Africa Briefs

March 24, 2019, 3:00 pm

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Zim raises public workers pay by 29%

Zimbabwe's public workers have accepted a 29% salary hike for the lowest paid employees, which the government says will cushion them against double-digit inflation, unions said on Thursday, and likely averting a strike in the interim.

Civil servants in the southern African nation twice rejected a lower government wage offer in January but had been divided over a strike, which led to teachers briefly walking out of their jobs.

An agreement signed by the government and the top public workers' union Apex Council said "a cost of living adjustment of US$400 million [will] be effected across the board for all members of the public service with effect from 1 April."

That means the lowest paid worker will now earn a monthly gross salary of US$570 from US$441, said an official from Apex Council, which represents 16 public sector unions.

Public workers would also be able to import vehicles without paying import duty and the government will provide buses to transport the workers, the agreement said.

Analysts say wage pressures could see inflation accelerate, but finance minister Mthuli Ncube has said any salary increases would be within its US$8 billion budget for 2019. – Nampa/Reuters

Eskom power cuts to hit South Africa GDP

Severe planned power cuts at South African state-run utility Eskom are expected to shave 0.3 percentage points off first-quarter GDP growth, Goldman Sachs said on Thursday.

If the current intensity of the planned cuts, known as load-shedding, were to persist in 2019, it could subtract up to 0.9 percentage points from annual growth, Goldman analysts said in a note to clients.

In February South Africa's national treasury estimated GDP growth of 1.7% in 2019.

Eskom supplies more than 90% of the power in South Africa but has suffered repeated faults at its coal-fired power stations, along with low water levels at hydroelectric plants and diesel shortages.

Eskom continued to implement rolling blackouts on Thursday with 4 000 megawatts cut from the grid on a rotational basis. – Nampa/Reuters

Bashir bans hoarding of Sudanese pounds

Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir banned hoarding of the Sudanese pound and "speculation" on the currency, a presidency statement said on Thursday, as anti-government protesters again clashed with security forces in several cities.

Bashir has faced three months of persistent protests calling on him to step down, amid an economic crisis that has seen people queueing at ATMs and has caused sharp price rises.

Under the new rules announced by Bashir's office, individuals are not allowed to store more than 1 million Sudanese pounds (US$21 000) outside the banking system.

Entities are banned from storing more than 5 million Sudanese pounds and are not allowed to store amounts "that are not commensurate with the scale of [their] activity", the statement said.

Bashir's order, made in an emergency decree, also banned the counterfeiting of any currencies, as well as the possession, transportation or storage of counterfeit currencies and any tools used to produce counterfeit currencies.

It further banned all providers of goods and services from accepting payments via bank cards or cheques. – Nampa/Reuters

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Lion hunters shot

March 24, 2019, 3:00 pm

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Lion hunters shotAttempted murder cases opened following marauding lioness hunt A marauding lion hunt ended in two of the hunting party being seriously wounded by gunfire, before the animal was finally put down.

The Oshana police have opened attempted murder cases after Amalia Sheya, a 51-year-old environment ministry employee, and Festus Fredricks, a 29-year-old cattle herder, were shot during a lion hunt by police, Namibian Defence Force (NDF) and nature conservation officials at Uulungawakolondo on Saturday.

The hunt followed an attack by a lioness on 49-year-old cattle herder Elia Usiku on Saturday morning near the NDF base at Uulungawakolondo.

He was rushed to the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital for treatment, before being transferred to the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital together with the shooting victims.

A source told Namibian Sun that Usiku had sustained serious injuries, including a broken arm.

According to Shipanga Andreas, at around 09:00, while he was driving to his cattle post, he found Usiku following his cattle to a water point.

He said Usiku was bleeding heavily and after he told them what happened, they took him to Onandjokwe hospital.

“He told us that the lioness just emerged from nowhere and attacked him. He was seriously injured on the left arm and had several tooth marks throughout his body. After we took him to the hospital, we also notified the police,” Andreas said.

According to cattle post owner, Jesaya Angula, they were not aware that there were lions in the area, as he spends most of the time at the post.

“We were at the scene for an inspection and it shows that the lion ran for about 200 metres before it attacked him (Usiku). He first hit it with a stick, which later broke. He said that it was the cattle that came to save him,” Angula said.

Oshana police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Frieda Ashiyana, confirmed that after the attack was reported, a hunting party was sent out.

“On Saturday at around 10:00, a hunting party consisting of three police officers, three soldiers and two members of the ministry of environment, all armed with rifles, went in search of a lion, which reportedly attacked and injured a member of the public earlier in the morning.

“They were all in a Toyota Land Cruiser that belongs to the environment ministry, accompanied by Fredricks, a cattle herder who was giving them directions to where the lion was spotted,” Ashiyana said.

“Upon finding the lion, it aggressively came running towards their vehicle, running around it and almost climbing onto it. This prompted the police officers and soldiers to start shooting at the lion, and in that process Sheya got shot and seriously injured on the right jaw, while Fredricks got shot and seriously injured on the left shoulder. They are both at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital.”

Over 8 000 incidents

It was reported in January that a total of 8 067 human-wildlife conflict incidents were recorded in Namibia's conservancies during 2017.

These were recorded in 71 of the country's 83 conservancies and there are indications that the figure might be and underestimation of the situation on the ground.

Human-wildlife conflict has more than doubled since 2004, when a total of 2 936 incidents were recorded in only 31 conservancies.

In 2016 the figure stood at 6 331 incidents in 69 conservancies.

This information was contained in the 2017 State of Community Conservation in Namibia report.

In 2017 there were on average of 106 general attacks and 0.2 on people, per conservancy.

There were an average of 91.1 livestock attacks and 13.1 incidents of crop damage, per conservancy, in 2017.

In 2014, when 82 conservancies held audits, there were 7 774 incidents reported. This was the only year that more than 80 conservancies reported human-wildlife conflict incidents.

However, the highest number of incidents were reported were 9 228 in 2013, when 79 conservancies held audits.

The report indicated that in the Zambezi Region, animals that caused the most conflict in 2017 were elephants, with 380 incidents recorded, while 200 conflict incidents were caused by crocodiles and 180 by hyenas.

In the Erongo and Kunene Regions about 700 conflict incidents were recorded involving hyenas, 590 involving cheetah and 400 involving elephants.

The report said there were about 160 conflict incidents involving lions in the Kunene and Erongo regions, with 8% of these lions being killed.

ILENI NANDJATO

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AR demands 2 500-unit township from Erindi sale

March 24, 2019, 3:00 pm

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AR demands 2 500-unit township from Erindi sale

ELLANIE SMIT

The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement wants a High Court settlement agreement regarding the potential sale of the Erindi Private Game Reserve to be linked to the establishment of a 2 500-unit township near Windhoek and the servicing of 300 plots at Goreangab.

It also wants millions to be channelled towards housing in Windhoek and Walvis Bay, as a caveat to the settlement agreement.

These and other demands were revealed in a letter sent by AR leader Job Amupanda to Erindi owner Paul Joubert and land reform minister Utoni Nujoma.

Amupanda said the Erindi owners or buyers of the 65 000-hectare game farm should purchase one farm within a radius of 50 kilometres from the Windhoek central business district to be used for the purpose of establishing a youth township with the capacity to accommodate a minimum of 2 500 houses.

He said further they should provide N$10 million for the finalisation of the servicing 300 residential plots at Goreangab.

The money will also be used for the connection of bulk services for the 300 plots and empty houses at Otjomuise, so these can be allocated to people.

Amupanda said the Erindi owners or buyers should also buy five farms for the Youth in Agriculture for Economic Freedom initiative.

