian Marine Phosphate.

He said Nghitila should notify the fisheries ministry, the fishing industry and all other interested parties to finalise their inputs and submit them within three months.

“The whole process of consultation should be completed within six months from today (21 June 2018),” said Shifeta.

The spokesperson for the environment ministry, Romeo Muyunda, has told Namibian Sun that the ministry had received the submissions within the stipulated timeframe.

“Based on the inputs received Nghitila is expected to make a decision. However, there is an ongoing court case on the same issue. Nghitila is awaiting the outcome of the court case before he pronounces himself,” Muyunda said.

This court case in question is the matter between Namibian Marine Phosphate and three Namibian fishing industry associations.

The associations are not only asking for the environmental clearance certificate to be declared illegal, but also want the company's mining licence declared unlawful because it had apparently expired.

At the end of last year this matter was still at case management stage.

NMP holds Mining Licence 170, which is located 120 km southwest of Walvis Bay and was issued on 26 July 2011. The mining licence area covers an area of 2 223 square kilometres in water depths of between 190 and 300 metres. A target production area has been identified at depths greater than 200 metres. The area to be mined for phosphate covers 0.0003% of Namibia's exclusive economic marine zone.

It was a circus - Mutorwa

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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It was a circus - MutorwaMinister lashes out at TransNamib infighting, personality clashes While announcing a new board for the embattled parastatal, transport minister John Mutorwa lashed out at the old one, saying their infighting was a “circus”. After barely limping along for years, TransNamib is being shaken, in order for it to live up to its mandate as one of the most strategic state-owned enterprises in the country.

A new board has been appointed and new a five-year integrated strategic business plan was adopted by cabinet.

The new board - Josefine Shikongo, Dr Michael Ochurub, Geanor Michaelis, Oscar Kaveru, advocate Sigrid Tjijorokisa and Vincent Mberema - was announced yesterday and will serve for the next three years.

Transport minister John Mutorwa said a submission was made to cabinet for a seven-member board. However, one of the candidates shortlisted is the CEO of another parastatal.

Mutorwa said there is no policy clarity on such a situation and a seventh board member is still being sought.

Both Mutorwa and public enterprises minister Leon Jooste emphasised that infighting and personal clashes will not be tolerated within the new board.

The new board members were selected from 55 applicants after advertisements that were placed in August and September last year.

Mutorwa said the ministers - without wanting to interfere - will intervene when things get out of hand, as has happened with the previous board, which was severely hamstrung by internal clashes.

He said when he took over as the works ministry a year ago he was confronted with an unprecedented situation dogging the previous TransNamib board. “I have never seen it and want to condemn it publicly and want to say it must not happen again. What happened was a circus,” Mutorwa said. “If you have problems, sort them out. If you cannot, we are here. If you don't, you won't last long.”

Personality clashes

Jooste concurred and said TransNamib, despite its strategic importance, is “not where it should be” because of the personality clashes that beset the parastatal in the past.

“We are fighting each other as Namibians,” Jooste said, adding, “It is the downfall of many public enterprises and it has to stop.”

Jooste said the new board has everything in its favour – a new business plan, political will and the shareholder's support.

“The ball is in your court; only you can mess it up, not the shareholder,” Jooste said.



Strategic plan

Cabinet in December approved TransNamib's new N$2 billion integrated strategic business plan, for which the parastatal has to source funding, due to the current economic climate and government's constrained ability to help out.

Jooste, however, said there will be a shareholder contribution, and was quick to say that this was not a bailout. “A bailout is when a company is in trouble and the shareholder steps in. This is not what is happening here,” Jooste said. TransNamib anticipates to fund its business plan from the sale of its non-core assets. The new plan intends to “resuscitate the fortunes” of TransNamib, which intends to leverage the scale of its non-core, unencumbered properties to generate funds for its operational and capital expenditure plan.

The business plan spells out that first priority should be given to other state-owned enterprises when TransNamib sells off its non-core properties. Cabinet has approved that the works minister, in collaboration with TransNamib, should compile a comprehensive valuation report of the 12 redundant locomotives that were bought through a N$410 million loan some time ago.

A forensic audit committee will also be appointed by the ministry to investigate the mismanagement of funds in the deal.

TransNamib CEO Johny Smith said the company is 25 years behind and has to make significate strides from an operational perspective, in order to develop the company.

Smit said the company will henceforth not be distracted by operational matters that do not add value to the growth of the business.

