Namibian Sun

Acquitted after 10 yearsInnocent man sues state for N$11m His decade-long ordeal included his arrest in December 2005, a seven-year-and-four-month wait for the trial to start in 2013, and another three years before it was concluded.

A 45-year-old man is suing the prosecutor-general and five others for more than N$11 million, after he spent ten years, five months and two days behind bars before he was eventually found innocent.

Petrus Shoovaleka, who worked as a taxi driver before his arrest in December 2005 on charges related to an armed robbery, is also suing the police for N$65 000 after his vehicle was damaged while it was impounded for more than a decade before it was returned to him.

In filed pre-trial papers, Shoovaleka's legal team argue his lengthy time behind bars and the sluggish pace of his trial violated several rights, including his constitutional right to a fair and speedy trial.

His decade-long ordeal included his arrest in December 2005, a seven-year-and-four-month wait for the trial to start in 2013, and another three years before it was concluded. He was acquitted of all 11 charges against him on 11 July 2016.

Papers filed by his Nixon Marcus Public Law Office legal team said the damages Shoovaleka is demanding are based on a “wholesale failure of the criminal justice system”.

Once the trial commenced in April 2013, it was only finalised in July 2016, taking three years and three months to conclude.

Shoovaleka was finally granted N$5 000 bail on 2 June 2016, a little more than a month before he was acquitted.

The particulars of claim state the police investigation of the robbery was completed a few months after his arrest, in February 2006.

Pain and suffering

In the amended particulars of claim filed earlier this year, Shoovaleka's legal team argued the violations experienced by their client led him to suffer “pain, anxiety, trauma and the indignity of spending ten years, five months and 29 days in custody at the Windhoek Correctional Facility, more than seven years of which he spent as a trial-awaiting person”.

Moreover, spending more than a decade with the unfounded criminal charges “hanging over his head” caused further anxiety, trauma and “loss of self-worth”, his lawyers argue.

The years in prison also impacted his personal relationships, including those with his two children, who were aged seven and one at the time of his arrest.

His partner and the mother of his children died while he was behind bars.

Lethargic

Court papers show that Shoovaleka approached the High Court in 2012 for urgent relief, but at first the case was struck off the roll, and four years later, dismissed.

Dozens of court days listed show numerous postponements and highlight a sluggish handling of the case, including lawyers missing in action, unexplained postponements and more.

Shoovaleka is claiming N$10 million for pain and suffering and N$1.2 million for loss of earnings during the ten years he spent in prison.

As part of the N$65 000 claim against the police, for various damages sustained to his Toyota Corolla impounded after his arrest, he noted a broken window and windshield, damage to the car's roof, a missing radio and that the vehicle is not working at all.

In an affidavit Shoovaleka said that although he is not a lawyer, and has a limited educational background, following his more than a decade ordeal, “I really felt that someone had to answer for what happened to me”.

The defendants listed include the head of state, the minister of safety and security, the inspector-general of the police, the attorney-general and the permanent secretary of the judiciary.

President Hage Geingob is listed as Shoovaleka's legal team argues that their court action is seeking to hold the state accountable, and the president is cited in his capacity as the head of state.

A joint status report filed at the Windhoek High Court noted that a number of issues are currently being debated that need to be clarified before the matter can proceed.

A government attorney has briefed South Africa counsel Geoff Budlender to act on the state's behalf to defend the matter.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Nation reels over NIMT bloodbath

Personnel at the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) expressed deep shock and sadness yesterday after NIMT founder and executive director Eckhart Mueller (72) and his deputy, Heimo Hellwig (60), were shot dead at Arandis.

While the police hunt for the shooter continued yesterday afternoon, the institution temporarily closed its doors for the next week.

Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu of the Erongo police urged anyone with information on the crime to come forward.

The murders took place at around 06:00 yesterday morning, after Mueller and Hellwig had arrived at the NIMT head office in Arandis.

The police confirmed that nine cartridge casings from a nine-millimetre pistol were found next to the two bodies.

The location of the casings indicated that the shots were fired at close range, Iikuyu said.

“Both victims had gunshot wounds in their stomachs and heads,” Iikuyu said.

Both men's bags and other belongings were found at the scene, and nothing seemed to have been stolen.

Arandis mayor Risto Kapenda told the media that the double murders looked like “an execution”.

The mayor, who visited the scene, said he was “deeply shocked and shaken”.

Kapenda described Mueller as a person who had built not only NIMT, but helped build Arandis.

“He was not only important to Arandis but to Namibia,” he said.

Witnesses

“I heard several loud bangs,” Gertrud Naobes, a senior matron at the NIMT campus, told Namibian Sun's sister publication, Allgemeine Zeitung (AZ), yesterday.

A security guard who had also heard the shots ran towards Naobes a few minutes later, asking her to call the police.

Shortly afterwards she was at the scene, where she found Mueller, already dead, and Hellwig, who was still alive.

“Mr Hellwig tried to say something, but he could not speak, and pointed his finger. Then he died,” she recalled.

Police cordoned off the crime scene in record time and NIMT students and personnel were ordered to go home.

Several onlookers expressed sadness and horror.

“The question is not who it was, but why. These murders seem to be an act of revenge, or an execution,” one onlooker commented.

Campus principal Ralph Bussel said NIMT would be closed for a week.

“It is impossible to continue as normal here. It's especially hard when our two executives were taken away in this cruel way,” Bussel said.