He said one farm will be used to host the Post-Colonial Agricultural Research Institute (POCARI), while two farms will be used for crop production and two for animal husbandry.

“Each farm so purchased must be allocated start-up capital of not less than N$2 million per farm to allow for productive farming.”

Amupanda said Erindi’s new owners must also undertake not to do any restructuring, retrenchments or reorganising that will lead to job losses.

“There should be a profit-share agreement aimed at sponsoring Namibian students studying agriculture, animal science, veterinary medicine and tourism at the best universities in Africa and the world.”

These demands come in the midst of an ongoing legal battle between government and Erindi over the sale of the game farm. The case dates back to 2016 has been postponed to Thursday for settlement, after documents were presented to the High Court last year indicating that Erindi was already given a certificate of waiver in 1999.

On 6 October the minister of lands, in terms of section 16 of the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act of 1999, granted the certificate of waiver to Erindi.

The waiver was signed by then lands minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana for Farm Erindi no. 58 and Farm Constantia no. 60 which together forms Erindi Ranch Pty.

Amupanda said they were alerted about the imminent sale of Erindi to a foreign national.

“It is evident that government again surrendered and placed the Namibian people to a loss (sic),” he said.

Amupanda said it seems government failed to observe certain legal processes, particularly regarding the waiver that appears to have resulted in a situation where the court is likely to find that it should have accepted the more than N$1.9 billion (excluding VAT) purchase price.

“It is clear that government may lose this case in court because of either the existing certificate of waiver already granted or the laxity in the administrative mannerism of the government in particular your ministry (sic),” Amupanda write to Nujoma.

He said both the land reform ministry and the government mishandled the case, resulting in Namibian land remaining with or sold to foreign nationals “for a mere plate of salad”.

Erindi first launched legal action against the lands minister in October 2016. In the initial lawsuit, it asked the court to order the land reform minister to hand over all valuation reports the minister relied on to make an offer to buy Erindi for N$265 million.

The company also asked the court to declare that the minister acted in breach of his constitutional duty to act fairly, reasonably and in compliance with the law, when he made the offer to buy Erindi for N$265 million. It further wanted the court to order the minister to provide the company with a letter consenting to the sale of Erindi to a non-Namibian buyer.

In an amended application, filed at the High Court last year in June, Erindi wanted the court to review and set aside the minister's offer of N$265 million.

Erindi also applied for an order to declare that a written agreement exists in which government bought the company for N$1.92 billion – or to declare that the minister has declined the company's offer to sell to government, and that Erindi is now entitled to a waiver in terms of which the agricultural land it owns can be sold to a private buyer. It further wanted the court to declare that Erindi is entitled to market and sell itself as a going concern - also to non-Namibian potential buyers.

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From agony to ecstasy

March 24, 2019, 3:00 pm

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From agony to ecstasyWarriors thumped, but Guinea-Bissau ensure Namibia's passage to Afcon finals Namibia qualified for Afcon 2019, despite suffering a humiliating loss to Zambia at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka on Saturday evening.

The Chipolopolo of Zambia beat Namibia 4-1 in Lusaka, but despite this defeat, the Brave Warriors have qualified for the 2019 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Egypt, courtesy of a draw between Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique.

Mozambique ended on eight points with Namibia in Group K, but failed to qualify because the Brave Warriors had a better head-to-head record in the qualifiers. Guinea-Bissau topped the group on nine points, while Zambia finished last.

The Brave Warriors started the match on a high in Lusaka, but Zambia settled quickly and claimed the lead in the 12th minute through a brilliant long-range strike from Augustine Mulenga.

In the 27th minute, the Warriors counter-attacked, with Peter Shalulile passing the ball to Deon Hotto, who missed an easy opportunity to score their opening goal, after hitting the post.

At halftime Zambia led the match 1-0, much to the frustration of the visitors.

Fourteen minutes into the second half, the Zambians once attacked and scored through Donashano Malama. The Zambians were playing for pride and seemed more confident and clinical on the ball.

However, in the 56th minute, Namibia struck through Shalulile, only to be denied by an atrocious call from both the linesman and referee. Shalulile had obviously been played onside by a Zambian player who had gone down injured, but the officials didn't see it that way.

The linesman adjudged the Namibian striker to be offside, with the call being upheld by the referee.

Disaster struck again for the Namibians in the 83rd minute, when Mulenga scored his second goal of the night.

In the 90th minute Shalulile scored Namibia's only goal, but the Zambians had the last laugh, when Lazarous Kambole sealed their triumph with a late goal.

There was emotional scenes at the end of the match, as the Namibians huddled and waited to hear what the result of the Guinea-Bissau versus Mozambique was. It was eventually confirmed they had played to a 2-2 draw, which sent the Warriors players and staff into ecstasy. This is the third time that Namibia qualified for the continental showpiece, following their exploits in 1998 and 2008.

For the first time this year Afcon will feature 24 teams rather than 16.

The tournament will kick off on 21 June in Egypt.

Warriors head coach Ricardo Mannetti admitted that Zambia is way ahead of Namibia in terms of quality when it comes to international football.

Addressing the media after the match, Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti paid tribute to Zambia, saying they are a quality side.

“We did not play badly at all. We just lost to a better quality team. Had someone told me that we will lose 4-1 to Zambia by a very good team and still qualify, I would have not believed you. This was one of our best performances, football wise. The Zambians were very clinical in how they approached the 18 yard box,” he added.

Addressing the media after the match, Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti paid tribute to Zambia, saying they are a quality side.

“We did not play badly at all. We just lost to a better quality team. Had someone told me that we will lose 4-1 to Zambia by a very good team and still qualify, I would have not believed you. This was one of our best performances, football wise. The Zambians were very clinical in how they approached the 18 yard box,” he added.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

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Two in a row for Kauanivi

March 24, 2019, 3:00 pm

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Two in a row for Kauanivi

The second edition of the Sanlam Coastal Marathon took place on Saturday in Swakopmund.

Local runner Mynhard Kauanivi won the men's 42.2km marathon race for the second time in a row in a time of 2:28:20.

Paulus Iyambo finished second in a time of 2:30:25, while Frans Hosea was third in a time of 2:34:36.

Kauanivi's victory earned him N$15 000 in prize money, as well as an all-expenses paid trip to South Africa for the IAAF Gold Label Status Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in September.

Kauanivi expressed his delight, saying the race was perfect practice for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.

“I feel proud of myself because I worked hard to come and defend my title, but I was not happy because today my aunt was buried at the village and I did not go because of this race.

“I want to go and run my personal best (in Cape Town) … then I will train hard for more marathons,” said Kauanivi.

He urged youngsters to work hard and maintain their disciplined.

Iyambo was rewarded with N$7 000 in prize money, while Hosea won N$5 000 for his efforts.

The women's marathon was won by Ndeshimona Ekandjo, who crossed the finish line in a time of 2:55:30.

She beat Alina Armas, who claimed second place with a time of 2:58:41. Stephanie Smith finished in third place with a time of 3:12:51.

Ekandjo also walked away with N$15 000 in prize money, as well as an all-expenses paid trip to the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.

“I feel good for winning this race. The race was fine; there was just too much wind. I will make sure that I will be fit for the Sanlam Marathon in South Africa by training hard for it,” said Ekandjo.

Armas and Smith won N$7 000 and N$5 000, respectively.

The course required participants to run along the Swakopmund/Henties Bay route and then head back to Pro-Ed Academy in Swakopmund, where the race started.

The event also saw shorter races taking place, like the 21km half-marathon and the 10km and 5km fun runs.

Over 600 participants took part in this year's edition of the Sanlam Coastal Marathon, which tripled its participants from last year.

