Namibian Sun

AMTA a ninguluka kombinga yokondalaka yaFysal

Ehangano lyoAgro-Marketing Trading Agency (AMTA) olya gandja ishewe okondalaka yomweedhi ndatu koFysal Fresh Produce opo a longele mendiki lye lyomalandithilo mOngwediva, ihe AMTA ina vula okuhupitha etsokumwe lye nehangano lyoNamsov.

Metitano lya piti, Fysal Fresh okwa li a pyakudhukwa okuhulitha po elongelo lye mendiki ndyoka ihe ngashiingeyi kondalaka yawo oya lelepekwa noomwedhi ndatu.

MuFebruali gwomvula ya piti, Namsov oshowo Fysal oya yi metsokumwe naAMTA opo ya kale taya longele mendiki ndyoka.

Fysal Fresh okwa Shaina etsokumwe lyuule womvula yimwe omanga Namsov a shaina etsokumwe lyuule woomwedhi hamano, ndyoka lya li tali pumbwa okulelepekwa kwiikwatelelwa kompumbwe nelanditho lyiilandithomwa yawo.

Namsov okwa tula po endiki lye lyomalandithilo goohi ihe konima sho etsokumwe lye ya thiki pehulilo inaya vula we okulelepeka etsokumwe ndoka.

Onzo yimwe oya popi kutya AMTA okwa kala ta piyaganeke iilonga yaNamsov mendiki lye.

“Iilonga oya li tayi ende nawa uule woomwedhi hamano dhopetameko. Konima okwa lombwelwa opo tu pate omanga omahangano ngoka gaali taga talulula okondalaka yawo. Osha kutha oomwedhi ndatu omanga inatu lombwelwa kutya natu tameke ishewe iilonga. Onkalo oya kala tayi piyaganeke molwaashoka esiku limwe otamu longo, esiku tali landula otamu lombwelwa kutya inamu longa,” onzo ya holola.

Namsov okwa tokola okuthiga po endiki ndyoka mEtitatu lyoshiwike sha piti.

Omunambelewa omukomeho gwoAMTA, Lungameni Lucas okwa shangele Namsov omukanda ta gandja ombili nokupula ehangano ndyoka li tsikile nokulongela mendiki molwaashoka eyakulo lyawo oli na oshilonga unene kuAMTA.

Okwa pula Namsov opo a tsikile okulongela mendiki ndyoka uule woomwedhi ndatu omanga taya manitha okondalaka yawo.

Nonando ongaaka Namsov okwa tembukala mo mendiki ndyoka.

Omunambelewa gwoNamsov, Herman Smidt okwa koleke etembu lyawo, ta popi kutya oya kala ye na opoloyeka moAMTA mOngwediva ihe oya tokola okukonga ehala limwe mondoolopa.

Omupopiliko gwoAMTA, Meke Namindo ina vula okugandja uuyelele wa sha ta popi kutya ina lombwelwa natango kombinga yoshikumungu shoka.

Omunambelewa Omukuluntuwiliko gwoFysal Group, Ismael David Fysal okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya oyali pyakudhukwa okukutha miilonga aaniilonga ye li po 60 mboka taya ongele mendiki lyaAMTA.

“Osha Ii sha piyagana mEtitano sho aantu yaAMTA ye tu pula ngele otatu vulu okulongela mendiki lyawo oomwedhi ndatu ishewe. Otwali twiipyakidhila nokutembuka oshowo okutuma komagumbo aaniilonga yamwe po,” Fysal a popi.

“Okuyanda okulongela mehala shaaheli paveta, otwa pula ye shi tule pambaapila na oyeshi ningi mOmaandaha. Oya popi kutya muule womwedhi otaye tu lombwele kutya oshike tashi kaholoka po konima yomwedhi ndatu.”

Fysal oye owala a hugunine okulongela mendiki ndyoka okutameka Februali na ota kala ta longelemo oye awike sigo omwedhi Aguste. Aalanithi yamwe oya thigi po endiki sha landula elombwelo lyokabinete.

Omvula ya piti, AMTA okwa shaina etsokumwe naFysal opo a kala ta longele mendiki ndyoka nokuwayimina aalandithi yalwe yane mboka yali taya longele nale mendiki ndyoka. Etsokumwe ndyoka olya li lyuule womvula yimwe.

Nonando etsokumwe ndyoka olya li owala lyomvula yimwe, olya li lya nyanwa koyendji. Omuprima Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila okwa talelepo endiki ndyoka muSepetemba gwomvula ya piti, konima sho kwa nyenyetwa kutya ehangano ndyoka otali landitha mendiki ndyoka iilandithomwa tayi kuthwa moshishiindalongo South Afrika.

Oshikumungu shaNSFAF tashi kundathanwaIiputudhilo yelongo nayo otayi ka gumwa nayi ketokolo lyaNSFAF Epangelo pamwe naakuthimbinga melongo otaya ka kuutumba nelelo lyoNanso opo ya kundathane kombinga yonkalo yaailongi 12 000 mboka ya thigwa pomutenya kuNSFAF.

Omuprima gwoshilongo okwa pula opo ku ningwe omutumba naakuthimbinga, opo ku vule okukundathana onkalo yaailongi, omanga iiputudhilo yelongo lyopombanda oya popi kutya otayi ka gumwa nayi.

Eshunitho pevi lyomwaalu gwaailongi mboka taya pewa ekwatho koshiketha shokuyambidhidha omailongo gaailongi ano NSFAF, otali kagumwa nayi oshiputudhilo shoNamibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) pahapu dhomunambelewa omupopiliko gwoshiputudhilo shoka Kaitira Kandjii.

Omunashipundi gwoInternational University (IUM) of Management, David Namwandi naye okwa popi kutya onkalo yanayipala yopaliko moshilongo oya gumwa kehe gumwe na kashi shi owala aailongi.

Konyala aailongi ya thika po 12 000 yomvula yotango oya thigwa pomutenya sho itaya vulu okupewa eyambidhidho sigo uuna epangelo lya thitike omwakwa gwoomiliyona 641 ngoka gwa taalela oshiketha shoNamibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF).