He said a mammoth task lies ahead to achieve an average growth of about 20% per annum for the next five years.

“It is our ideal going forward that we remain focused on strategic matters pertaining to the company, so that this company creates the economic value that is required for the shareholder and the people of Namibia,” Smith said.

Currently the company handles 18% of the market share of bulk freight; it intends to double this by 50% over the next five years.

By June or July it will also completely phase out its road services; it has already terminated its OPX service, a parcel express service for small consignments.

The nexus between spirituality, integrity and development

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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The nexus between spirituality, integrity and development This articles focus on what spirituality, integrity and development have in common. All three have the ability to reduce corruption because they stem from the same origin, and/or have the same purpose in common.

The word spiritus is the Latin for breathing and it is a neutral state of being.

To be spiritual means to be in a neutral state of mind. Spirituality is one of the highest overarching meta-values, a way of looking at life that connects a person with his inner self, it connects a person with the universe, meaning people, plants, animals and insects, all creatures. Spirituality connects a person with his soul, his soul path and soul development.

From studying spirituality, one needs to ask the following questions: What is my soul path? What is my purpose in life? After asking these questions, then the journey can begin to align your work and your personal life with your soul path and in the process try to create a work – life balance.

Spirituality has to do with connectedness, and creating wholeness of a person. The Latin word integer, from which integrity developed, means wholeness. Thus, integrity and spirituality got the development of the wholeness of a person in common.

If all development obstructions of a person are removed/eliminated/overcome – there are five areas of development obstructions - then the process of developing the wholeness of a person can be possible. Thus, spirituality, integrity and development have development of the wholeness of a person in common.

Spiritualty requires the development of all five areas of a person, namely: economically (income and wealth), politically (influence and participation), ethics (from the Greek word ëthos meaning character), morality (peace and harmony), knowledge (to enable insight and understanding), and identity.

The word corruption developed from the Latin Com meaning together with and rumpere meaning to break. Corruption breaks the togetherness or wholeness of a person or system and hampers and/or prevents or obstructs development, integrity and spirit of a person.

Some of the co-producers of corruption are greed and jealousy.

There is a never-ending search for material wealth. Such search is never ending because it cannot make a person whole or complete. Obtaining material wealth and profit are part of obstructions to a person’s development and part of dualism, i.e.: an abundance of wealth vs. poverty, inclusiveness vs. exclusiveness, and peace vs. war.

Spirituality is a neutral and meta-value of perceiving life. To be spiritual is in contrast to dualism because spirituality enables unity and/or completeness, it can remove obstructions to a person’s development. Spirituality can repair the impact of corruption – that breaks down the togetherness or wholeness – it can enable a person to develop himself or herself in all five areas of life, meaning to become a complete person.

There are ways to exercise to create a neutral state of mind as required to become a whole person, e.g. meditation that can empty a person’s mind and enable connectedness to one’s conscious. Corruption obstructs connectedness with one’s consciousness, because inner peace to arrive at a neutral state of connectedness with other people are not possible with exercising corrupt activities. To put it in other words, corruption entails selfishness that breaks the connectedness with other people.

Any manifestation corruption (e.g. nepotism) is destructive to society. The impact of corruption damages the environment, animals and trees, because it creates unsustainable development.

Spirituality requires to be accountable for one’s own life. To accept answerability for one’s own life, irrespective of what happened in the past. No one is to blame, yourself is in control of your own life. Spirituality implies no blame, no judgement. There are not always clearly distinguishable rights and/or wrongs.

To be spiritual means to accept full accountability for what happened to yourself as a person. Without accepting accountability, a person cannot change himself or herself, cannot transform himself or herself. Transform is coming from a word that means across, to change yourself across all five areas of development.

To synthesise, corruption breaks down the wholeness – integrity – of a person. Spirituality is a meta-value and a way of looking at life to repair the damage of obstructions to development, corruption and dualism. To be spiritual means to accept accountability for one’s life.

Wholeness of a person can possible through developing all five areas of a person life. All three concepts, spirituality, integrity and development have wholeness in common. Because spirituality is about wholeness as well as accepting answerability of one’s life, for that reason, spirituality is overarching integrity as well as development.

It is possible to deduce that spirituality is the ultimate antidote to reduce and fight corruption.

Ambassadors for Pupkewitz Motors

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Ambassadors for Pupkewitz Motors Octavia Tsibes

Pupkewitz Motors recently held its fifth round of trainee induction in Windhoek. Eight trainees, of which majority were women, completed their training and were put under the care of their mentors.