Adolf Kaure

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Company news in brief

March 24, 2019, 3:00 pm

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Company news in brief

NYSE wins Uber, Pinterest listings

Uber Technologies Inc and Pinterest, two of the highest profile internet companies planning to go public this year, have picked the New York Stock Exchange as the venue for their stock listings, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The companies and the NYSE declined to comment.

NYSE has become the exchange of choice over NASDAQ for big technology companies in the past few years after NASDAQ famously bumbled the Facebook IPO with massive technology errors. The exchanges compete fiercely for listing fees, and much like investment banks, often begin courting large companies long before they are ready to list.

NASDAQ did score the IPO of ride hailing firm Lyft Inc, which could reach or exceed a US$23 billion valuation when it prices its shares March 28. Lyft will be the first internet player to kick off a string of hotly anticipated public debuts that will energise the IPO market after a quiet start to the year.

In a sign that investors crave newly issued stock, shares of Levi Strauss & Co surged 31% in their debut on Thursday, giving the jeans maker a market value of US$8.7 billion.

Uber, a global logistics and transportation company most recently valued at US$76 billion in the private market, is seeking a valuation as high as US$120 billion, although some analysts have pegged its value closer to US$100 billion based on selected financial figures it has disclosed.

Pinterest, which owns the image search website known for food and fashion photos, was valued at US$12 billion in its last fundraising round in 2017. – Nampa/Reuters

Nokia says it is not taking on new business in Iran

Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia does not plan to take on any new business in Iran in 2019, it said in its annual report on Thursday, citing difficulties in dealing with conflicting US and European trade policies.

"The diverging EU and U.S. regulatory framework governing business activities in Iran will be far more complex in the future," Nokia said in its annual 20-F report.

Under the nuclear deal struck between Iran and six big powers in 2015, sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union and United Nations were lifted in return for Iran agreeing long-term curbs on a nuclear programme the West suspected was geared to developing an atom bomb.

Nokia made a total of 54.6 million euros (US$62 million) in sales to operators in Iran in 2018.

"Although we evaluate our business activities on an ongoing basis, we currently do not intend to accept any new business in Iran in 2019 and intend to only complete existing contractual obligations in Iran in compliance with applicable economic sanctions and other trade-related laws," it said. – Nampa/Reuters

PetroChina plans biggest capital expenditure in four years

PetroChina, Asia's largest oil and gas producer, plans to boost capital spending to 300 billion yuan (US$45 billion) in 2019, up 17% from last year, a company filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange showed.

The surge in expenditure to a near-record level came as PetroChina pledged to ramp up oil and gas production and reserves to answer Beijing's call for greater energy security.

The group expects crude oil output this year at 905.9 million barrels and gas output of 3 811.0 billion cubic feet, it said in its earnings statement, with the total oil and gas equivalent of 1 541.2 million barrels.

Its crude oil processing output will reach 1 170 million barrels, it said, up from 1 123 million barrels last year. But growth in crude runs slowed, reflecting competition from upcoming refineries.

PetroChina also plans to buy high-end chemical products and technical equipment from the United States, in addition to liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports already underway, and increase collaboration on oil and gas investment, company president Hou Qijun told reporters on Thursday. – Nampa/Reuters

Nigeria's NNPC plans to revamp refineries

Nigeria's state-oil firm NNPC said it plans to revamp its refineries to help Africa's biggest crude oil producer to save billions of dollars on fuel imports and has hired Italy's Maire Tecnimont to tackle the Port Harcourt plant.

Nigeria has 445 000 bpd of refining capacity across four separate facilities which operate well below capacity due to mismanagement and lack of investment, forcing the NNPC to import the bulk of the country's gasoline.

Maire Tecnimont said separately it had won a contract from NNPC worth about $50 million to carry out checks and equipment inspections for Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta. The work would last for six months starting from end of this month, NNPC said.

The overhaul of the 210,000 barrels per day (bpd) Port Harcourt refinery would be the first since the last revamp was carried out 19 years ago, the NNPC said late on Thursday.

NNPC said Nigeria's effort to ensure local sufficiency in refined petroleum products would be bolstered by the first phase of the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery complex.

The corporation has been in talks with different consortiums to revamp its dilapidated refineries and has considered paying for the work via offtake of refined products rather than cash. – Nampa/Reuters

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Suspicion and strife strain Ethiopian plane crash probe

March 24, 2019, 3:00 pm

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Suspicion and strife strain Ethiopian plane crash probeTensions run high between local, foreign teams The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority is under intense international scrutiny because the results of its investigation could have far-reaching consequences for the global aviation industry. There is a potentially important economic impact from such investigations.- Kevin Humphreys, Former regulator

Maggie Fick and Tim Hepher - At the headquarters of the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, a paper sign balanced above room 107 and a threadbare square of carpet welcome a stream of foreign visitors to the Accident Investigation Bureau.

The office - with three investigators and an annual budget of less than 2.5 million birr (US$89 000) - is leading a multi-party, multi-nation probe into what caused an Ethiopian Airlines flight to crash on March 10, killing all 157 people on board.

Brusque foreign investigators in cargo pants and Ethiopians in suits or reflective vests wave away questions from reporters on how their inquiries are progressing.

This modest agency is under intense international scrutiny because the results of its investigation could have far-reaching consequences for the global aviation industry.

If the investigators highlight flaws in the 737 MAX 8 that echo a recent crash of the same model in Indonesia, their report could deal a major blow to Boeing, the world's biggest planemaker and a massive US exporter.

But if investigators find Ethiopian Airlines fell short in maintenance, training or piloting, that could damage one of Africa's most successful companies, a symbol of Ethiopia's emergence as a regional power.

Disagreements have broken out in Addis Ababa between Ethiopian authorities and foreign investigators over issues including the handling of evidence and crash site management, according to several sources close to the investigation.

‘Unrealistic’

Kevin Humphreys, a former Irish regulator who founded the country's air investigation agency, told Reuters the high stakes involved tend to make probes like this one particularly tough.

"There are tensions because it is unrealistic to assume that international protocols are always going to work. There is a potentially important economic impact from such investigations."

An 18-strong team of American investigators has been sent to aid the Ethiopians with the inquiry, including representatives from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which certified 737 MAX planes as safe.

US and some other foreign investigators are unhappy because Ethiopia is so far sharing only limited information, the sources said.

"There is no opportunity for the international community to benefit and learn from this," said one of them, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Some foreign officials are also unhappy about the prominent role Ethiopian Airlines played in the probe, suggesting a possible conflict of interests, they said.

But one Addis Ababa-based source said the carrier's role in the investigation does not necessarily indicate it is trying to exert undue influence. The airline is more likely involved because it is the most well-funded and staffed state enterprise able to help the over-stretched inquiry team, he added.

"When you have a vacuum, someone has to fill it," he said.

Ethiopian Airlines' spokesman Asrat Begachew said the carrier was supporting the investigation. "We are not taking the lead," he added, declining to comment further.

Global rules

Under global aviation rules, interested parties like airlines and manufacturers are discouraged from speaking publicly about the investigation.

Yet in the first days after the Flight 302 crash, Ethiopian Airlines made all of the public statements, including announcing the black box recorders would be sent overseas for data extraction.

It was not until six days after the tragedy that the ministry of transport began briefing the media and public.

Hours after the crash, Ethiopian Airlines tweeted a picture of its CEO Tewolde Gebremariam holding a piece of debris in the crater of the crash site, surprising aviation experts who said the site should have been preserved for investigators.

Musie Yehyies, spokesman for Ethiopia's ministry of transport, said the government had been quick to share information about the crash. He denied there was any mistrust between the Ethiopians and other parties.

"Our friendship with the United States is obvious," he told Reuters. "Plenty of governments have been offering assistance, and some of them have helped practically."

The ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the airline's role in the investigation or any potential conflict of interest.

Ethiopia's Accident Investigation Bureau and civil aviation authority, which fall under the transport ministry, declined to comment on the investigation or any grievances of parties involved.

Boeing, the FAA and the NTSB also declined to comment.

Black boxes

The cockpit voice and flight data recorders were recovered the day after the crash, but it took Ethiopian investigators three days to decide where to send them for the information to be extracted and decoded. Like many fast-growing players, the Ethiopians do not have the technology to perform the task.

In a sign of the distrust between the parties, the Ethiopians turned down an American offer to perform the analysis in the United States, according to two sources.

US authorities declined to comment.

Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde personally approached German authorities to request to send the black boxes to Germany to have the data extracted there, a separate source with knowledge of matter told Reuters. Airlines are not usually involved in such decisions, according to current and former investigators.

The airline could not comment on the investigation, a spokesman said in response to questions about the incident.

However German officials said they too did not have the most recent software needed to extract the data, so the devices were eventually sent to France.

Partial data from the flight data recorder was shared informally late on Monday with US and French investigators in Paris, but nothing from the cockpit voice recorder, three sources familiar with the matter said.

Data

It is common for the host investigator to closely guard voice recordings to protect privacy but unusual for relatively little data to be available a week after being downloaded.

"As an investigator, it is hard to understand the logic behind withholding safety-of-flight information," Greg Feith, a former senior air safety investigator with the NTSB, said on Facebook on Thursday.

Ethiopia said on Thursday it had begun analysing cockpit data and was working with US and European experts.

Following Ethiopian Airlines' last major crash, outside Beirut in 2010, an investigation led by the Lebanese and to which France contributed blamed crew mismanagement of the aircraft and poor communication in the cockpit.

The airline - led by the same CEO as today - said the report was "biased, lacking evidence, incomplete," pointing to evidence of an explosion on board.

High stakes

Most crash investigations end up pinpointing a combination of factors.

For decades, reconstructions by independent investigators have been credited with reducing air accidents to record low levels. The system of co-operation works by sticking to technical details and avoiding blame or other agendas.

Safety experts worry that too many turf battles can cloud the progress of an investigation.

"The sole purpose of an accident investigation is to reduce the chances of something ever happening again," said Paul Hayes, safety director at the Flight Ascend Consultancy.

The Flight 302 crash triggered the global grounding of Boeing's 737 MAX jets, wiping billions off the company's market value. Also on the line are more than US$500 billion worth of 737 MAX orders.

Ethiopian Airlines is regulated by the country's civil aviation authority, but its resources are far more extensive. The carrier's operating revenue in the 2017/18 financial year was US$3.7 billion. This dwarfs the regulator's budget, which is 360 million birr (US$12.5 million) for this fiscal year.

Crash site

Responsibility for leading the probe fell to Ethiopia because the crash occurred on its soil. Nairobi-bound Flight 302 went down into farmland minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa.

The crash killed people from 35 countries, all of which are also entitled to examine the crash site and join in the investigation. America, China, Kenya, Britain, Canada, Israel, France and other nations have sent investigators.

Some nations were unhappy that Ethiopia was using heavy earth-moving equipment at the site, potentially damaging evidence or human remains, although others said that was the only way to move heavy items such as engines.

Some foreign officials also complained of being unable to access the site in the days after the crash.

After Israel's team were not given permission to visit the site, the Israeli prime minister eventually called the Ethiopian prime minister on Wednesday, a statement on the Israeli prime minister's website said.

A permission letter - from Ethiopian Airlines - was issued late on Thursday for the Israeli ambassador and emergency response unit ZAKA, a source familiar with the incident added.

The European Union's aviation safety agency, EASA, waited more than a week to be allowed to join the crash investigation.

"The Ethiopian investigation body is very keen to keep a very, very closed circle around the investigation," EASA executive director Patrick Ky told the European parliament on Monday. – Nampa/Reuters

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Tax treatment of stock at year-end

March 24, 2019, 3:00 pm

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Tax treatment of stock at year-end

If you have stock on hand at year end, it may be deductible for tax depending on its nature and your trade.

Does it consist of items you purchased for sale or items you purchased to be used in the manufacturing process? If yes, the cost of these items are automatically included in your taxable income as part of your cost of sales calculations and no tax adjustment is required.

If the answer is no, then you may be able to claim it as a consumable in the current tax year. Please note that the principles discussed here are not applicable to farming operations.

The cost at which cost of sales should be recorded in terms of section 22 of the Income Tax Act presents the actual cost incurred to acquire the stock and bring it to its current condition and location, less any impairments/stock obsolescence. If stock was acquired at no cost, you are not entitled to a deduction from your taxable income.

If the stock you have on hand at year end constitutes consumables and spare parts (not expected to last/be held for longer than 12 months), the actual cost of such goods are deductible as expense for tax purposes in the year they were acquired in terms of section 17 (1)(a).

Consumables are items, which are not acquired for purposes of resale but with the purpose to repair equipment. Consumables and spares purchased not for resale, but for own use, fall outside the definition of closing stock. As per section 1 of the Income Tax Act, trading stock is define as “trading stock includes anything produced, manufactured, purchased or in any other manner acquired by a taxpayer for purpose of manufacture, sale or exchange by him or on his behalf or the proceeds from the disposal of which forms, or will form, part of his gross income”.

Typical examples of consumables may be things like materials used that do not form part of your final product, i.e. diesel/petrol/lubricants for machinery, stationery stock, certain packing material etc.

For accounting purposes, consumables and spares may only affect your income statement when it is actually used. However, for tax purposes, the closing balance can be deducted from your taxable income in the year it was acquired.

Please remember that this balance should be added back on the tax calculation in the subsequent year to avoid double deduction of the amounts when the amounts clear to the income statement.

Johan Nel is a partner and director at PwC Namibia. This bi-monthly tax column is published on a Monday in Market Watch.

↧

Oshakati council relocating residents to Onawa

March 24, 2019, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: SADC on the rise

≪ Previous: Tax treatment of stock at year-end

Oshakati council relocating residents to Onawa3 000 erven earmarked for low-cost housing 312 residents of Eemwandi will be relocated to the newly-established Onawa reception area. They will receive surveyed and properly demarcated plots with water and electricity services. – Oshakati Town Council

OSHAKATI – Residents of the Eemwandi informal settlement at Oshakati will be relocated to Onawa as from 01 May this year.

The Oshakati Town Council is availing 512 serviced erven to the residents at Onawa, the town’s chief executive officer Werner Iita told Nampa during the conclusion of three days of training on flexible land tenure for residents of Eemwandi settlement and council officials.

Some 100 residents participated in the training.

Iita said 312 residents of Eemwandi will be relocated to the newly-established Onawa reception area, which the council has earmarked for the development of 3 000 erven for low-cost housing.

In a media statement issued Wednesday, the council indicated that 31 residents from Eemwandi have already been relocated to Ekuku township situated in the north of the town.

“Eemwandi location will be relocated to the Onawa reception area, where they will receive surveyed and properly demarcated plots with water and electricity services,” the statement said.

Iita said they hope to enhance their living conditions as they have been squatting at Eemwandi without municipal services for years.

Pilot

Speaking at the same event, a deputy director in the ministry of land reform, Gabriel Iindombo said his ministry has selected Oshakati, Windhoek and Gobabis for the piloting of the projects.

The training sought to help residents of informal settlements understand the flexible land tenure system, to create alternative forms of land titles that are simpler and cheaper to administer than the existing land titles. It would also empower them to build modern houses.

According to Iindombo the system will help people in informal settlements to acquire housing finance.