Omupresidende gwoNamibia National Students Organisation (Nanso), Ester Simon okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya okwa ithanwa omutumba nOmbelewa yOmuprima Minista.

Omutumba otagu ka kala pokati kuuministeli welongo lyopombanda, uuministeli wemona, Nanso oshowo NSFAF.

Nanso okwa hiiya woo aanyasha miikondo ya yooloka mba taya vulu okugandja uuyelele nomiyalu nkene etokolo ndyoka tali ka guma aailongi.

“Otwa pumbwa okukala twiilongekidha sho tatu kuutumba nayo. Ngashiingeyi aanaskola oye li momalimbililo molwaashoka kaye shi kutya onakuyiwa yawo oyuuka peni.”

Omupopiliko gwoNust okwa popi kutya iiyemo mbyoka haya mono okuza kaailongi oya simana noonkondo koshiputudhilo.

Okwa popi kutya aailongi ya thika pe 1 000 yoshiputudhilo shoka oya gumwa ketokolo ndyoka lya ningwa.

Kandjii okwa tsikile kutya elelo lyoshiputudhilo otali ka konga omilandu dhokuungaunga nonkalo ndjoka ya taalela.

Omutotipo gwoIUM, Dr David Namwandi, okwa popi kutya oku na einekelo kutya aailongi mboka taya hupu nuudhigu otaya ka mona ekwatho.

Okwa gwedha po kutya oye na ontseyo kutya oshilongo osha taalela onkalo yopaliko ya dhigupala.

Namwandi ngoka a li ominista yelongo okwa popi kutya oshiputudhilo shawo oshiigilila onkalo ndjoka na osha tula miilonga omilandu dhokuungaunga nonkalo yoludhi ndoka.

“Otuuvite olukeno pamwe naailongi mboka yiikolelela owala moNSFAF. Otu shi shi kutya uupyakadhi wopashimaliwa owa guma kehe gumwe moshilongo ihe kashi shi owala aailongi. Uupyakadhi mboka wa taalela aailongi, owa taalela woo epangelo na kehe gumwe,” Namwandi a popi.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Climate change disastrousNamibia will continue feeling heat pinch With anticipated temperature increases of one to 3.5 degrees Celsius in summer and one to four degrees Celsius in winter, Namibia is set to face ongoing climate change impacts.

Namibia's economy is highly dependent on climate-change-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, livestock ranching, crop production and fishing. Therefore, climate change impacts can be catastrophic for the country.

This is according to environment deputy minister Bernadette Jagger, who was speaking at a World Environment Day event at Karasburg on Wednesday.

Jagger said scientific projections indicate that Namibia will become hotter, with estimated temperature increases of one to 3.5 degrees Celsius in summer and one to four degrees Celsius in winter by the year 2046.

“Rainfall in Namibia is projected to become more intense and even more variable. This year we once again experienced a severe drought linked to climate change. In other years, Namibia has experienced localised windstorms and flooding, cold and heat waves in different parts of the country. We can link these destabilising events directly to climate variability.”

She said climate change will affect Namibia's ecosystems, which provide vital services to Namibia's production systems.

“Wetlands are likely to provide reduced ecosystem services such as water rendition, flood attenuation and water purification. Namibia's dominant grassy savannah vegetation is likely to disappear and give way to more desert and shrubland with projected increases in bush encroachment.”

Jagger said climate change poses a challenge to both food security in rural households and to sustainable development in Namibia at large, with a projected decline in GDP in the absence of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.

In order to respond to this threat, the ministry developed the National Climate Change Policy of 2011, which provides the framework for resource mobilisation for the country to embark upon adaptation and mitigation measures.

The policy calls for the transfer of technologies, capacity building and the provision of financial resources while promoting and enhancing synergies among stakeholders through the intersectoral National Committee on Climate change.

Another important document is the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which was approved by Cabinet in 2015. “Namibia's NDC is one of the most ambitious of all countries and targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 89% by 2030 compared to the business as usual scenario,” said Jagger.

This will involve increasing the share of renewables in electricity production to 70% by 2030; reducing energy consumption by about 10% through an energy efficiency programme and implementing a mass transport system in Windhoek as well as other measures to reduce emissions from transport by some 1 300 gigatonnes.

According to Jagger the agriculture, forest and land use sectors are major emitters of greenhouse gases in Namibia.

“In this sector we pledge amongst others to reduce the deforestation rate by 75 %, reforest 20 000 hectares annually from 2018, restore 15 million hectares of grassland by 2030, practice conservation agriculture on 80 000 hectares by 2030 and implement agro-forestry systems on 5 000 hectares of land commencing in 2018.”

Jagger further said that while air pollution might not be considered as a priority problem in Namibia for now, the ministry remains concerned about a number of air pollution sources which may become more severe as the country industrialises and develops.

“It is now time for us to put in place alternative approaches and technologies to both avoid and mitigate adverse impacts from these activities.”

She said the process of burning waste by towns, settlements and villages results in the emission of a lot of smoke and other chemical substances into the atmosphere.

“This is not a good practice and we need to take measures to ensure that no waste is burned at any dumpsite in Namibia. We are currently in the process of developing the National Waste Management Regulations in terms of the Environmental Management Act that will address this concern as well as others linked to waste management.”

The burning of medical waste is also a major concern to the ministry.

According to Jagger the incineration of medical waste in out-dated incinerators causes the release of dioxins, mercury and other harmful substances.

“These substances are linked to a wide range of health problems including cancer, immune system damage, reproductive and developmental problems. Medical waste is often highly hazardous and there is an urgent need for us to improve on how we manage and dispose of this type of waste.”

Power generation stations and the production of electricity through the burning of fossil fuels are also of concern to the ministry.

Jagger said examples include the Van Eck coal-fired plant in Windhoek, the Paratus diesel-powered plant in Walvis Bay and the diesel-powered plant at Katima Mulilo.

“As the environment ministry we are advocating for a much greater shift to renewable energy sources. We have some of the best regimes for solar and wind energy in the world and need to make a transformational shift to these types of energy to ensure energy security and access to energy, especially in the rural areas.”