“We believe in empowering young people to be better than us; that is the only way to really establish true leaders,” said Joseph Khariseb, human resource manager at Pupkewitz Motors.

Khariseb said further that it is important for true Namibian companies, regardless of the situation, to always find the means to invest in the upcoming generation. “The trainees are graduates from higher-learning institutions and the programme provides them with a platform to practise their skills and to transform them to occupy senior positions,” said Ettienne Steenkamp, deputy managing director of Pupkewitz Motors.

Rebecca Kapofi, a junior sales trainee at Pupkewitz Toyota Automark, said the programme allows them to get out of their comfort zone, which forces them to learn.

Kapofi, who is a finance graduate said: “Even though I was not sure I will excel in sales, I was prepared to learn, explore and challenge myself professionally.”

She added that there were always helping hands, but it was up to her to set the rules and stay focused.

Robyn on the rise

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Robyn on the riseChallenges excite Nakaambo GIPF recently rewarded Robyn Nakaambo as an outstanding performer during the 2017/18 financial year. Justicia Shipena



Robyn Nakaambo was born in Oshakati and raised in Windhoek and Bloemfontein.

She holds a double major degree in media (public relations) and industrial psychology, which she obtained at the University of Namibia (Unam).

Nakaambo is a communications officer for external stakeholders at the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF).

She commenced her work at GIPF in 2014.

Her roles include the updating and maintenance of the funds external social platforms such as its website and Facebook and Instagram pages.

She is a liaison officer between internal and external stakeholders, while also facilitating and executing external stakeholder engagements and coordinating material that is to be disseminated to the public.

Before joining GIPF Nakaambo worked at Energy 100FM as a communications officer and the ­Coca-Cola bottling company as a public relations officer.

She was recently rewarded for being an outstanding performer in the 2017/18 financial year.

Nakaambo told Careers she cannot choose her best career highlight so far, as she celebrates every little achievement as a highlight.

She said she gets excited about challenges because they ensure that she learns something new.

“My job is diverse; I'm exposed to plenty of challenges, from lack of relevant information, deadlines and lack of cooperation from individuals, just to mention a few,” she said.

She said she overcomes her challenges by creating a solution, as the show needs to go on and the job needs to be done.

She added that she asks questions when she does not understand, seeks guidance when the need arises and always asks advice.

Nakaambo said her colleagues in her department are all driven and have a great work ethic.

“I'm blessed to be a part of an amazing team; we are all different but come together so well, as we feed off each other's energy, so we work like a well-oiled machine,” she said.

She said young people should realise that the only competition they should be in is with themselves.

She added youth should always strive to be better than they were yesterday and refrain from comparing their journey to someone else's.

“You're unique and that's your power, so run your own race at your own pace,” she said.

Nakaambo is a fitness enthusiast and enjoys cooking so much that she is a self-proclaimed chef. She gets her inspiration from the little things in life.

She added that she does not share her future plans, but rather works toward her goals in silence, and only speaks when the achievements have been reached.

Besides being in the office, she is also a business owner. She owns Superlative Virgin Hair - an online boutique that sells Brazilian and synthetic hair as well as mink fur lashes.

She is also an award-winning TV presenter.

She presented the 2018 Simply You Magazine Awards and is also the presenter of Whata-Lifestyle - a weekly lifestyle programme which airs at 20:30 on Saturdays on NBC.

She has also been the master of ceremonies for various events.

CoW, Kingston municipality become twins

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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CoW, Kingston municipality become twinsFocus on housing The lack of houses and growing informal settlements experienced in Windhoek are similar to Kingston. WINDHOEK – The City of Windhoek (CoW) and the Kingston municipality of Jamaica on Wednesday signed a twinning agreement in an effort to promote municipal developments.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua said the agreement includes amongst others the exchange of information about the development of housing programmes in line with what is desired and what is achievable.

It also includes development planning as well as the improvement of infrastructure, promotion of tourism and cultural exchange and water management.

Kazapua said the agreement further includes education, gender and environmental restoration, enhancing the process of broadening the revenue base for the two city councils, while identifying a framework within which activities are currently being carried out by both councils.

“The agreement should not be just a pure protocol document, but should improve the lives of the people of both cities,” he stressed.