“We will roll out the training to other towns if this pilot project proves to be successful,” he said.
- Nampa

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SADC on the rise

March 25, 2019, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Welwitschias must prepare well - Luswenyo

≪ Previous: Oshakati council relocating residents to Onawa

SADC on the riseSeven southern African countries qualify for Afcon 2019 Many believe a new dawn for southern African football has arrived, given the number of teams from the region that have qualified for Afcon 2019.

Football analysts are celebrating the fact that seven southern African nations have qualified for the 2019 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Namibia, South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Tanzania have all booked their places at the African showpiece, which will see 24 nations vying for the trophy.

The tournament will take place in Egypt from 21 June to 19 July.

The competition's format has changed from 16 to 24 teams, which has enabled more countries to qualify.

In 2017, only two southern African countries -Zimbabwe and DRC - qualified.

Zambia lifted the trophy in 2012, which was the last time a southern African nation won, while west African nations dominated the tournament over the years.

North African teams have also had their fair share of successes in the competition, with nations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia winning the tournament on several occasions.

Only South Africa (1996), Congo (1968) and of course Zambia (2012) have been able to bring the trophy to southern Africa.

There is, however, a strong feeling that southern African nations are on the rise.

This has been evidenced by the likes of South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns and DRC's TP Mazembe being crowned CAF Champions League in recent years.

Namibia Football Players Union (Nafpu) secretary-general Olsen Kahiriri said that he was proud of what southern Africa has achieved.

“Firstly, I would like to congratulate Namibia's team and technical team, as well as the outgoing NFA executive committee.

“Yes, seven SADC countries qualifying shows the region is doing well.

“The Cosafa Cup has grown to give us these fruits, but most importantly it is this bloc that has given birth to the change in leadership in Africa after 34 years of Issa Hayatou (the former CAF president),” Kahiriri said.

He challenged SADC chairman, Namibian head of state Hage Geingob, to take sport seriously in the region, as it can improve trade and investment.

“Look at how our fans travelled to Zambia and the tourism exposure Zambia got from the game.

“We can see also some leagues in SADC, like in Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Angola, attracting players from as far as Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya.”

Kahiriri added that SADC's politics is a force to be reckoned with and he therefore believes a lot can be done in terms of dominating African football administration.

He, however, added that southern African players are still not featuring en masse in the world's major football leagues, which remained a challenge.

Former football player Rudi Louw also sang the Brave Warriors' praises. He also senses a growth in the strength of SADC football.

“I think the SADC countries are doing well, but I also believe it will be tough for them to prevail at the tournament, because of the big names from west Africa that have qualified.

“Our last match for Namibia was a concern because we did not do that well and that is why we need to improve.”

He urged all Namibians to stand behind the team during the competition, as well as other SADC nations.

Football follower and administrator Hafeni Hiveluah said: “The qualification of Namibia for the next Afcon edition clearly shows that we have the talent to compete against the best on the continent.

“There is quite a shift in power in African football and the power seems now to be equally shared among the regions.

“Hopefully southern Africa can leverage this momentum and also start to have more than one team qualifying for the Fifa World Cup.”

The draw for Afcon 2019 will take place on 12 April in Egypt.

The 24 teams will be seeded into four pots based on their CAF national team rankings. The 24 teams will be drawn into six groups of four teams. The hosts, Egypt, will be seeded in Group A.

The top two teams in each group, along with the four best third-placed teams will advance to the round of 16.

Sport guru Isaac Hamata said: “This is by far the biggest number of southern African or Cosafa countries that have qualified for Afcon.

“That is a good thing for the region, but we should not seek comfort in numbers.

“As individual countries we should aspire to do better, by reaching the knockout stages of the tournament.”

Jesse Kauraisa

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Welwitschias must prepare well - Luswenyo

March 25, 2019, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Outjo to host inaugural Aibs Charity Cup

≪ Previous: SADC on the rise

Welwitschias must prepare well - Luswenyo

Namibia's ambassador in Japan, Morven Luswenyo, has called on the national rugby team to prepare themselves psychologically and train hard for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Hosted once every four years, this year's Rugby World Cup will take place from 20 September to 2 October in several cities in Japan.

The Welwitschias will be playing in three cities, namely Tokyo, Miyako and Komaishi. Luswenyo said he has already engaged the mayors of the host cities, who also invited him see the facilities where the Namibian team will be staying and playing.

“I was very much encouraged and impressed,” he said.

The Namibian diplomat is confident that the country will do well at the World Cup.

'We are happy to host you in Japan and we are looking forward to receiving you. Just train hard,” was his message to the rugby players.

Namibia qualified for the World Cup for the sixth successive time after defeating Kenya and will play in Pool B alongside defending champions New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and Italy.

Held over the course of seven weeks, the Rugby World Cup is the third-largest sporting event in the world after the Summer Olympics and the Fifa World Cup.

Twenty teams are expected to take part in the tournament, which comprises of 48 matches.

Luswenyo said Japan will also host the Olympic Games in 2020 and urged Namibian athletes to train hard in order to fly the flag high during these games.

The embassy, he said, has already asked the international relations ministry to consider signing twinning agreements with Japanese cities that want to host Namibian athletes during the Olympic Games.

“We have already been approached by several cities in Japan, which want to host Namibian athletes. They want to establish twinning agreements with our government,” he said.

Several African countries have already signed twinning agreements with Japan cities, where their athletes will be hosted.

NAMPA

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Outjo to host inaugural Aibs Charity Cup

March 25, 2019, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: 'Demolisher' loses in Kazakhstan

≪ Previous: Welwitschias must prepare well - Luswenyo

Outjo to host inaugural Aibs Charity Cup

Outjo in the Kunene Region will host the inaugural Aibs Charity Cup, slated for 30 and 31 March at the Etoshapoort and Outjo sports stadiums.

Organiser of the tournament, Ruben Nangombe, explained on Sunday that the event is held in remembrance of former Golden Bees player Fillipus 'Aibs' Hikab, who died from injuries sustained in a local derby, while playing against Black Africa Warriors in the North West First Division in 2016.

“Aibs contributed immensely to Golden Bees through his loyalty,” he said.

Nangombe said the tournament is open to all teams and they expect around 16 sides from as far afield as Walvis Bay.

The entry fee is N$800 per team, with the winners to receive N$10 000 and a floating trophy, while the runners-up will walk away with N$5 000.

The semi-final losers will each get N$2 500, while the four losing quarterfinalists will each receive a consolation prize of N$500.

The closing date for registration is Thursday and the draw will be conducted on Friday at the Etoshapoort stadium's main kiosk at 20:00.

The cup will be an annual event, to be run by the trustees of the charity as from next year.

NAMPA

↧

'Demolisher' loses in Kazakhstan

March 25, 2019, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Tobias Hainyeko: ’n Skool van eenheid

≪ Previous: Outjo to host inaugural Aibs Charity Cup

'Demolisher' loses in KazakhstanBack to the drawing board for Namibian pugilist Lukas 'Demolisher' Ndafoluma says he will head back to middleweight division and work much harder to secure a win in his next fight.

MTC Salute Boxing Academy's Lukas Ndafoluma, who lost the World Boxing Association (WBA) international super middleweight and World Boxing Council (WBC) Asian Boxing Council continental super middleweight titles to Kazakhstani Aidos Yerbossynuly, says he “arrived late to the party”, thus allowing his opponent to dominate most of the rounds on Sunday night.

The two were fighting in Kazakhstan's Almaty Arena with the Namibian having moved up a division for the clash. “I'm happy with my performance; I put up a good show, although we didn't get the decision. I think I started late in the fight and he dominated the early rounds, and I dominated the last rounds. “Anybody could have won it. I'm proud of myself, as well as my coaches. I think we just have to go back to the drawing board and see how it goes.