The school's department heads met briefly yesterday morning and agreed to reopen NIMT on Tuesday, 23 April.

Bussel added that NIMT would do its best to go on without Mueller.

Mueller had been involved in education for a long time before founding NIMT.

ERWIN LEUSCHNER

All eyes on Geingob's SONA

JEMIMA BEUKES

President Hage Geingob is expected to deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) tomorrow afternoon and is expected to address the country’s economic crisis in the face of record job losses.
During the 2018 SONA, Geingob made a number of promises and committed to root out corruption which he said was the nation’s “enemy number-one” in the war against widespread poverty.
However, there is a perception that he only pays lip service and has failed to walk the talk.
Local economist Dr Kakujaha-Matundu said this time around Namibians would expect him to walk the talk.
“He has always relied on the power and independence of the judiciary and its ability to deal with corrupt officials but we would love to see him taking action. If someone is implicated in serious corruption then we would not want to see them at the forefront of the party or government affairs. Why is he still keeping those implicated in corruption in his cabinet?” he said.

Magic test for StarsAgeing backline could be exposed The African Stars coaching staff are hopeful of securing maximum points tonight against Tura Magic, but it will not be an easy clash.

Tura Magic coach Fortune Eichab says they are hoping to exploit frailties in the African Stars backline, when it comes to pace.

He was speaking ahead of their MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL) clash tonight at the Sam Nujoma Stadium at 20:00.

The two teams will be meeting for the third time this season, after playing each other twice in the Standard Bank Top 8 Cup and once in the premier league.

Eichab believes his side has what it takes to beat African Stars.

“I am happy because I have a full squad at my disposal and it is not the same like when we played in Rundu.

“I will use two strikers and speed will be the centre of our game, in order to outrun those aging African Stars defenders.

“Our aim is to finish third, and we can all see that the premier league teams are trying their best, and that is why three points in the bag will be very important for us,” Eichab said.

Stars and Magic played to a 1-1 draw when they met in the league in the first round.

African Stars recently managed to beat Magic 1-0 in the first leg of their Standard Bank Top 8 Cup semi-final clash in Walvis Bay, before they played to a 0-0 draw in the second leg. Tonight's game is expected to be balanced, with both sets of players gunning for a victory.

In the past, this fixture has always produced exciting football but not enough goals.

The stakes are high for both clubs, as they are both looking to close the gap between themselves and current log leaders Black Africa, with only a handful of matches remaining.

African Stars, who are in second place on the table, are well-aware that a win tonight could bring them within just one point of their bitter rivals.

Stars will rely on the services of their new man Marcel Papama and Youssef Ibrahim, who has played well so far this season.

Tura Magic, however, have a host of talented players at their disposal and are likely to fancy their chances against and aging Stars backline.

Last weekend African Stars finished off with a 3-0 victory over Citizens, after being held 1-1 by Eleven Arrows on Friday.

Tura Magic also come into the match oozing confidence, following their 2-0 win over Julinho Sporting on Sunday.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Khomas eye cup win The Khomas under-19 regional netball team feel they have a very good chance of going all the way in The Namibian Newspaper Cup in Mariental this weekend.

The competition starts on 19 April and ends on 22 April, and will see all 14 regions represented in what is Namibia's biggest football and netball competition for the country's youth.

Khomas netball vice-captain Amaryllis Lehanie said looking at their preparations and team composition, they feel they can win the cup.

“We really have been working very hard this past month and we are improving every day. The team spirit, communication and telepathy on and off the field are great and we think we might win it,” a confident Lehanie said. Her teammate Charlane Shaanika concurred and said they are ready to face any team.

“We had a few friendly matches against league teams and we fared well; we are ready to fly the flag of the region high,” she said.

Khomas are drawn in Group B with Otjozondjupa, Ohangwena, Erongo, Oshana, Omusati and hosts Hardap.

Kavango East were crowned the inaugural netball champions in 2018, after beating Erongo 39-33 in Katima Mulilo.

NAMPA

Fun for a causeFoundation raises funds for athletes with disabilities Ananias Shikongo, a para-athlete and the founder of the Sport on the Move Foundation, together with Business Financial Solutions, again hosted an athletics fundraising event.

The Sport on the Move Foundation, in conjunction with Business Financial Solutions (BFS), hosted a successful athletics fun day to raise funds for athletes with disabilities.

The event was held at the DHPS athletics track on Saturday, with a number of companies participating.

BFS managing director and Sport on the Move board member, Kauna Ndilula, said there was a good turnout for their second annual event, after last year's inaugural edition.

Ndilula said the money raised will be used to cover for the needs of athletes in preparation for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

“It will cover basic food and taxi money to go to the stadium for training, fees for the guides as well as coaches' fees,” she said.

She added this year they managed to increase the participation of local companies, which shows the event is growing. Sport on the Move founding member, Frank Gschwender, said the foundation identified three athletes - Ananias Shikongo, Johannes Nambala and Lahja Ishitile - who will directly benefit from the funds raised.

“As a foundation we want to improve access to athletes, so that the foundation can give more to Namibians. We want to identify athletes at an early age and help them reach their full potential,” he said.

Shikongo said it was always his dream to create a fund that ploughs back into the nation. “It's not only Nambala, Lahja and myself who are benefiting from donations received by the foundation. The foundation received training gear from Europe recently that we donated to the Namibia Paralympic Committee. It has been my long-time dream to give back to my community,” he added.