Jagger said mining and smelting operations can also be a major source of air pollution. She said the ministry is carefully monitoring and working with these companies to ensure that they are operating to the highest standards so that the health of workers health and the health of residents are not adversely affected.

“Another significant source of air pollution in Namibia is smoke from cooking fires, which is mainly a concern in rural areas and in informal settlements in urban areas where cooking with fire wood is most common.”

Smoke from cooking fires in Namibia can cause respiratory and eye problems and women generally bear the brunt of these ill effects.

Jagger pointed out that new forms of technology are available for to reduce dependence on cooking over fires.

She further said that transport is also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country as Namibians are heavily reliant on private cars for transportation and on trucks to transport goods on the road network.

“Slowly but surely, we are seeing increasing traffic in our cities and along our road network, which puts strain on our infrastructure, reduces quality of life and increases emissions. We need to look at new solutions such as expanding the rail network and public transportation systems.”

To commemorate the day, 150 seedlings donated by the Indian High Commission to Namibia were planted at schools in Karasburg. The day was hosted together with the United Nations in Namibia.

ELLANIE SMIT

ECN coughs up salaries

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has paid voter education officers' their April and May salaries in the absence of signed employment contracts, following pressure from the Namibia Public Workers' Union (Napwu).

At the end of last month, the voter education officers received their salaries for the two months, but are yet to sign their employment contracts. In March this year 90 voter education officers refused to sign their new employment contracts when their two-year contracts expired. They have refused to continue as temporary workers, saying many of them have been working for more than 10 years and deserve to be permanently employed.

Last month ECN chief electoral officer Theo Mujoro informed Napwu that the electoral body would not pay until they have signed their contracts.

This irked Napwu and its secretary-general Peter Nevonga, who alleged the ECN was using the non-payment of salaries to force the workers to sign temporary contracts, while continuing negotiations with the union.

Nevonga said this was similar to the tactics used by apartheid's South West African Native Labour Association (SWANLA).

A source said that at the end of May they received their outstanding salaries for April and May, but no employment contracts were signed. Nevonga nor Mujoro could not be reached for comment.

Nevonga had earlier said the ECN's behaviour was brutal and contrary to the spirit of employment growth and good labour relations in the country.

Namibian Sun has been informed that since their contracts expired on 31 March, only voter education officers in the //Karas Region and two from Khomas have renewed their contracts. The rest - countrywide - are continuing to work while claiming that the ECN has not communicated what the future holds for them.

ILENI NANDJATO

Jay-Z makes historySuperstar Jay-Z is the first billionaire rapper, says Forbes Jay-Z once rapped “I'm not a businessman; I'm a business, man.” Turns out he was right.

The superstar rapper is also a fashion trendsetter, a streaming music mogul, a sports management company owner and Mr Beyonce Knowles. All that has helped him to become the first billionaire rapper, according to Forbes.

“Less than a decade later, it's clear that Jay-Z has accumulated a fortune that conservatively totals US$1 billion, making him one of only a handful of entertainers to become a billionaire - and the first hip-hop artist to do so,” Forbes' Zack O'Malley Greenburg writes.

The media company ticked through the various businesses that Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, either owns or has a stake in, including: a US$70-million stake in Uber, his ownership of the streaming service Tidal, his US$70-million art collection, his ownership of the Roc Nation sports management company, US$50 million in assorted real estate holdings and his music catalogue and being married to uber-superstar Beyonce, worth an estimated US$355 million herself, doesn't hurt.

Jay-Z, who grew up in a Brooklyn housing project, rose to fame in 1996 with his debut album Reasonable Doubt.

His sixth album, 2001's The Blueprint, was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry - reserved for albums that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” earlier this year.

He's also been more involved in political advocacy, campaigning for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and launching a prison reform organisation with fellow rapper Meek Mill this year.

Back in 2014, music mogul Dr Dre claimed he was hip-hop's first billionaire after he sold Beats Music, the high-end headphones and streaming music service, to Apple.

But it's estimated that while that blockbuster deal pushed Dre's net worth to about US$1.1 billion, state and local taxes ultimately nudged it to just below the US$1 billion-dollar mark.

CNN ENTERTAINMENT

A platform for emerging designersPreparations for Katutura Fashion Week on track Katutura Fashion Week unites cultures through fashion and brings fashion to the people.

Founded by model Dennis Hendricks, Katutura Fashion Week aims to give an opportunity to designers from all walks of life to showcase their unique talents.

The event seeks to embrace Namibian emerging designers from all walks of life to showcase just how much talent the country has. “And at the same time, we identify potential models across the country to give them a chance to be a part of this experience and thus, diversify fashion avenues,” said Hendricks.

In an interview with tjil, Katutura Fashion Week's public relations officer Jati Indongo announced that the event will take place from 26 to 28 September.

Indongo added that Katutura Fashion Week is envisioned to become the most influential fashion platform in the country, and it will take place on an annual basis. She said, the event will give an opportunity to emerging fashion designers from all 14 regions of the country to showcase and receive the necessary exposure which can help in catapulting them into a bigger market. “The end goal of Katutura Fashion Week is to have fashion designers from around the continent wanting to come and showcase in the land of the brave,” said Indongo.

Indongo shared that the first day will be an exhibition day where different exhibitors will be displaying and selling their garments at the Katutura Youth Complex. This will also be the venue hosting the two runway shows. “Another unique thing about this event is we will also have a Fashion Week Award, this is to pay homage to designers, makeup artists, models and all creatives in the fashion industry. We will announce information on how to enter in the coming weeks,” announced Indongo.

Organisers of this event are now gearing up to commence scouting for models from all 14 regions of Namibia. The Windhoek model casting will take place on Saturday, 22 June at Kalahari Coffee and Jazz Café. “There are various categories for the models male, female, plus size and child models,” said Indongo.

On the model specifications; Indongo shared that the minimum height requirement for males is 1.80 metres while for female models is 1.70 metres. “There are no height requirements for plus-size models and children should be aged between six and 12,” she said.