“I will return to the middleweight division and I will come back stronger,” Ndafoluma said. Ndafoluma, who first made his debut in 2011 against Steven Shimbonde, now has a record of 18 fights, 15 wins and three losses. Six of his victories have come via knockouts. Yerbossynuly remains unbeaten after 11 fights. “We are proud of Ndafoluma; a special thanks goes to his coach Tobias Nashilongo for always motivating the boxer, regardless of how far he travels to fight.

“The judges might not have given him the fight, but he has shown that he is the best in the middleweight division currently,” said PJ Amunyela, spokesperson for Salute.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

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Tobias Hainyeko: ’n Skool van eenheid

March 25, 2019, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Ya ehamekwa pethimbo lyolukongo wonkoshi

≪ Previous: 'Demolisher' loses in Kazakhstan

Tobias Hainyeko: ’n Skool van eenheid

Michelline Nawatises

Shidute Laban is die afgelope elf jaar die skoolhoof van Laerskool Tobias Hainyeko. Die skool is in Okuryangava geleë.

Wat die skool uniek maak is die eenheid van die onderwysers en bestuur. Albei is verbind tot gehalte opvoeding. Die skool is gewild onder ouers aangesien die skool se akademiese uitslae en uitmuntende sportprestasies vir hulself praat.

Daar is al baie veranderinge in terme van infrastruktuurontwikkeling by die skool gedoen. Die skool wil meer fondse van die private en openbare sektor kry vir die ontwikkeling van die sportveld aangesien dit baie gaan kos.

Die veranderinge wat die skool akademies wil implementeer, is om 'n rekenaarlaboratorium te bou sodat die vaardighede van die leerders ontwikkel kan word in terme van rekenaarvaardigheid.

Die leuse van die skool is “onderwys is ons kosbare juweel’ en die visie is om 'n omgee-omgewing te skep, as 'n hoeksteen om selfbeeld te bevorder en vaardighede te verbreed.

The Zone het vir die lewensoriëntering-onderwyser me. Elda Hambira gevra wat die uitdagings is wat die skool daagliks ervaar. Sy het genoem dat 'n paar kinders nalatig is met betrekking tot skoolwerk aangesien die meeste van die kinders uit enkelouer-huishoudings kom.

“Die kinders bly by ? voog of 'n vaderfiguur, want die moeders is meestal dié tyd in die noorde vir die ploegseisoen. Maar in die geheel is die kinders lief vir skool ongeag die situasie waarin hulle hulself bevind," sê Hambira.

Hambira het verder gesê dat hulle hierdie uitdagings onder die ouers se aandag bring deur ouervergaderings op 'n daaglikse basis te hou.

Tobias Hainyeko het 'n paar klubs onder andere die My Droom-klub. Slegs meisies is betrokke by hierdie klub, aangesien dit bewustheid van liggaamsveranderinge verhoog en hoe hulle as jong meisies hulself kan versorg.

Die hoofmeisie, Martha Princess Amundi, sê sy is verkies as leier omdat sy dapper is en weet hoe om vir haarself op te staan.

Die hoofseun, Keenan Tyrlle Taly, versoek die regering om kos aan skoolkinders te verskaf. “Sommige kinders kom skool toe en slaap in die klas omdat hul energievlakke laag is.”

michelline@myzone.com.na

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Ya ehamekwa pethimbo lyolukongo wonkoshi

March 25, 2019, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Namibia okwa taalela oshikukuta oshinene

≪ Previous: Tobias Hainyeko: ’n Skool van eenheid

Ya ehamekwa pethimbo lyolukongo wonkoshiOnkoshi ya ponokele omunahambo Opolisi mOshitopolwa shaShana oya patulula oshipotha shonkambadhala yedhipago, sha landula shoomuniilonga gwuuministeli womidhingoloko opamwe nomulumentu omulithi gwiimuna ya yahwa, pethimbo lwolukongo lyonkoshi mUulungawakolondo mOlyomakaya.

Amalia Sheya, omunaimvo 51 oshowo Festus Fredricks, omunamimvo 29, okwa lopotwa ya ehamekwa pethimbo aanambelewa yopolisi, oshowo aanambelewa yetanga lyegameno pamwe naanambelewa yegameno lyomakuti mboka yali taya umbu onkoshi ndjoka kwa lopotwa yi li pomudhingoloko ngoka.

Olukongo lwonkoshi ndjoka olwa tameke konima sho kwa lopotwa kutya onkoshi oya ponokele omunamimvo 49 omulithi gwiimuna, Elia Usiku ongula yOlyomakaya pUulungawakolondo.

Okwa falwa meendelelo koshipangelo shOnandjokwe Lutheran opo a ka mone epango na okwa lundululilwa moshipangelo shaShakati pamwe naantu yaali mboka ya yahwa.

Onzo oya notheleko oNamibian Sun kutya Usiku okwa ehamekwa noonkondo konkoshi na okwa teka woo okwaako.

Pahapu dha Shipanga Andreas, lwopotundi onti 09:00, omanga a li ta hingi tayi kohambo ye okwa adha Usiku a landula iimuna ye yuuka ketambi.

Usiku okwa li ta tika ombinzi noonkondo nokonima sho yemu lombwele shoka sha holoka po oye u fala koshipangelo shaNandjokwe.

“Okwe tu lombwele kutya okwa ponokelwa konkoshi. Okwa ehamekwa noonkondo kokwaako kokolumoho oshowo oku na iipogololo yomayego molutu lwe amuhe. Konima sho twe mu fala koshipangelo otwa tseyithile woo opolisi,” Andreas a popi.

Pahapu dhamwene gwohambo, Jesaya Angula, inaya nongela ngele momudhingoloko moka omu na oonkoshi molwaashoka oha kala konyala ethimbo alihe mohambo.

Omunambelewa omupopiliko gwopolisi yaShana, Frieda Ashiyana, okwa koleke kutya oya lopotelwa oshiningwanima shoka, na okwa tulwa miilonga olukongo lwonkoshi ndjoka.

“Molyomakaya lwopotundi onti 10:00 olukongo lwonkoshi olwa tameke lwa kwatelwa mo komeho kaanambelewa yopolisi yatatu, aakwiita yatatu oshowo aanambelewa yaali yuuministeli womidhingoloko ayehe ya homata oondjembo. Oya yi molukongo lwonkoshi ndjoka kwa lopotwa ya ponokele omukwashigwana ongula yesiku ndyoka.”

“Ayehe oya li mohauto yoToyota Land Cruiser yuuministeli womidhingoloko na oya li pamwe naFredricks, omunahambo ngoka a li te ya ulikile pehala mpoka pwa monika onkoshi ndjoka,” Ashiyana a popi.

“Konima sho ya mono onkoshi oya li ya lya moonyandi noonkondo na oye ya tayi tondoka yuuka kohauto, yahala okulonda mohauto.

Shoka osha thiminike aapolisi oshowo aakwiita ya tameke taya umbu, na Sheya okwa ehamekwa koondjamama dhokolulyo omanga Fredricks eehamekwa kepepe lyokolumoho. Ayehe otaya pangwa moshipangelo shaShakati.”

Iikolokosha pokati kaantu niiyamakuti ya londo pombanda

Osha lopotwa muJanuari kutya iipotha yomiyonena pokati kaantu niiyamakuti oya londa pombanda na okwa lopotwa iipotha yi li po 8 067 moNamibia momvula yo 2017.

Iipotha mbyoka oya londo pombanda noonkondo okuza momvula yo 2004 moka mwa li mwa lopotwa iipotha yi li po 2 936.

Momvula yo 2016 iipotha mbyoka oyi li po 6 331, nuuyelele mboka owa hololwa molopota tayi ithanwa 2017 State of Community Conservation in Namibia.