NAMPA

Otwa taalela ondjala oneneNamibia okwa taaalela woo ompumbwe yomeya Ehangano lyoNamibia Agriculture Union (NAU) oshowo Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers' Union (NECFU) oya pula meendelelo opo Ominista yUunamapya, Alpheus !Naruseb a tseyithe onkalo yoshikukuta nuumvo moNamibia kutya oyi li omukundu gwopashigwana.

Pahapu dhoNAU, onkalo ndjoka oya pumbwa eyambidhdho enene lyopashigwana. Okabinete omwedhi gwa piti oka zimine oshimaliwa shoomiliyona 572.7 shoka sha nuninwa eyambidhidho lyaakwashigwana omolwa onkalo yoshikukuta.

Olopota ndjoka ya pitithwa koNAU oya holola kutya omeya ngoka ge li mondama yaHardap itaga gwana etekelo lyiikunwa sigo opehulilo lyomvula.

Ehangano ndyoka olya tsikile kutya olya mona omayamukulo okuza kOmbelewa yOmuprima, kutya oyiipyakidhila opo Omupresidende Hage Geingob a tseyithe onkalo ndjoka kutya oyo paulumomhumbwe.

Palopota yomuloka ndjoka ya pitithwa muMaalirsa koshikondo shoMeteorological Service Division, muuministeli wiilonga, omwedhi Maalitsa ogwa ulike omuloka omushona. Oshitopolwa shuuninginino wErongo, Otjizondjupa oshowo Kavango West oya mono omuloka gwathika poomilimeta 40, nondjele ndjoka oyi li pevi lyomuloka gwoshito pethimbo ndyoka. Oshitopolwa shaZambezi osha yakula omuloka omushona momwedhi ngoka, nokufalitha pombanda oompito dhonkalo yoshikukuta.

Kombinga yimwe ondoolopa yaKaribib, Usakos, Otjimbingwe oshowo Wilhelmstal oya yakula omuloka gwa thika poomilimeta 60 okuya pehulilo lyomwedhi.

Omudhingoloko gwuumbugantu uuzilo wondoolopa yaTjiwarongo ogwa mono omuloka gwa thika poomilimeta 100 muMaalitsa.

Omaandaha ga piti, oondama dhomoshilongo okwa lopotwa dhi na omeya gondjele yoopresenda 30.1 palopota ndjoka ya pitithwa kuNamWater.

Monena omu na owala omeya ga thika poocubic meta 210 716 moshilongo ashihe nondama onene moshilongo yaHardap ndjoka tayi adhika moMalinda oyi na omey goocubic meta dha thika po71 827 okuya mOmaandaha ga piti. Omvula ya piti pethimbo nga ndika, oondama odha li dhuudha omeya nondjele yoopresenda 41, na odha li dhi na omeya goocubic meta 293 036.

Oondama momidhingoloko dhopokati koshilongo odhi na omeya gondjele yoopresenda 22.5 omanga oshikako sha piti dha li dhi na omeya goopresenda 35.1.

Onkalo ndjoka oya thiminike aaniimuna opo ya shunithe pevi omwaalu gwawo gwiimuna, omolwa ompumbwe yuulithilo nomeya woo.

Oshiyetwapo shoDare to Care feed subsidy initiative osha tameke momasiku ga 8 gaApilili moshilongo ashihe. Ooshako dha thika po 76 000 okwa tegelelwa dhi landithwepo kondando yi li pevi, taku yambidhidhwa aanafaalama, noshiwike shotango shetulo miilonga lyoshiyetwapo shoka, okwa hololwa kutya iimaliwa mbyoka ya tulwa moshiyetwapo shoka oya longithwa po nale noopresenda dhi li po 50.

Aakwateli komeho yoshiyetwapo shoDare to Care otaya tsakanene naatango naanangeshefa opo ku vule ku gongelwe iiyemo oyindji yo yi vule okugandja ekwatho kaanafaalama. Natango otaya tula woo miilonga omahwahwameko gokumona iiyemo okuza komahangano gaEuropa.

Otaku ningwa oompangela dhokugongela iimaliwa momasiku o 18 gaApilili peinda lyondjila pOkapuka melongelokumwe noWoermann & Brock.

Momwedhi Juni gwo2016, Geingob okwa tseyitha onkalo yoshikukuta kutya oya ningwa onkalo yopaulumomhumbwe moshilongo.

Shoka oshi li oshikando oshitiyali muule woomvula ndatu, epangelo tali tseyitha onkalo yopaulumomhumbwe omolwa oshikukuta. Momvula yo 2013, omupresidende pethimbo ndyoka, Hifikepunye Pohamba okwa li a tseyitha natango onkalo yoshikukuta onga onkalo yopaulumomhumbwe. Iimuna ya thika po 4 000 oya si koshikukuta ethimbo ndyoka, omanga aantu ya thika po 300 000 ya gumwa konkalo ndjoka.

ELLANIE SMIT

Aakomeho yaNIMT ya dhipagelwa piilonga

Aaniilonga moshiputudhilo shoNamibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) oya holola ehaluko lyawo noluhodhi olunene sha landula sho Omutotipo nomukomeho gwoshiputudhilo shoka Eckhart Mueller (72) pamwe nomupeha gwe, Heimo Hellwig (60), ya yahwa okusa moArandis.