Sharing the status report on the applications, Indongo said the Katutura Fashion Week team is happy with the number of designers who have applied already. She revealed that over 100 designers have already submitted their application forms. “We have designers from New York, Zambia, Zimbabwe and more. We are happy with the progress we are making and dates for model casting in other regions will be announced in the coming weeks,” she said.

Katutura Fashion Week will also feature musical performances which will be strictly by Namibian artists. “As we draw closer to the event we will reveal the artist line-up which will strictly feature Namibian artist.”

“The event will be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Tickets are already available at Webtickets and Pick n Pay outlets countrywide. We decided to announce early to give people enough time to prepare,” summed up Indongo.

MICHAEL KAYUNDE

Tick, tock… 8 days to go!

The clock is ticking on your chance to be chosen as part of 60 aspiring film and TV creatives of the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Class of 2019!

Eight days - that is all the time left for you to enter for MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy! If your passion is film and television and you believe you have what it takes to be the future of Africa's creative industry, do not miss this exciting opportunity!

Log on to cte.multichoisetalentfactory.com today and register for the MTF Academy entry (separate login details from the portal). Complete the entry process that will take you one step closer to achieving your aspirations in film and television!

MTF was launched in May 2018 as part of MultiChoice Africa's ground-breaking corporate shared value (CSV) initiative.

The call is open to all emerging filmmakers with either some industry experience or a relevant post-school qualification in filmmaking to apply for this exciting opportunity to hone their television- and film-production skills under the guidance and mentorship of industry experts Berry Lwando (Lusaka, Zambia hub), Femi Odugbemi (Lagos, Nigeria hub) and Njoki Muhoho (Nairobi Kenya hub).

Who knows, you could be part of the next MTF Academy class to experience and learn from multiple industry experts and grow your skills. These are the same opportunities enjoyed by the class of 2018 who worked behind-the-scenes on some of the most popular TV shows in their respective countries, including hit telenovela Selina and top shows Pambio Live and The Turn Up from East Africa, Nigeria's Tinsel and Battleground, and top music show ZED Top 10 and reality TV show, Date My Family in Zambia!

Furthermore, as a student, you will get the opportunity to work directly with some of the most dynamic industry professionals and be a part of the MTF Masterclasses, which are powered by various industry partners as part of the shared value initiative's three touch points alongside the MTF Academy and recently launched MTF networking portal.

The class of 2019 will also have the very same opportunities and reap the fruits of the additional ground-breaking partnership between the MTF Academy and the world-renowned New York Film Academy College of Visual & Performing Arts (NYFA), announced in April!

STAFF REPORTER

Pulling strings with Imm's NicolauInfluencing Namibian music Known for his specialisation as a guitar player, he has worked with powerhouses from Lize Ehlers to Suzy Eises; let's find out why.

Turning guitar playing into a lucrative business is a challenge. In fact, when you grow up and your options are either school, becoming an entrepreneur or working for a boss, playing a guitar is a seemingly impossible career in Namibia. But not for Imm's Nicolau, Namibia's guitar player who made it where many did not.

He talks to tjil about international shows, directing the Namibia Annual Music Awards (NAMAs) and making greenbacks.

Besides playing for well-known musicians, Imm's Nicolau also teaches at On Beat Music School and tenures part-time at the College of the Arts (Cota). “I enjoy playing for artists but I do not just want to keep my skills to myself; that is why I teach and direct. I believe I can do more with my talent and pass it on to music lovers,” he said.

On being the music director for the NAMAs, the guitarist mentioned that it is a job he enjoys. He admitted that it comes with pressure considering that it is live but he excels at it anyway because of their passion and the team he works. “I have been the music director for the last two years; the first year was a bit challenging but I am not the only music director; we are two so we always figure it out,” he said. He shared that he also hosts a master class once a year where he polishes the skills of aspiring guitarists. The class only takes 20 students per year and this is to allow him to be able to give attention to all his students. “This is my way of giving back and at the same time keeping my passion alive. I am not sure yet when I will be having this year's classes but I will share that information on my social media pages,” he said.

He pointed out playing in Thailand, Bangkok with the Planet Shakers in front of 20 000 spectators as one of the highlights of his career. He maintains that he is grateful for opportunities like that because they create a platform for him to make a living by doing what he loves. He admitted that it is not easy to make it as a guitarist in Namibia because opportunities are scarce, however, he emphasised that it is possible to make it with dedication and passion. “I believe to make it in any industry you have to work hard. It is not easy especially in our country that is why I am involved in so many projects, luckily for me most of these hustles have to do with what I love.

“I am trying to demonstrate to others that you can also make a living from playing guitar if that is your talent and you are serious about it,” he said.

MICHAEL KAYUNDE

The people's favouriteNo bad vibes here Recording artist Kaboy Kamakili has definitely earned the respect and support of the industry.

Having premiered his new song Ekwatho produced by DJ KBoz on NBC's Whatagwan on Wednesday this week, Kaboy Kamakili, 21, is clearly set on causing some major destruction in the game.

His raps, beats and overall skills cannot be withheld and now here is his story, so please learn something from our conversation with the champ himself.

He describes his music as “genuine” music. “I know a lot of artists say this, but I do not like confining myself to just one genre of music. I feel like I would be limiting myself if I identified myself as a Kwaito or Hikwa artist that is why I just describe my music as genuine music.”

He told tjil that growing up his musical ear was influenced by Deon of PDK and Exit. “Those two have great flows and their rhymes are on point. Another thing I admire about them is that they are versatile, they can do Kwaito and they are good at rapping as well,” said Kaboy Kamakili about his idols.

He attributes his newly found fame to Namtwitter and his hometown of Ondangwa. He admitted that he did not expect to blow up like he did from the freestyles he posted. “It started like a joke but I am thankful Namtwitter was able to see beyond the jokes and acknowledge my talent – Namtwitter is the reason I performed at Kasi Vibe last weekend and I am thankful.

“My hometown Ondangwa has been showing me love and support as well so my duty now is to not disappoint them,” he added.