On his part, Kingston mayor Delroy Williams said the lack of houses and growing informal settlements experienced in Windhoek are similar to his city, and called for a need to put heads and hands together and tackle the demand of housing.

“As cities with similar challenges we need to implement efficiently and adequately the solutions that both cities will share in order to find solutions to these municipal challenges,” he pointed out. - Nampa

Down with bullying tactics!

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Down with bullying tactics! It is interesting that those in the Swapo top leadership are the first to concede that factionalism harms the ruling party.

Swapo is clearly a divided house and this factionalism is evident, given the goings-on and vicious standoffs within the former liberation movement at the moment. A case in point is the clear defiance by Rundu councillors not to elect Verna Sinimbo and Ralph Ihemba as mayor and deputy mayor, respectively, despite an order to do so by the ruling party. After months of dillydallying, the councillors finally resolved to end the impasse at the town council yesterday when it convened a session to elect its new office-bearers. The instruction from Swapo was that Sinimbo must be retained as mayor and Ihemba as deputy mayor. However, there was no secondment for Sinimbo after she had initially been nominated to serve for another term. This forced another round of elections and this time around Isak Kandingu and Toini Hausiku prevailed as mayor and deputy mayor, respectively. As local lawyer Silas-Kishi Shakumu argued in Namibian Sun this week, the onus of electing office-bearers should lie with the respective councillors and political parties shouldn't even think of imposing their preferred candidates. We agree that there is no legal basis for any political leadership to impose on councillors whom should occupy which position. The culture of imposing candidates on elected councillors not only undermines what is supposed to be a democratic process, but also compromises the quality of leadership. The culture of Swapo instructing regional leaders on who should be elected as mayor, deputy mayor, management committee chairperson, or simply an ordinary councillor, does not augur well for intra-party democracy and encourages divisions. Having been shown the middle finger, it is almost certain that the head honchos in Swapo will again move to deploy dirty tactics such as recalling the councillors for not toeing the party line. The party has shown over the years that it uses bullying tactics work to suppress critical voices, which is very unfortunate.

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Row over trust funds

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Row over trust fundsState takes control of minors' inheritance The High Court's Guardian Fund doesn't have the capacity to administer the trust funds of all orphans in Namibia, the pension fund industry says. An amendment to the law on the administration of estates allows for the state to take full control of a deceased estate if the beneficiary is a minor, and to disburse those funds at their will.

Pension and trust fund institutions are very concerned about the new law centralising payments due to minors from inheritances and pension funds to the care of the Master of the High Court's Guardian Fund.

They are eager to meet with the justice ministry this month amidst worries that the law is constitutionally questionable and could annihilate private pension and trust funds.

“The new law, as it stands, stands to wipe out all trust administration institutions legally registered with the Master of the High Court,” says Marthinuz Fabianus, managing director of Retirement Fund Solutions and a board member of the Retirement Funds Institute of Namibia (RFIN).

Fabianus referred to the Administration of Estates Amendment Act of 2018, gazetted at the end of December last year, which has given rise to serious questions and concerns.

Fabianus said the amendment act should be recalled “as soon as possible as its implications are too far-reaching”, in order to “avoid a potential collapse of the administration of payments to minors due to poor planning with a lack of capacity”.





He said the law had been “poorly considered” and could face legal challenges.

In neighbouring South Africa, the courts have ruled that the guardian of a minor has the first right to decide how and where to invest the proceeds of a minor under their care, paid from a pension fund, and with the new law, this choice would become redundant.

“The freedom of choice in a free market system to use registered trust funds is now removed from pension funds and from each Namibian who can no longer decide to use their trustees of choice to administer the inheritance of their minor beneficiaries.”

He added that as far as he was aware, no consultations were held with the pension fund industry or other institutions affected by the act prior to the implementation of the law, apart from the January notice that industry consultations would take place this month.

He also questioned the capacity of the Master of the High Court division to carry out the mandate with its current capacity.

He said the monies payable could amount to many millions and said come 1 March, when the law is to be implemented, “we will be in a precarious situation.”



Reasons

According to the justice ministry, in a January notice to affected institutions, the amendment act was based on “challenges and shortcomings in the existing legislation”.

Shortcomings included the fact that the Administration of Estates Act of 1965, “did not provide for the proper protection of monies due to minors or deceased estates, among others”.

Specifically, the ministry said it had received “many complaints by minors that never receive such monies from their guardians or that high administration fees do not allow real growth of these monies.”