Sho olukongo lwanakulonga oshimbuluma shoka talu tsikile, oshiputudhilo osha pata manga omiyelo sigo oshiwike twa taalela.

Omupeha komufala gwopolisi yErongo, Erastus Iikuyu okwa pula kehe ngoka e na uuyelele moshiningwanima shoka opo a gandje uuyelele kopolisi.

Edhipago ndyoka li nyanyaleka olya ningwa lwopotundi onti 06:00 ongula yOmaandaha konima shoMueller naHellwig ya thiki poombelewa onene dhoshiputudhio moArandis.

Opolisi oya koleke kutya iikuti ya thika pomugoyi ya za kombistoli yonine-millimetre oya adhika pomithimba ndhoka mbali.

Iikuyu okwa popi kutya otashi ulike kutya iikuti mbyoka oya umbilwa popepi.

“Oonakusa ayehe oye na iilalo yooholo momitse oshowo momapunda.”

Oondjato dhaalumentu mboka yaali odha adhika pehala lyoshiningwanima na kape na shoka taku konenenwa sha yakwapo.

Mayola gwondoolopa yaArandis, Risto Kapenda okwa lombwele iikundaneki kutya edhipago ndyoka otali ulike lya longekidhwa na okwa holola kutya okwa haluthwa koshiningwanima shoka.

Kapenda okwa popi kutya Mueller omuntu ngoka ina tungwa po owala oNIMT ihe okwa yambidhidha woo metungo lyondoolopa yaArandis. “Kali owala a simana kondoolopa yaArandis ihe omoNamibia alihe.”

Oombangi

“Onda uvu omitopelo dhoondjembo,” Gertrud Naobes, moshiputudhilo shoka a lombwele oshikundaneki shoAllgemeine Zeitung (AZ), mOmaandaha.

Sekuriti ngoka naye uuvu omitopelo okwa tondoka uuka kuNaobes konima yoominute dhontumba, te mu pula a dhengele opolisi.

Konima yethimbo okwa yi pehala mpoka pwa yahelwa aalumentu mboka na okwa a dha Mueller, hulitha nale omanga Hellwig, e na omwenyo.

“Hellwig okwa kambadhala okupopya sha ihe ka li ta vulu okupopya okwa ulike owala nonyala nokonima okwa hulitha.”

Opolisi oya tendeko ehala lyoshiningwanima naanaskola pamwe naaniilonga oya tseyithilwa ya ye komagumbo.

“Epulo kali shi kutya olye e shi ningi ihe omolwashike?. Omadhipago ngoka otaga ulike ga ningwa onga iikonene nenge edhipago lya longekidhwa,” omukwashigwana gumwe a popi.

Omukuntuskola moshiputudhilo shoka, Ralph Bussel okwa popi kutya NIMT otaka kala a pata uule woshiwike.

“Oshidhigu okutsikila niilonga ngaashi shito mpaka, unene oshidhigu sho aakomeho yetu yaali ya kuthwa po omukalo ngoka gu nyanyaleka.”

Elelo lyopombanda moshiputudhilo olya ningi omutumba mOmaandaha na olya tsukumwe opo oshiputudhilo shi ka patuluke owala mEtiyali lyomasiku 23 gaApilili.

ERWIN LEUSCHNER

Kavango West battles sky-high unemployment

The Kavango West governor's office and a regional youth forum are looking at ways to address a youth jobless rate of 46.8% in the region.

Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku said the two parties are looking at finding strategic ways to deal with the issue of youth unemployment.

“As a region, we are concerned about the youth unemployment rate, which stood at 46.8% by 2018,” Ausiku said. “The office of the regional governor has engaged the regional youth forum to come together and come up with a regional strategy on how to address the challenges facing our youth in the region.”

Ausiku also reiterated what she said during her 2018 State of the Region Address (SORA), in which she emphasised that Kavango West is one of the poorest regions in the country, as its 99% rural.

Ausiku applauded Telecom Namibia for bringing their services closer to the people. Ausiku said the issue of many people in the region not having access to communication services must be addressed.

“Various achievements in the sector since 1992, with the establishment of Telecom Namibia, has demonstrated clearly our ongoing commitment and government's political will towards supporting the growth and development of the sector,” Nawatiseb added.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Men urged to raise voice against GBVAttitudes have to change The White Ribbon Campaign has centred its focus on getting men to stand up and speak out against GBV.

At least one in three Namibian women faces some form of violence from a man, which underlines the urgent need for men to take centre stage to help end the epidemic of abuse against women and children in the country.

“The violence will only cease when many more men and the organisations they are involved with all say it is wrong, that the violence must stop and attitudes must change,” says Chris Green, the founder and executive director of the White Ribbon Campaign UK, which has a branch in Namibia.

Green, who was in Namibia to provide support to the local White Ribbon branch, stressed that silence from men around the continued rampage of violence against women and children “is not an option. Silence excuses domestic violence, rape, so called honour-based violence and controlling behaviour”.

The White Ribbon campaign is a self-financing movement that is pushing for men and boys to take a defining role and responsibility to reduce violence and abuse against women and children through education, discussion and action.

Studies have shown that at least one in three women aged between 15 and 49 in Namibia has experienced physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse and violence from her spouse.

Meanwhile, 15% of women reportedly have never sought help or told anyone of the violence they experienced, though these numbers could be much higher experts warned.

Only 4% of abuse victims have gone to the police to seek help or report the violence, studies have shown.