He announced that he is working on his first album which will be released at the end of August. Describing the concept and direction of the album, Kaboy Kamakili said the album is going to be about life. “My album will be about convincing people not to do bad things. Through my music I also want to encourage people and give them confidence to push harder toward what they are doing right now. It is an inspiring album,” he said. The album will feature KBoz and PDK, with features from some of Namibia's biggest artists yet to be confirmed. “I spoke to King Tee Dee, we might be able to do something as well.”

Describing his selling points, Kaboy Kamakili mentioned that he believes a lot of people gravitate toward his music because of his charisma and the fact that he mainly sings in Oshiwambo. “More than anything, I think people like me because I represent hope to them. I also think they really like my rhymes and find them funny,” said Kaboy Kamakili.

His dreams and aspirations entail being on heavy rotation on the biggest Namibian radio stations and getting his music videos aired on Trace Africa. He added that he is aware that he blew up through social media but he will not neglect the traditional media. “That is why my manger and I are doing newspaper and radio interviews, I want to be big online as well as radio, TV and newspapers,” he added.

Abed Jona, Kaboy Kamakili's manager, said he is happy with how Namibians have embraced his talent. Jona stated that the support has been amazing from both music fans and people in the industry. “We just finished recording a song with DJ KBoz and other artists have expressed interest to work with Kaboy Kamakili as well,” said Jona. Summing up the conversation, Kaboy Kamakili dished out advice for aspiring musicians. He called on emerging artists to have a positive mindset towards their art and life in general. “Do not be afraid to share your work because you never know who is listening or watching. When you get the recognition for your work do not forget why you started,” said Kaboy Kamakili.

Today he will be celebrating his 21st birthday party at Beacon Lodge with performances from TK the Rapper, Vikta Juiceboy and Waka Omlilo. Tate Gweri and Friends, King Gucci and Cassie Jessica are billed to make special appearances at the party.

MICHAEL KAYUNDE

Mbuku fills big shoesI am searching for okulyakwandje - my survival After producing two albums, but failing to generate income, local entertainer Mbuku, whose real name is Sebron Niinyandu, decided to wear oversized shoes to attract fans, and hopefully earn his survival.

Social media went abuzz last month when Namibian Sun uploaded a video of a local artist Mbuku performing his Harambee song at a Swapo rally at Ondangwa.

With his half bald/half rasta head and oversized shoes, many on social media described him as a comic musician who just knows how to entertain his fans.

The video was uploaded on Namibian Sun's Facebook page on 11 May and it went viral, attracting over 124 000 views, with roughly 3 000 people liking the video while over 1 600 shared it.

In an interview with tjil, Mbuku said his appearance, dress code and music are all about his survival.

“I produced two top-quality albums but they all failed to generate a living for me. I have also tried many things to market myself but I am not being booked for shows so that I can generate some income. I therefore decided to refresh my identity with a half bald/half rasta head, wear oversized shoes and sing about Harambee so that I can get recognised,” said Mbuku.

“Life is tough and one has to be creative in order to attract people's attention. Things are now getting better because here and there you are invited to perform at small gatherings. For bigger events such as the expos and the trade fairs, I am yet to make it there.”

Mbuku said his foot size is eight, but he ordered himself a size 17 from Germany.

He said life has never been easy for him and has always been about a hard struggle to survive after his father's death in the 1990s.

He was born in and grew up at a village near Elim in the Omusati Region, adding that since childhood, he has been dropping school just to try and eke out a living for his survival, but his guardian made sure he returned to school. However, he could not complete matric.

“I started singing in 1998 when I was a small boy and going to school. I used to make my own music which I used to perform at weddings, pension pay points and other social gatherings in the surrounding areas. People used to give me as little as a dollar for singing. Later my father passed on and surviving was tough for me and that is when I decided to take singing seriously,” said Mbuku.

“Every afternoon I was in the oshanas looking for 'eengeshu', during the rainy season I am catching frogs and when there are gatherings, I am singing. All of this was to generate some income just for my survival.”

Mbuku said that his aunt decided to take him back to school until he passed his grade 10 at Ashipala Secondary School at Elim.

Then she decided to take him to stay with her in Windhoek and get him placed at A. Shipena Secondary School to continue with grade 11, but he dropped out.

He said after dropping out of school he went back to the north and started helping those want to build houses. Later he was he started working as a builder at the Ndilimani Stone Carving.

He said that around 2005 the desire of singing started growing when he started hearing General Mandala Epafu started singing omutyatyahoko, and he was so inspired and wanted to sing so badly, but people advised him to be a dancer.

“In 2011 I met the late Jomolizo and I was inspired by him. Jomolizo also asked me to be his dancer until in 2014 when I asked him to help me become a singer also. He introduced me to Bexleng and I produced my first album, Okulyakandje (my survival),” he said.

“The reaction from the public was good and my boss Ndilimani also assisted me with the album's production. I produced three albums, but due to this and that things could not go well,” said Mbuku.

Mbuku said that he decided to go to Opuwo to learn ovaHimba and the oviritje genre, with the support of Steve Shivolo of Man United Bar in Opuwo.

“I am currently working on my third album, Harambee which I am busy promoting. Often I am doing free performances just to market and promote the song.”

Mbuku said that if he gets assistance he would like to launch a school campaign to give motivational talks to learners. He said that poverty is real and learners need to take the opportunity and their studies seriously to avoid falling into poverty.

ILENI NADNJATO

BBNaija Season 4 is on

MultiChoice Nigeria has announced that the fourth season of Africa's biggest reality TV show, Big Brother Naija, which will premiere on Sunday, 30 June across all DStv packages on channel 198 and on GOtv Max and Plus on channel 29.

This year's Big Brother Naija will be hosted in Nigeria for the first time since 2006 and is sponsored by Bet9ja. Speaking on the announcement, the CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe said: “The Big Brother franchise remains one of the most exciting content options available to viewers across the world.

Big Brother Naija, which is easily the most popular version in Africa, is finally here and for the first time since 2006, the show will be hosted in Nigeria.