Elsie Beukes, Master of the High Court and custodian of the Guardian Fund, explained that “the purpose for taking over all monies due to minors” was based on complaints of high administration fees and the fact that some guardians “often claim the same expense at more than one institution that hold money for a beneficiary and funds are depleted quickly.”

Beukes said these issues reduce the benefit received by the beneficiary “significantly”.

She added that the amendments make provision for an investment framework that includes the establishment of an investment committee and policy to ensure “a more transparent and effective governance of the investments made by the Master of the High Court”.

Further, a new online integrated financial and case management system has been developed and implemented, she said.

Applications will be electronic and the Guardian Fund will operate 95% paperless.

She said the Guardian Fund currently administers approximately N$1.4 billion for more than 40 000 beneficiaries, and payments amounting to N$65 million were made to beneficiaries during the 2017/18 financial year.

She said the money consists mainly of inheritances and death benefits from deceased estates or pension funds, and the amendment act requires that “any other monies due to a minor must also be paid to the Guardian Fund”.

She confirmed that for now, all institutions are continuing with payments as before until consultations with the various institutions for the “takeover of funds” takes place, to ensure no interruption of payments to beneficiaries.

The amendments act also addressed the fact that even though the Guardian Fund was audited by the auditor-general, it did not provide for a compulsory annual audit.



No sense

Fabianus stressed that the centralisation of payments, where it was previously decentralised, will mean a “duplication of administration and a serious wastage of resources”.

He added that pension funds in particular are managed in terms of the Pension Funds Act and also registered with the Receiver of Revenue for income tax purposes.

“Annuity income payments payable to minors in terms of the rules of funds should strictly not be included in the amounts to be made to the Master. If this were the intention, it will rob pension funds the paternalistic and fiduciary responsibilities of trustees.”

Namibian Sun approached several relevant industry members, most of who declined to comment until the consultative meetings.

The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF), which is also affected by the amendment, stated only that it “acknowledges the impact of the Administration of Estates Amendment Act, but unfortunately cannot comment on the extent thereof. Therefore, the fund is currently in communication with the relevant authorities to gain more clarity”.

Fabianus added that following due consultations with the industry, the minister of justice could consider “regulations that aim to foster certain standards in the administration of trusts registered with the Master of the High Court”.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Unam top brass vie for Nust post

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Unam top brass vie for Nust post The Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) will today conduct interviews that will pave the way for the appointment of a successor to long-serving vice-chancellor Tjama Tjivikua.

Five candidates were shortlisted for the top job, including University of Namibia (Unam) staff members Erold Naomab and Frednard Gideon.

The five candidates will make their presentations later today to the university's council. Unlike the interviews, which were held to choose the new Unam vice-chancellor, those for the Nust vice-chancellor will be held behind closed doors.

The candidates will each be interviewed for nearly five hours, which will include a formal interview, a stakeholder presentation and a final question-and-answer session.

The Nust council will conduct the interviews with the assistance of students, staff, management and the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation.





Following the interviews, they will consult the ministry and then start negotiations with the successful candidate.

The new Nust vice-chancellor will replace Tjivikua, who has been at the helm of the institution since its formation in 1995.

Naomab is a University of Nottingham chemistry PhD holder. He is currently based at Unam's southern campus, where he serves as assistant pro-vice-chancellor.

Naomab completed a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and molecular and physiological biology at Unam. He followed this up with a Master of Science at the same university, which he passed cum laude.

He then did his Masters of Research in strategic resource management at the University of Nottingham. He completed a PhD at the same institution, according to his resume.

Naomab previously served Unam's chemistry and biochemistry department head.

He has also served on the Namibia Standards Institute's environmental management systems technical committee.

Gideon serves as pro-vice-chancellor for academic affairs at Unam's main campus. He is a Unam graduate and associate professor in the department of mathematics.

He obtained his PhD in applied mathematics (banking and finance, risk management and Basel II) from North-West University, as well as a Master's Degree in Science and Mathematics from Rhodes University. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree at Unam.

Gideon served as the dean of the faculty of science at Unam and is the first Namibian to occupy that position.

The other three candidates include Swedish national Said Irandoust, Botswana national Otlogetswe Totolo and Nigerian national Abraham Ogwu.

Irandoust was previously vice-chancellor at the University College of Borås in Sweden.

He holds a Masters in Science in Chemical Engineering as well as a PhD which he obtained from the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. He is also the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics in Moscow.