In Namibia, 28% of women and 22% of men still believe that a husband is justified in beating his wife for any of five specified reasons.

Pledge

The White Ribbon campaign works with men and boys to challenge male cultures that lead to harassment, abuse and violence.

Volunteer ambassadors engage with other men and boys to call out such behaviour among their peers and to promote a culture of equality and respect.

Globally, at least 40 000 men have taken the White Ribbon pledge “never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women”.

Green said a core issue underlying men's violent actions against women and children is a fundamental “wish to control someone else, and denying them the rights to their own existence. Violence can become the threat of violence, but coercive control is still an illegal act.”

Green said during his visit to Namibia there were encouraging signs that more men are becoming aware of the role they can and should play to tackle widespread abuse and violence.

His own involvement, he said, was his need to play a part in ending gender-based violence.

Yet the campaign in Namibia faces severe challenges, he said.

Whereas in other countries the white ribbon has become a well-known symbol of men involved in tackling violence, in Namibia the campaign still needs basic start-up support to widen its impact.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Drought a national disaster – farmersGovt urged to declare Farmers across the country are in dire need of assistance and need the drought declared a national disaster for international funding to be secured.

The Namibia Agriculture Union (NAU) and the Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers' Union (NECFU) have urgently requested agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb to declare the 2019 drought a national disaster.

According to the NAU, this is needed so international support can be sourced. Cabinet last month approved a N$572.7 million drought relief intervention, in a bid to assist drought-affected communities.

The NAU said according to independent reports, conditions on 92% of all rangelands in Namibia are below normal, while a staggering 64% of the country has 20% of its normal vegetation cover.

“It is further estimated that the water currently available in the Hardap Dam will not be able to sustain irrigation at current levels until the end of year,” the NAU said.

It said the pressure on current livestock marketing channels is immense, with plummeting auction prices due to an oversupply of especially lean animals.

A large portion of the dryland maize harvest has already been destroyed.

“Feedback has been received from the Office of the Prime Minister that they are busy with the prescribed process in order to enable President Hage Geingob to declare a national disaster,” said the NAU.

According to the rainfall bulletin for March, issued by the Meteorological Service Division in the works ministry, the month of March showed more depressed rainfall activity over most of the country.

“This puts the final nail into having a good rainy season,” the rainfall report said.

Eastern Erongo through to Otjizondjupa and Kavango West received over 40 millimetres of rain during March, which is far below the average rainfall for the period.

The Zambezi Region received very little to no rainfall during the month, escalating the seasonal rainfall deficit further.

On the other hand Karibib, Usakos, Otjimbingwe and Wilhelmstal received rainfall of up to 60 millimetres towards the end of the month.

Areas southwest of Otjiwarongo also received rainfall of close to 100 millimetres during March.

Last Monday, the country's dams held 30.1% of their capacity, according to a dam bulletin issued by NamWater.

Currently there are 210 716 million cubic metres of water left in all the country's dams, with the largest one, the Hardap Dam in Mariental, holding 71 827 million cubic metres last Monday.

Last year during this period, the dams were 41% full, holding 293 036 million cubic metres of water.

Dams in the central areas are 22.5% full, while last season they were 35.1% full.

Farmers have been forced to drastically reduce their herds, due to a shortage of grazing - an issue that is further compounded by water scarcity and the fact that water levels in boreholes in some areas are very low.

Meanwhile, the Dare to Care feed subsidy initiative started on 8 April at all participating retailers countrywide.

A total of 76 000 bags of feed can be subsidised with the available funds.

The NAU said the demand for the subsidised feed is overwhelming and at the end of the first week it was estimated that 50% of the available funds were used.

Dare to Care is still meeting with corporates to generate more funds. An initiative was also launched to obtain international funds from European farmer organisations and hunters. There will also be an action to collect funds on April 18 at the Okapuka roadblock, in cooperation with Woermann & Brock.

In June 2016, Geingob declared a state of emergency due to then ongoing drought in the country.

This was the second time in three years the government declared a state of emergency. In 2013, former president Hifikepunye Pohamba declared an emergency, while saying more than 4 000 animals had died and about 300 000 people were affected by the drought that year.

ELLANIE SMIT

SME Bank: Asset seizures coming

Enock Kamushinda and other

Zimbabweans implicated in the raiding of the SME Bank have until 14 June to explain why the deputy sheriff of the High Court should not attach certain of their Namibian assets.

Judge Collins Parker granted an order on 4 March, which gives the go-ahead to attach assets left behind by former non-executive SME Bank board member Kamushinda, former CEO Tawanda Mumvuma, former finance manager Joseph Banda, former administrative assistant Chiedza Goromonzi and lawyer Lyndon Gaidzanwa.

The five Zimbabweans, “together with any other wrongdoers”, are being jointly and severally sued for over N$347 million, plus 20% per annum, which was lost at the bank. These assets include Kamushinda's membership in Monsoon Investments CC, Mid-Way Properties CC and Azores Business Consultants CC, as well as his ordinary shares held in Greytal Investments (Pty) Ltd and in Axtro Investments (Pty) Ltd. They also include Kamushinda's Windhoek Golf Estate house, Banda's property in Guinas Court, four pairs of shoes and a leather-bound diary left behind on Gaidzanwa's desk at the SME Bank, N$2 200 and three books found on Mumvuma's desk and Gaidzanwa's membership in Flem Capital Investments CC. The N$2 200 found in Mumvuma's desk was in South African currency.