Our viewers should expect the very best of entertainment, intrigue and drama, all delivered with excellent production standards straight from a house here in Nigeria.”

The fourth edition of Big Brother Naija follows the hugely successful past season themed Double Wahala, which saw the emergence of pilot and fan favourite Miracle Ikechukwu as the winner of 45 million naira worth of prizes.

This year's auditions featured an increased number of venues across the country from six to eight, with one anonymous housemate also selected via an exciting and first-of-its-kind online audition.

The excitement for the forthcoming show was further ramped with a hugely popular reunion show with housemates from the previous edition discussing highlights and controversial moments from their time in the house.

For more information, please visit www.africamagic.dstv.com/BigBrotherNaija Follow the Big Brother Naija social media fan pages for news and updates with #BBNaija on Twitter @bbnaija, Instagram @bigbronaija and Facebook www.facebook.com/bigbrothernaija

STAFF REPORTER

Owela Festival under wayGiving art lovers a platform This year's Owela Festival commenced on Tuesday, 4 June at the National Art Gallery of Namibia and will end tomorrow.

The festival is being celebrated under the theme The Future of Work. The Owela Festival is a trans-national and interdisciplinary festival curated by Kaleni Kollective, a collective of Namibian and German artists; Nelago Shilongoh, Nashilongweshipwe Mushaandja, Veronique B. Mensah, Esmeralda Cloete, For Kunkel, Trixie Munyama, Hildegard Titus and Julia Wissert.

Speaking at the festival's official opening education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa commended the organiser for the theme. Hanse-Himarwa mentioned that the future of work is a global topic, currently researched and explored in different fields and parts of the world. “I am pleased to know that our young artists are participating in this global topic. Research has shown that it is in fact the most discussed topic of 2017,” said Hanse-Himarwa.

The programme features various artistic performances, dances, installations, film, talks, workshops and interventions in collaboration with local, regional and international artists.

“This festival aims to focus at what the future of work may be in Namibia and Germany. Looking at the shared past of violence and exploitation of labour, the different artists envision what the future of work, wages and the rest will be,” read a statement from the organisers.

MICHAEL KAYUNDE

M-Gee to drop fourth albumM-Gee shares his plans Fans of this northern superstar are in for a treat this year.

One of Rundu's finest Afro-pop and hip-hop musicians, Lukas Thomas, better known by his stage name M-Gee,expects to release his fourth studio album later this year.

Thomas, who hails from Rundu's Sauyemwa location, talked to tjil about his plans for the year, including his next album which he promises, will be a complete package for his fans.

Thomas this month released a music video of his latest hit song, 'Chokwelate'. He added that a new track titled 'Ngomulitundirapo' will be released early next month.

“My fans should look out for the 'Chokwelate' video and a new song titled 'Ngomuritundirapo'. Music is my passion and I always strive to give my fans the best of me,” he said.

Thomas said he worked with professional music producers from Rundu and Windhoek on the new album to give music fans a product they would enjoy listening to.

The 'Wanapwire' hit-maker said the aim is to make good music, put the town of Rundu on the map, and take the music industry by storm.

His previous albums, 'First Page', 'Moments in Life' and 'Sikira Epampa', were well received and the positive response motivated him to keep going.

However,Thomas also used the opportunity to complain about challengesartists in Rundu are facing.

He charged that event organisers show little respect to local musicians and expect them to perform free of charge, while the same people are willing to spend money on artists from other regions.

“Artistsat Rundu are not respected and I hope the mindset of people expecting us to perform for free changes,” he said.

Another challenge is a lack of entertainment facilities in the region. Most shows are staged at bars or private venues that are costly to rent.

Thomas said music piracy is depriving artists of an income, adding that some musicians have given up because their work is not respected.

Thomas called upon the police and Nascamtostep up their anti-piracy efforts.

“Piracy is a big concern for us as artists in the Kavango regions. We hope that the law enforcement agencies will come on board,” he said.

Thomassaid at the moment there is no music shop in the Kavango regions where artists can market their albums.

Apart from music, Thomas also has a clothing line named M-Gee. Interested parties can contact him on his social media accounts.

KENYA KAMBOWE

More sponsorship Heads up! Namibian music has evolved and is massive these days compared to how it used to be in the past. We get to hear more Namibian music on radio stations and watch Namibian music videos on continental music channels like Trace Africa and MTV Base (Africa).

However, my concern is that in the music industry there is less sponsorship than there is in other industries. It seems like most of the well-known and recognised companies are contributing money to sporting activities, SMEs and in other fields. I am not saying they should stop what they are doing, but looking at the bright side, not all Namibian citizens are gifted when it comes to sports or being entrepreneurs but rather, they have diverse talents.

Now realise that the reason people pay tax is because, in return, the money should be used to develop the country as a whole. It hurts me to see the music industry and talent shows only get to be sponsored by mainly Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC), Budweiser and Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL). It would be thrilling if the musicians in Namibia move forward with good cooperation and collaboration from its citizens and get a helping hand from corporates. There are a lot of people with talent but they end up not going anywhere because they do not get recognised. Let us work together in order to put Namibia on the map with local talent. A motivated individual is a productive person.

I do acknowledge that sponsorship deals for unsigned artists are considered a financial risk. Why? Because they are not a guaranteed return on investment, like established superstars are. What does a superstar have? Sell-out shows countrywide with hit songs in the top-10 radio countdowns and companies fighting over them to represent their brand. For massive organisations or companies that invest a lot of money into marketing, the superstars that best represent their brand are the people they focus on building financial business relationships with. I believe we have many of these superstars, both emerging and established, have potential to represent different companies via endorsements yet these artists aren't sponsored.

To the aspiring musicians, please remember that in every age there is a time for growth while an older concept is dying. Nothing on earth stops moving and possibilities are always there for you to take hold of. The most important thing for a new artist is to keep focusing on growth and move away from decaying. There are avenues to tap into if you keep you own momentum growing. If you stop, any investor will look elsewhere. Just keep writing your songs, playing live and building your fan base with a vengeance like you have a need to conquer the world, and you will be noticed and sponsored accordingly. Nothing is impossible, just reach for the possible.