Totolo is the current vice-chancellor of the Botswana International University of Science and Technology.

He has also previously served as deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Botswana. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental Science from the University of Botswana, which he attained in 1987, and a PhD in soil science from Wye College, University off London, which was attained in 1995.

Rounding of the list is Ogwu, who previously served as professor of materials science and engineering at the University of West Scotland. Ogwu holds a Bachelor of Science from Obafemi Awolowo University in his native Nigeria. He also completed an executive management course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He attained a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Manchester.

Attempts to contact Nust council chairperson Esi Schimming-Chase proved futile.

Namibian Sun wanted her to confirm the candidate list and answer questions relating to why no females had been shortlisted.

OGONE TLHAGE

Rundu councillors in open rebellion

February 7, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Rundu councillors in open rebellion Swapo's Rundu councillors have defied a party directive that the town office-bearers structure must remain unchanged.

In a dramatic twist yesterday, Isack Kandingu was elected and sworn in as Rundu mayor, replacing Verna Sinimbo, while Toini Hausiku was elected as deputy mayor, replacing Ralph Ihemba.

Anastacia Shinduvi-Foya and Matheus Wakudumo were elected onto the management committee, while a third member of the committee is still to be elected.

Sinimbo, Ihemba and Reginald Ndara will serve as ordinary members of the town council.

Both the Rundu and Okahandja councils were given an ultimatum by the party on Monday to have their swearing-in ceremonies yesterday, after party SG Sophia Shaningwa's earlier directives were defied in November last year.







“The swearing-in of the local authority councillors should take place no later than Thursday, 7 February 2019, as earlier directed by the office of the secretary-general,” Shaningwa wrote in her 4 February letters, following a Swapo politburo meeting last week that endorsed her earlier directives.

In the case of Rundu, Shaningwa had said there should be no changes to the office-bearers structure, while in Okahandja she instructed that mayor Johannes 'Congo' Hindjou be demoted to an ordinary council member.

Only the Rundu town council went ahead yesterday with its election and swearing-in ceremony, while in Okahandja there was postponement because of the unavailability of a magistrate.

There was drama in Rundu, which saw Magistrate Sonia Sampofu calling for a five-minute break, after Sinimbo's nomination as mayor was not seconded, much to the shock of those in attendance.

Kandingu was then nominated and seconded to serve as mayor, and he accepted.

Sinimbo was nominated to serve as his deputy, but she declined. Hausiku was then nominated and she accepted.

Shinduvi-Foya was then nominated as the first member of the management committee and she accepted.

As it was clear at this point that Sinimbo and Ihemba were unwilling to participate in the election process, and All People's Party (APP) councillor, Wakudumo, was then elected as the second member of the management committee.

Soon after, the elected councillors took their oaths, while some members of the public staged a walkout, which interrupted proceedings. They then same liberation songs outside.

Some party members even threatened the councillors, reminding them that they should not mess with Swapo.

Kandingu went on to give his acceptance speech and called for unity amongst all stakeholders.

“We must be unified because hatred will never take us anywhere. I urge the residents of Rundu to be united and to work as a team in our town,” Kandingu said.

Attempts to get comment from Shaningwa proved futile at the time of going to print.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Govt names new executive directors

February 8, 2019, 12:02 pm

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Govt names new executive directors Government has announced the appointment of new executive directors for the ministries of home affairs, trade, president’s private office as well as environment and tourism. Former Namibian ambassador to the United Kingdom Steve Katjiuanjo has been appointed executive director in the ministry of trade and takes over from Gabriel Sinimbo who was last year named as Namibia’s high commissioner to India. Etienne Maritz from the president’s private office will move to home affairs to fill the void left by Patrick Nandago who was last year also appointed as Namibia’s ambassador in Angola. Maritz will be replaced by Moses Pakote who for the last couple of years served as deputy executive director in the Office of the Vice-President. Cabinet has also confirmed the appointment of environmental commissioner Teofilus Nghitila as the substantive executive director in the ministry of environment.
STAFF REPORTER

Hanno Rumpf dies

February 8, 2019, 12:18 pm

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Hanno Rumpf dies Former Namibian ambassador to Germany Hanno Rumpf has passed on, aged 60. Rumpf has served as permanent secretary for a number of ministries since Namibia’s independence. Prior to Namibia’s independence, Rumpf was among a small number of white Namibians who left the country to join Swapo in exile.
STAFF REPORTER