The three books are ironically titled Every Day a Friday, Fasting: Opening the door to a deeper, more intimate, more powerful relationship with God and Money laundering affects us all.

CATHERINE SASMAN

Raft suspects freed

A couple arrested in connection with a bizarre robbery incident in which the much-loved Raft Restaurant in Walvis Bay lost a large amount of cash, have been released from custody due to a lack of evidence.

State prosecutor Theresia Hafeni instructed the police to investigate further.

There was no confession and warning statements submitted, indicating that both suspects have opted to remain silent.

Should further evidence emerge, the case will be placed back on the court roll. The investigation is thus ongoing.

The female suspect was facing perjury, robbery and housebreaking charges, while her spouse faced robbery and housebreaking charges.

Initially, Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu confirmed the police were investigating a robbery that occurred last Tuesday at around 13:00 at the corner of 7th Road and Theo-Ben Gurirab Street in Walvis Bay.

“An unknown suspect allegedly smashed the passenger-side window of a vehicle and grabbed a handbag containing N$56 238.35, which was on the passenger seat. He jumped into a taxi and escaped from the scene,” Iikuyu said at the time.

He also explained the stolen money belonged to the Raft Restaurant and was to have been banked.

“Nothing was recovered and no arrests were made. The investigation to trace the taxi and the suspect is ongoing,” Iikuyu said.

Video footage of a man wearing a mask and smashing a car window was obtained.

Information also then surfaced that the burglary had occurred at the restaurant and was committed by four individuals wearing masks.

There was nothing in the female suspect's warning statement that indicated she admitted in any way that she was involved in the crime. There was also no other evidence to back this up.

In a second crime update, also released last Tuesday, Iikuyu announced that the female suspect was to be charged with perjury, after she allegedly gave a false statement under oath that she was robbed.

She was subsequently arrested on Friday for robbery and was charged later in the day along with her husband.

She also faced charges of housebreaking with the intent to steal and theft.

According to Iikuyu she allegedly broke an office window at the Raft Restaurant, entered the premises and removed a safe with N$6 000 cash in it and two business files, without the consent of the owner.

“Only one file has been recovered thus far and investigations to trace the outstanding suspects and recover the outstanding stolen items continue,” Iikuyu said.

OTIS FINCK

Release crime stats - PDM Namibia paralysed by violent crime The official opposition says murder and other violent crimes have become “a torrent”.

ELLANIE SMIT

The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has challenged the safety and security ministry to urgently release violent crime stats, along with statistics on all unsolved murder and rape cases in the country over the past ten years.

This follows the murders of Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) executive director Eckhart Mueller and his deputy, Heimo Hellwig.

They were shot dead on Monday inside the NIMT premises at Arandis.

The police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi, said by late yesterday afternoon that no suspects had been arrested.

“The police are still hard at work to catch the culprits,” he said.

PDM leader McHenry Venaani said there can be no peace and stability while violent crime stalks ordinary Namibians.

“The PDM has noticed with growing disgust and trepidation the seemingly endless violent crimes, including growing amounts of murders and rapes, being perpetrated against ordinary Namibians.”

Venaani specifically referred to the NIMT murders and said these and other types of crimes were unheard of, or infrequent, during Namibia’s earlier democratic history.

“But today they have become a torrent, robbing Namibian families of breadwinners and loved ones.”

Venaani said they have also noticed that many so-called high-profile crimes are still unsolved.

These include the murder and mutilation of Avihe Cheryl Ujaha, the murder of Marius Christo Mostert, the rape and murder of Magdalena Stoffels and many others.

“The police have also not released consolidated, annual crime statistics for as long as we can remember, which is unacceptable, to say the least,” said Venaani.

He said the police are first and foremost accountable to the public and should not become part of those who withhold information to “protect ailing or failing political heads”.

The PDM challenged the safety and security ministry and minister Charles Namoloh to release violent crime statistics, as a matter of urgency, along with statistics on all unsolved murder and rape cases over the past ten years.

Venaani said the public also deserves to know why and when the police are no longer actively investigating certain cases.

The PDM also challenged Namoloh to release a detailed breakdown of how the government budget cuts, including the freezing of recruitment, has affected his ministry, and especially the ability of the police to effectively combat and solve crimes.

Venaani said the public also deserves to know what training the relevant investigators have received to keep up-to-date with advances in technology and crime-solving.

The PDM also challenged justice minister Sacky Shanghala to release all the steps his ministry has taken to develop a more holistic approach to crime and justice by incorporating linkages with poverty, joblessness and other social evils.

“Or are we simply stabbing in the dark, so to speak, when it comes to effectively dealing with issues like justice and safety and security for our citizens?”

Meanwhile, President Hage Geingob expressed shock and sadness over the Mueller and Hellwig murders.

Geingob lauded Mueller for his stellar contributions toward the progressive realisation of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and the development of young people.

He expressed his deepest sympathies towards the family, colleagues and friends of the NIMT victims.

The higher education ministry also expressed shock and disbelief, saying a team led by executive director Dr Alfred van Kent had been dispatched to observe the situation first-hand.

“We appeal for calmness, as the matter is being dealt with by the police,” the ministry said.

The German embassy in Windhoek condemned the murders as a “cowardly attack” that took two lives.