In this issue Courage the Comedian graces our cover as he hosts his one-man show today at Warehouse Theatre. He shares the themes he will be exploring as well as the organisations that are going to benefit from this concert. Other pieces you should look forward to in this issue include that of recording artists Mbuku and Kaboy Kamakili who are some of the most talked-about musicians in Namibia at the moment. Enjoy this edition, until next time, peace out!

michael@namibiansun.com; @MichaelMKAY on Twitter

ComedyUsing comedy to address pertinent social issues Embodying the essence of entertainer, DJ and Unam media graduate, we get inside the mind of the dapper and dynamic powerhouse that is Courage the Comedian.

Ahead of his one-man show tonight at the Warehouse Theatre, Courage the Comedian shared the motives behind this show and the issues he will address. Profits from this concert will be donated to organisations dealing with gender-based violence, LGBTIQ, education and youth empowerment.

Having been in the comedy arena for eight years, he maintains that it is time to impact people with his work, hence getting into social activism through comedy.

“I can't keep making 'knock-knock jokes' it is time for me to use my platform and influence to greater use.”

He expounded that last month was tough for a lot of people with the #MeTooMovement.

He was not pleased by how a lot of men were not vocal in supporting this cause thus he has decided to take a stand to address and teach men about consent and condemn the rape culture through comedy. He believes comedy is a good conduit to address serious issues of this calibre without having to hurt people's feelings.

Homophobia is another theme that he is going to delve into at the show.

He said he comes from Zimbabwe where homosexuality is regarded as a crime and has witnessed homophobia in his community.

Courage the Comedian mentioned that there are Zimbabweans who come to Namibia and they are already agitated by homosexuals without even being provoked.

“That for me is the same behaviour as xenophobia; we are crying that our fellow Zimbabweans are being mistreated in South Africa just for being different but we are subconsciously doing the same to others based on their sexual orientation.

“It it is not only Zimbabweans, even Namibians do it; there are certain tribes whose cultures do not embrace homosexuality and when they see these people they become violent and this is something that should not be happening,” he added.

The show will be hosted by Zulu Boy and will feature a musical performance by Blank and brief skits from Cassie Jessica and Zitha. Courage revealed that the organisations which will benefit from this concert include Be Free Movement, Slut Shame Walk, Sister Namibia and Women Speaking Out. “The main aim of this show is to give back to organisations that give people a platform to be heard and a safe space for them to get counselling and at the same time keep the Warehouse Theatre open,” said Courage.

He launched his career in comedy in 2010 when he was still a media and drama student at Unam. He has since then represented Namibia at numerous international comedy festivals in countries like South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia and Botswana.

He describes his comedy as social commentary with content that is mainly derived from observation. He emphasised that having spent the majority of his adulthood in Namibia he does not take away from the fact that he is still Zimbabwean. He does comedy from an outsider's point of view, further describing it as raising a mirror at the locals and showing them how they behave in a funny way. “Before I make fun of others I make fun of myself first. I speak of issues from an outsider's perspective. It is how you speak and behave; to you it is normal until someone points it out and that is why it is funny,” he shared.

Contributing to the growth of comedy in Namibia, Courage the Comedian has started doing stand-up comedy in other towns on a more frequent basis. He now has a monthly show at Rundu's Werah Café and Theatre. He explained that he chose Rundu because it is known for a lot of cases of teenage pregnancies and alcohol abuse. “I believe this is mainly because there aren't a lot of forms of entertainment at the town. My monthly show is doing well and I can't wait to keep spreading outside Windhoek, it is just a matter of finding facilities in other towns to perform at,” he said.

Courage the Comedian was voted as the first Last Comic Standing which was a competition for comedians in 2011. “In 2014 I became Male Comedian of the Year, at the first-ever comedy awards held in Namibia. I was also nominated twice in row as at the Simply You Lifestyle and Fashion awards,” he shared.

On how comedy has impacted his life, he said he used to be an introvert until he started doing comedy and his confidence was boosted. He shared that he had a rough childhood, and a stepmother whom he never saw eye to eye with and because of that he was a sad and reserved juvenile. “Comedy taught me how to interact with people; I learned that being nice is not a bad thing. I do not want someone to feel sad because I felt sad most of my childhood so I decided to use comedy to uplift people's spirits and make them laugh,” he summed up.

MICHAEL KAYUNDE

Govt should strengthen laws - Zhang

China's ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming has said the Namibian government should strengthen its laws to close the loopholes people use to commit serious crimes and go unpunished.

Zhang made these remarks at a media conference in the capital on Wednesday when asked by the media for his comment on allegations of Chinese nationals being involved in matters such as poaching, illegal timber harvesting and the maltreatment of Namibian employees in Chinese-owned small businesses.

The ambassador said even though he does not support what the Chinese nationals are doing, the Namibian government is also partially to blame because there are legal loopholes which need to be closed as people use these to circumvent the law.

“The Namibian government should tighten up and enforce the law… because these people are not doing these things alone, they probably have local partners assisting them to commit these crimes. We are doing the same in China, we don't allow citizens to be involved in illegal smuggling,” Zhang said.

He added that it is not the Chinese government's policy to send people here to open small businesses that, amongst others things, sometimes do not pay tax.

“They come here by themselves. All these illegal things they are doing here like poaching, timber looting and so on, it is their own attitude,” said the ambassador.

NAMPA

Mutorwa highlights importance of WBCG

Works and transport minister John Mutorwa has highlighted the significant role that the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) plays in promoting Namibia as a gateway for cargo moving into and from the region.

Mutorwa made these remarks when he visited the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) in Windhoek this week to better acquaint himself with the company's activities.

He met with the board of directors, acting CEO Clive Smith and his management team and was briefed on the configuration of WBCG and given an update on the various projects the company manages.

According to a press release issued by the company, Smith highlighted WBCG's endeavours to consolidate the activities of the Namibia transport sector towards the successful implementation of the Namibia logistics hub project. “This is evident in our structure, our members fall within both public and private sectors and this unique public and private partnership (PPP) format allows for effective facilitation on matters of trade and infrastructure development.”