Momvula yo 2017 okwa lopotwa omaponokelo ge li 106 pandjele yaantu 0.2 mehala kehe lyiiyamakuti lya gamenwa.

Ondjele yiinamwenyo mbyoka ya ponokelwa oyi li po 91.1 omanga omapya ga yonagulwa ge li po 13.1, momvula yo 2017.

Momvula yo 2014, sho omahala giinamwenyo ga gamenwa geli po 82 ga ningilwa omakonaakono, okwa lopotwa iipotha yi li po 7 774, nomvula ndjoka oyo owala omvula kwa li kwa lopotwa iipotha mbyoka momahala ge vulithe po 80.

Nonando ongaaka iipotha yi li po 9 228 oya lopotwa mo 2013, momahala ge li po 79 sho kwa ningwa omakonaakono.

Olopota oya holola kutya oshitopolwa shaZambezi osho shi na iipotha oyindji ya lopotwa momvula yo 2017, moka oondjamba odho dhi li ponomola yotango niipotha 380 omanga iikolokosha 200 ya etithwa koongandu, niikolokosha 180 oya etithwa kuuyandje.

Moshitopolwa Erongo oshowo Kunene omwa lopotwa iikolokosha ya thika o 700 mbyoka ya etitha kuuyandje, iipotha 590 oya etitha koongwe omanga yi li po 400 ya etithwa koondjamba.

Olopota oya holola kutya iipotha yiikolokosha yi li pe 160 oya lopotwa moKunene oshowo mErongo, noopesenda 8 dhoonkoshi odha dhipagwa.

ILENI NANDJATO

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Namibia okwa taalela oshikukuta oshinene

March 25, 2019, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: ACC still probing SSC land deal

≪ Previous: Ya ehamekwa pethimbo lyolukongo wonkoshi

Namibia okwa taalela oshikukuta oshinene

Oshikukuta ngashiingeyi osha pumbwa okutalikako onga onkalo yopaulumomhumbwe moNamibia na otashi gumu noonkondo oomwenyo dhaantu oyendji moshilongo, onkene oshilongo nashi kale shiilongekidhila onkalo ndjoka.

Omunambelewa omukomeho gwoNamibia National Farmers Union (NNFU), Mwilima Mushokavanji okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun onkalo yoshikukuta moshilongo oya nayipala noonkondo, unene aanafaalama mboka taya gumwa noonkondo.

Okwa popi kutya uunamapya owo esipa lyombunda lyAaNamibia oyendji, sho taku tengenekwa kutya oopresenda 79 dhaakwashigwana oyiikolelela momapya gawo unene miitopolwa yomuushayi.

Mushokavanji okwa popi kutya sho kaku na omuloka shoka otashi gumu noonkondo uunamapya nokushunitha pevi egameno lyoondya moshilongo.

Omunambelewa ngoka okwa popi kutya omolwa onkalo yoshikukuta aanafaalama otaya nana nuudhigu mokupalutha iimuna yawo.

Okwa popi kutya omapekaapeko ga holola kutya Afrika otaka dhengwa noonkondo konkalo yelunduluko lyonkalo yombepo moka mwa kwatelwa oshikukuta, efundja oshowo omikithi.

Paufupi, Mushokavanji okwa popi kutya ehangano lyawo olya gandja kepangelo omayele moka mwa kwatelwa eyambidhidho lyoondya oshowo ootenga dhomeya, opo ku vule okuhupitha aantu niinamwenyo.

Mushokavanji natango okwa dhenge omuthindo kutya Namibia okwa pumbwa okukala iilongekidhila onkalo ndjoka.

“Meatco okwa pumbwa okugandja oondando dhi li hwepo kaanafaalama yo ombaanga yoAgribank tayi kwashilipaleke woo kutya aanafaalama oye li methimbo edhigu na otaya ka kala taya nyengwa okufuta omikuli dhawo.”

Okwa popi kutya epangelo opamwe noshikondo shopaumwene ya pumbwa okulongela kumwe pethimbo ndika.

Mushokavanji okwa popi kutya nonando oya nyanyukwa molwaashoka epangelo otali tula miilonga eyambidhidho noondya, monakuyiwa okwa pumbwa okutulwa miilonga oompangela pethimbo.

Lwopokati mpoka, Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) oya tambulapo etokolo ndyoka lya ningwa koKabinete koshilongo megandjo lyomakwatho goondya gongushu yoomiliyona 572 .

Okabinete oka tseyitha momasiku 19 gaMaalitsa kutya oshimaliwa sha thika poomiliyona 572, 7 oshiikalekelwa na osha nuninwa onkalo yoshikukuta momvula yo 2019/2020. Omakwatho ngoka oga kwatela mo oondya, omeya, eyambidhidho lyiimuna, omalweendo okutembudha iimuna okuza pomahala guulithilo oshowo iikulya yiimuna.

NAU pamwe noNamibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union (NECFU) oya pulaopo ya vule okuninga omutumba nominista yUunamapya, Alpheus !Naruseb opo a vule okupewa uuyelele kombinga yoompangela ndhoka dha ngongwa po komahangano ngoka gaali mokwiilongekidhila onkalo yoshikukuta, nokutala kwaashoka tashi vulu okuningwa po mokuhwepopaleka onkalo ndjoka.

Olutu lwoMeat Board of Namibia nalwo olwa popi kutya oshilongo osha taalela onkalo yoshikukua oshinene onkene aaniimuna oya pumbwa okuninga oompangela opo ya tule momalanditho iimuna yawo yimwe omanga pe na ethimbo, yo ya kalekepo owala omiyalu dhiimuna omushona.

ELLANIE SMIT

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ACC still probing SSC land deal

March 25, 2019, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Justice eager to do more with less

≪ Previous: Namibia okwa taalela oshikukuta oshinene

ACC still probing SSC land deal

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigation into the alleged dubious purchasing of land by the Social Security Commission (SSC) is still ongoing, despite plans to have had it wrapped up by December last year.

The deal under investigation is the purchase of erf 8451, for which the SSC overpaid to the tunes of millions of dollars.

This is according to an audit report compiled by BDO Namibia in 2016.

The land in question was bought from Ambrosius Tierspoor, an executive at the National Road Safety Council, for N$23 million.

Tierspoor had bought the land from Llewellyn Anthony for N$16 million. ACC spokesperson Josefina Nghituwamata said the investigation had not yet been concluded.

“The investigation in this matter is still ongoing. Hence, there is not much information available at this stage,” she said.

SSC CEO Milka Mungunda was unavailable for comment, while public enterprises minister Leon Jooste said he had not yet briefed on the investigation. Jooste's ministry had investigated the matter and then handed it over to the ACC.

The BDO report noted that the SSC had overpaid for the land.

“We noted that the commission overpaid for erf 8451 as it paid N$8.9 million more than the value determined by the valuators appointed by the seller (Tierspoor),” the report said. In addition, BDO found that the valuation of erf was done for a third-party, in this case Tierspoor, and not for the commission.

“We also identified the involvement of (a) middleman in the transaction and a breach of the investment policy of SSC.”

The auditors also found that the SSC had failed to appoint reputable valuators.

“The commissioners are mandated to safeguard the commission's assets and make business decisions that are in the interest of the commission,” the report said. BDO's report said that the SSC should have a list of accredited property valuators to call on when the agency buys property, in line with its investment policy.

The SSC intends to build its new headquarters on the two city plots, measuring a combined 3 000 square metres.

OGONE TLHAGE

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Justice eager to do more with less

March 25, 2019, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Oanob a critical wetland

≪ Previous: ACC still probing SSC land deal

Justice eager to do more with lessInnovative thinking is required An overview of the challenges and goals of the justice ministry has highlighted a lack of budget as the greatest obstacle.