“In acknowledgement of his ceaseless efforts in the promotion and preservation of the German language and culture in Namibia, Eckhart Mueller received the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany almost ten years ago to the day, on 16 April 2009. Our heartfelt sympathy and thoughts are with his family and friends,” the embassy said in a statement.

Our moral paralysis

Namibians are reeling in shock following a wave of killings in the past couple of days.

As outrage grows, the spate of violent incidents reported in the last week or so are also a sad reminder that crime has reached unacceptable levels. The brazen murders of Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) founder and executive director Eckhart Mueller and his deputy Heimo Hellwig at Arandis appear to have been executions and are likely premeditated. A woman was also brutally killed, allegedly by her husband. According to the police, a 38-year-old teacher from People's Primary School was arrested for his wife's murder, after he handed himself over. The incident occurred on Friday in Okuryangava, after the couple were involved in an argument. The police say the man stabbed his wife in the abdomen. She was rushed to the Katutura State Hospital and later transferred to the Windhoek Central Hospital, where she died on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Merentha Geingos, a teacher at AI Steenkamp Primary School. Domestic abuse is widespread across the country and many news reports have detailed the trials and tribulations Namibian women have suffered, mostly at the hands of their jealous lovers or spouses. Elsewhere, in the south, a 25-year-old former police officer allegedly tried to kill a four-month-old baby at Ileni location on Friday. The man allegedly put the infant between his legs and squeezed, after the mother had told him the baby was not his. The baby is receiving treatment at a hospital and police investigations continue. This is shocking! Namibia is clearly in the midst of moral decay, judging by the growing number of social ills plaguing our usually peaceful society. This disturbing trend shows that we have failed to adopt fundamental principles that all citizens should uphold, in terms of the preservation of our morals. Our nation needs healing, as a matter of urgency, and all stakeholders must come together and tackle this moral paralysis, in the best interest of the country.

Fake doctor played no role in victim identification

Namibian authorities have given assurances that a convicted Dutch conman, known as 'Dr Bones', who was sentenced to 21 months behind bars for faking his medical degree, did not compromise the identification of the remains of the 33 victims who died in a plane crash in the Zambezi Region in 2013.

“Mr [Peter] Bon was in no way or form involved in any identification of remains, as his role was that of mortuary manager for Kenyon International Emergency Services, protecting the interest of the latter and their employer being Linhas Aréas de Moçambique (LAM),” the head of the National Forensic Science Institute (NFSI), Dr Paul Ludik, told Namibian Sun this week.

Ludik explained that the position of mortuary manager requires a Grade 12 qualification plus relevant vocational training, in Namibia and elsewhere.

As per international victim identification protocols, Ludik said victims were identified through genetic analysis, which was conducted by the NFSI of Namibia alone, and all identification results were validated.

He said Bon's “transgression and subsequent conviction clearly did not influence the identification of the stated remains in any way or form as he played no role, directly or indirectly” during the forensic analysis conducted by the NFSI teams.

Ludik confirmed that Bon had been in Namibia as part of the Kenyon team, which was appointed by LAM to assist local authorities with the forensic work following the airline disaster.

He said the NFSI was made aware of the fraud investigation against Bon after the Netherlands Prosecuting Authority contacted them to assist in the matter, which was done through a statement submitted in February 2017.

Ludik stressed that Bon was introduced to the NFSI as “bona fide employee and team member” of Kenyon.

Ludik explained that Namibian authorities were compelled by international guidelines to supervise and coordinate the disaster victim identification (DVI) process, following the LAM flight 470 crash in Bwabwata National Park on 29 November 2013.

Kenyon was brought on board by LAM, which frequently assists airlines with mass disaster victim identification projects around the globe.

Last week Namibian Sun reported that Bon had been nicknamed 'Dr Bones', and described his professional motto as “I open corpses to close cases!”

A Kenyon newsletter dated 2014 said Bon worked as “both a Supervisor Disaster Victim Identification forensic pathologist and a Senior Incident Director (SID)”.

Apart from Namibia, he was also deployed to the Germanwings crash site in France in 2015.

He was sentenced by a Dutch court in early April to 21 months in jail, of which six months were suspended for five years, after he admitted to his forgeries and fraud.

It emerged during his trial that he was trained as an autopsy assistant and never obtained higher medical qualifications.

Kenyon spokesperson Donald Steel told Namibian Sun last week Bon had “provided support services to Kenyon on a brief freelance basis for two short periods in 2014/15. In these instances, he worked as part of a larger and experienced team.”

Steel said Bon's duties were in a supportive capacity “which did not require a medically licensed person, and were always overseen by government organisations. At no point was he responsible for the formal identification of individuals”.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Construction still bleedingIndustry wants govt intervention The building sector was severely affected by a reduction in government spending and has seen a huge exodus of skills.

Construction Industry Federation (CIF) vice-president Panashe Daringo has called on the government to assist the industry, which has been hit particularly hard by the country's ongoing economic woes.

Daringo, who is the managing director of MPP Civils, says he has had to lay off many of his employees, while repeatedly making attempts to engage the government on the state of the construction sector.

“Things are bad, we are praying for some kind of intervention. It feels like we are speaking to deaf ears,” Daringo said, following attempts to engage the government.

According to him, the construction industry has seen a huge exodus of skills.

“The reality on the ground is a lot scarier. It has caused a lot of skill losses,” he said. “It's a domino effect and construction was the hardest hit.”

His sentiments were echoed by CIF general manager Bärbel Kirchner, who had earlier said the sector was severely affected by a reduction in government spending.

“The construction sector is hugely affected by government budgets and allocations to capital and infrastructure projects. Naturally, from the construction industry's perspective, we would like to see much greater budget allocations for development projects,” she said. According to Kirchner discussions were being held to create a favourable working environment for local contractors. “Discussions are ongoing as to how qualification requirements should be adapted to Namibian economic conditions. Essentially, we need to lower the financial requirements for pre-qualification.

If that is not possible, we need to reduce the size of the projects, so that more local contractors can participate,” Kirchner said.

“Whatever decision our authorities take, we need to make sure the local industry is also engaged.

“This will maintain our capacity, keep businesses running and people employed, and ultimately ensure that our money stays in circulation in Namibia.”

According to the Bank of Namibia (BoN), during 2018 real value added in the construction sector was estimated to have contracted by 18.3% in 2018, compared to a deeper contraction of 25.6% registered in 2017.

The smaller contraction was partly attributed to the increase in the real value for both buildings completed and government expenses earmarked for construction activities. It was reported early last year that about 60 000 jobs were lost across the economy during the 2016/17 financial year.

This was according to an Employment Equity Commission report that was submitted to parliament.

The job losses were attributed to the depressed economic conditions experienced in the country since 2016. Most government construction projects were put on hold due to a lack of funds and the settling of outstanding contractor invoices amounting to N$2.2 billion at the time. This contributed to a severe decline in construction activities, with the sector heavily reliant on government contracts.

About 6 510 jobs were lost in the construction industry during 2016/17.

OGONE TLHAGE

Boss chains worker

The police are investigating an incident in which a local businessman allegedly shackled an employee to keep him from loitering or speaking to colleagues.

A video clip of the worker with a chain around his waist circulated on social media this week.

The police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi, confirmed the incident but said no case was opened, which made it difficult for the police to charge the business owner.

According to Kanguatjivi the worker and his employer were taken in for questioning on Monday.

“The incident took place at a business in Prosperita Industrial Area, but the victim is reluctant to lay a charge. But the police are still investigating the matter,” he said.

The ombudsman, Advocate John Walters, said such acts could never be tolerated in an independent Namibia.

But he agreed that there was nothing the police could do without a witness or the testimony of the alleged victim.

“That act is a violation of a person's right to move around freely; it is treatment for a slave or a wild animal and cannot be allowed at all,” he said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

One nabbed for NIMT killing

Two suspects were brought in for questioning by the police for the double murder that took place Monday morning at the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT).
Executive director of NIMT, Eckart Mueller, and his deputy Heimo Hellwig, were gunned down at the entrance of NIMT's main campus at Arandis.
Police spokesperson Edwin Kanguatjivi has confirmed to Namibian Sun that the police last night night brought in two suspects for questioning with regards to the murders.
According to Kanguatjivi one of the suspects was taken into custody in Karibib and the second person was taken into custody in Tsumeb on suspicion that he might have had knowledge of the actual murders before they occurred. However, this suspect has been released after he was questioned, said Kanguatjivi.
With regards to the primary suspect Kanguatjivi said that he was taken into custody in Karibib on last night after his wife, who is a teacher in Otavi, reported him missing earlier this week.
According to Kanguatjivi the man, who is an instructor of NIMT based in Tsumeb, was transferred to Walvis Bay today for questioning and thereafter a decision will be taken on whether any charges will be made.
The identity of both persons is known to Namibian Sun but cannot be revealed until either or both are formally charged and have appeared in court.

I will beat the hell out of you - Nakathila

Jeremiah 'Low-key' Nakathila is oozing with confidence ahead of his fight on Saturday against former European champion Zoltan 'Caramel' Kovacs.

He has issued a grim warning to the Hungarian, saying he will beat the hell out of him.

Nakathila will be contesting for the WBO global lightweight title against Kovacs at the Windhoek Country Club Resort in the Independence Legacy Fight Part 2 boxing tournament.

“I'm ready to do damage. I have been working hard for this fight. I will give you a few rounds and knock you out,” Nakathila told Kovacs during yesterday's face-off event in Windhoek. Kovacs also said he is ready and will take the title back to Hungary.

Nakathila will go into the bout with a record of 18 fights, 17 wins and one defeat, while Zoltan boasts a record of 23 wins, five losses and one draw.

In other fights of the night, Walter 'Executioner' Kautondokwa will meet France Ramabolu of South Africa in an international middleweight title fight.

Current WBO Africa welterweight champion Mike Shonena will also defend his title against Shadrack Ignas of Tanzania.

Shonena is undefeated and confident ahead of the fight.

Harry Simon Jr will challenge Andreas Nghinananye for the national junior welterweight title.

The other fights on the card are as follows:

1. Welterweight six rounds - Emmanuel Mungandjela (Namibia) vs TBA.

2. Featherweight six rounds - Onesmus Nekundi (Namibia) vs Lazarus Namalambo (Namibia).

3. Super bantamweight six rounds - Timoteus 'Remember' Shuulula (Namibia) vs Niikoti Johannes (Namibia).

4. Middleweight eight rounds - Paulinus Paulus (Namibia) vs Limbani Masamba (Malawi).

Tickets are available at Computicket at all Shoprite and Checkers outlets countrywide. VIP tables are selling for N$10 000 per table and standard tickets cost N$200. The undercard fights will kick off at 18:00.