The justice ministry has vowed that tightened purse strings will not hamper the ministry from achieving its strategic goals which include enhancing equal access to justice and providing top-notch customer care.

Speaking at the official launch of the five-year strategic plans of both the justice ministry and the office of the attorney-general, deputy executive director Gladice Pickering said money is not the biggest obstacle the ministry faces.

Instead, she said the ministry has found that mind-sets are key to achieving and implementing the strategic goals, despite limited funds.

Pickering commended the ministry's subdivisions and directorates for having shown “they are committed to the plans and the implementation” as set out in the 2017 to 2022 strategic plan, which was launched officially last week but already set in motion in 2017.

She said the ministry has seen that while budget constraints can be tricky and require an innovative stance, ministry staff has shown that they “are able to do more with less”.

Attorney-general Albert Kawana also commended staff at his office for their achievements.

He said the turnaround cycle time of finalising opinions has seen a significant improvement, and there have been notable improvements in the clearance of the backlog of cases in the prosecution of crimes.

In particular, Kawana noted that the attorney-general's office has seen zero default judgments, compared to past where government “used to lose a lot of cases through default judgments.”

Trouble-shooting

Both strategic plans contain a list of key challenges hampering the mandates of the institutions and detailed action plans to address these issues.

The justice ministry is grappling with a shortage of expertise and experienced legislative drafters, and is intent on tackling issues such as increased public education and ensuring better stakeholder support and involvement.

Another key issue is the automation of platforms and services.

Kawana underscored the urgent need for an online case-management system, which he said would improve bail and sentencing process as it would contain entire case histories of suspects, instead of the limited data many judicial officers now work with.

Kawana noted that this integrated database would provide a profile tracking the entire history of a suspect or offender within the criminal justice system, whereas current systems are not linked and often leave key stakeholders in the dark.

Commenting briefly on the issue, justice minister Sakeus Shanghala told Namibian Sun that while there are automated systems in place, including the Namibia court information system and at the High Court online system, they are not interlinked currently.

He agreed that the case management system would be ideal, but said for now the ministry needs prioritise the needs due to limited money.

“We are talking to various service providers to see how we can make do with the technology and the money we have now.”

He said for now, the ministry intends to focus on the Master of the High Court, which deals with beneficiaries, especially minors, and on the maintenance courts, to streamline those services online.

Other key issues identified in the ministry's strategic plan are high staff turnover and insufficient cooperation between authorities at regional and international levels, cycle times for processing of instructions, and the decentralisation of services and increase in service delivery points. Institutional inefficiency is also listed as a key issue, as well as the implementation of the national human rights action plan.

Critical

Major challenges identified and listed in the strategic plan for the attorney-general's office include, but are not limited to, an “increase in the amount of claims against the state”, which the office ascribes to an increase in citizens who “know their rights”.

The AG's office also noted a general “annual increase in requests for legal advice and opinions”, while the current organisational structure is “not responsive to deal with the demands that the office faces”.

Other critical issues linked to clients in particular include insufficient cooperation in the provision of “essential outstanding information”, as well as “inadequate instructions received from clients by the government attorney”.

Kawana emphasised that while the workload for his staff has “enormously increased” linked to an escalation in requests for legal services, especially from regional councils, local authorities and parastatals, the human resources have remained the same, placing additional pressure on the workforce.

He stressed however there is a need to also “do more with less” and that critical and limited state resources now need to be funnelled to help the most needy.

JANA-MARI SMITH

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Oanob a critical wetland

March 25, 2019, 3:00 pm

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Oanob a critical wetlandRiver key to satisfying Rehoboth water demand The Oanob River is the main water supply source to Rehoboth, through its inflows into the Oanob Dam and the groundwater kept in its alluvial aquifer.

NamWater CEO Abraham Nehemia has emphasised the importance of the Oanob River as a wetland and a critical water resource for the Rehoboth community.

Nehemia was speaking recently at a World Wetlands Day, International Day of Forests and World Water Day commemoration event at the Oanob Dam near Rehoboth.

He said wetland ecosystems are severely affected by impacts such as climate change, resulting in sea levels rising, coral bleaching, hydrological effects, changes in water temperature and alterations in water quantity and quality. Nehemia spoke about the importance of the Oanob River as a wetland, saying it is the main water supply source to the town, through its inflows into the Oanob Dam and the groundwater kept in its alluvial aquifer. Oanob Dam is located on the Oanob River approximately seven kilometres northwest of Rehoboth.

According to Nehemia, the construction of the dam was completed in 1990, the year of Namibia's independence. The surface area of the dam is 3 603 km and it has a capacity of 34.505 million cubic metres of water. About 18% of the dam's water evaporates every year.

He said prior to the construction of the dam and the purification plant, Rehoboth relied on 13 boreholes in the Oanob aquifer, which had the production capacity of 230 cubic metres per hour, while the town's demand at the time was around 200 cubic metres per hour,” said Nehemia.

He said the decision to build the dam was therefore a proactive approach to meet future demand and ensure that development in the area is stimulated and that Rehoboth remains a centre of growth.

According to Nehemia the purification plant, which is operated by NamWater, is situated about four kilometres from the Oanob Dam.

Nehemia said the water from the dam is treated using a conventional purification process. The purification plant has a design capacity of 720 cubic metres per hour and is operated eight hours daily. Water from the dam is pumped into three reservoirs situated in the town and the plant continues to meet Rehoboth's demand, which currently stands at 5 000 cubic metres per day.

“The enormously valuable wetland functions offer solid evidence that investing in natural solutions is a cost-effective way to enhance the resilience to climate change for vulnerable areas and communities,” Nehemia said. He said increased public awareness on the importance of wetlands should be encouraged, as well as stakeholder participation in their management, in order to maintain human well-being.

“We should also encourage our lawmakers to strengthen national legal and policy arrangements to conserve all wetlands and develop and implement adaptation strategies for coastal and inland wetlands to minimise the impacts of climate change.

“Coastal and unprotected wetlands are expected to be severely impacted by climate change, but conserving and restoring wetlands is a very effective way to mitigate climate change impacts for people and biodiversity,” Nehemia added.

ELLANIE SMIT

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Namibian women to do the 'Slut Walk'

March 25, 2019, 3:00 pm

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Namibian women to do the 'Slut Walk'

The first ever 'Slut Shame Walk' in Namibia will take place on 6 April, starting at the Ausspannplatz traffic circle in Windhoek.

According to the organisers of the event, it is a women's march that advocates for the protection and safety of Namibian women from gender-based violence and stigma.

With the theme 'Embracing Womanhood through Sisterhood', the Slut Shame Walk will create an opportunity for women to discuss and share their experiences with sexual violence and stigma in a safe, welcoming and ridicule-free environment.

The march, scheduled for 08:00 to 12:00, is modelled on SlutWalk, a movement that started in Canada in 2011, calling for an end to rape culture, victim blaming and 'slut shaming' of sexual assault victims.

The rallies began after a Toronto police officer had suggested that women should avoid dressing “like sluts” as a precaution against sexual assault.

American socialite and feminist activist Amber Rose further popularised the movement with her annual SlutWalk Festival held in Los Angeles, California.

In Namibia, one in three women are sexually assaulted and do not report the incident because of shame and a fear of being blamed.

Namibia is also plagued by a intimate partner violence phenomenon, which demonstrates the extent to which many men exercise an unwarranted sense of entitlement and control over women.

“The Slut Shame Walk is only the first step in a greater effort to empower women to speak about and address the on-going violence inflicted on them, and to show government the importance of encouraging open dialogue around these matters,” say the organisers of the event.

ELLANIE SMIT

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