Mutorwa said the government stands behind WBCG's quest to develop the country into a leading logistics hub in southern Africa.

“My visit here today reaffirms my ministry's support of WBCG's activities,” he said. The Walvis Bay Corridor Group engages the government on matters relating to policies, regulations and infrastructure development while its engagement with the private sector focuses on business development and supply chain solutions.

According to the statement the company has been instrumental in enhancing regional and continental trade with a clear focus on positioning the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz as real alternative trade routes to and from landlocked SADC countries. This is evident in that the efforts of the WBCG resulted in about 730 000 tonnes of transit cargo moving through the port of Walvis Bay in 2018, which equates to an increase of 48% compared to 2017.

This translates into about N$ 2.6 billion that the activities on the corridors contributed to the Namibian economy, the company said.

The meeting also touched on matters of transport legislation, regional corridor cooperation, industry capacity building programmes, the Namibia National Single Window Project and WBCG's role in the African Corridor Management Alliance (ACMA).

Concluding the meeting Mutorwa said the meeting was a vital process in contextualising WBCG's work.

“It is important that we understand what is happening in our corridors and its impact on the country and the region. This visit has greatly enlightened me on these processes and justifies the president's slogan of holding hands and moving in one direction. It is thus my sincere wish for the WBCG to remain steadfast in pursuing their mandate and to enhance their contribution towards the Namibian House.”

The Walvis Bay Corridor Group, a public-private partnership, is responsible for promoting the utilisation of the Walvis Bay Corridors - a network of transport routes linking the Port of Walvis Bay to the neighbouring SADC countries of South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi. The Walvis Bay Corridors consist of the Trans Kalahari Corridor, connecting Botswana and South Africa; the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor connecting Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo; the Trans-Cunene Corridor connecting Angola; and the Trans-Oranje Corridor, connecting South Africa through the Port of Lüderitz.

ELLANIE SMIT

Stop playing blame-gameMutjavikua urges residents to be bold Mutjavikua said poverty eradication requires a change of attitude and mentality, saying considerable progress had been made.

Erongo governor Cleophas Mutjavikua has urged Namibians to stop looking for someone to blame and confront their challenges by trying new and bold things.

“We must be aware as a region, and as a nation, that no difficulty is too great, as long as we are bold enough, try new things and act first rather than being reactors,” the governor said during his State of the Region Address (Sora) on Wednesday in Swakopmund.

“One of the pressing tasks at the moment is for our officials and nationals at large to free their minds, update their thinking, break through the old ways of looking at our challenges, which is mainly looking for who to blame, and do things in a positive frame of mind. We must not always look at others for the answers to all our problems, but rather to ourselves as our own liberators.”

Mutjavikua also emphasised the critical importance of desalination as a springboard for the development of agricultural activities in the region, including livestock and fruit and vegetable farming.

Mutjavikua said economic advancement was one of the pillars of the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP). “Hence, we must bear that in our minds day and night. If one looks at the agendas of our towns, non-economic advancement work is dominant and one wishes to stress that most of our energy should be geared towards economic advancement,” said Mutjavikua.

He said drought is affecting Erongo more than any other region and mitigating measures should be undertaken.

“Erongo is more arid in nature, hence the severity of the impact. Therefore, using outside technology to desalinate water and ensure irrigation of our desert is not a luxury anymore, but a do-or-die.

“As a region we have tried many agricultural activities. For instance, we introduced Swakara farming and funded gardening projects, but now is the right time to turn to 'big agriculture'.

“We must rely on our sea and the desert to develop agri-businesses and rural enterprises and sustain the all-round development of agriculture, livestock, fodder, grapes, olive oil, dates, fruits, vegetables and other side-line products.

“The acquisition of the current desalination plant and the construction of a new desalination plant, as well as the establishment of the coast to Omaruru agriculture development corridors are long-term, arduous tasks, and we must make mental preparations for a protracted battle,” Mutjavikua said.

He added that every regional citizen has to focus and work hard and the role they play in economic advancement.

Mutjavikua said poverty eradication requires a change of attitude and mentality, saying considerable progress had been made in the funding of several envisaged projects under the Humanitarian Economic Grant (Forgivable Loan) Agreement.

The governor said a development plan has been approved under the agreement to build 61 000 houses in several towns and settlements in Erongo at Walvis Bay (30 000), Swakopmund (15 000), Arandis (3 500), Omaruru (3 000), Karibib (3 000), Henties bay (3 000), Usakos (1 500), Uis (700), Okombahe (500), Omatjete (500) and Otjimbingwe (300).

Mutjavikua said his office has been working hard to ensure the region successfully meets the housing and infrastructure targets under the HPP, saying the region has responded President Hage Geingob's declaration of informal settlements as national disaster.

Adolf Kaure

Creating that feeling of home Crafting lasting experiences Anchor Adventures provides more than just holiday travel, they give visitors a new family during their stay, lifelong memories and the experience of being part of a new community for the duration of the client’s stay.

Ester Kamati

Founded and managed by Lubowski Kadila, Anchor Adventures is a tourism company with operators offering customised individual tours in Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa, among other neighbouring countries.

They specialise in authentic cultural tourism which brings together locals and travellers alike for more personal and intercultural encounters.

For people who seek a new travelling experience that transcends the beautiful deserts, landscapes and safaris, Anchor Adventures offers that and more.

They acquaint visitors with what really makes a country - its people. This tourism company aims to embrace culture, people and their way of life, and allows visitors, who are used to a different way of living, the chance to experience this for themselves.

To ensure the future success of the business, they plan to achieve steady growth through networking with different entities as much as possible, to get the intended marketing message to the target market. Working with different people in the tourism industry is also part of their aim, in order to reach both their domestic and international markets and give visitors a memorable experience.

With staff that are dedicated to continuously conducting intensive research and learning how to best deliver their services to all their clients, in a manner that satisfies their travelling expectations, it is evident that these tour operators go the extra mile to ensure client satisfaction.

Creating travel packages, customised for the different clientele, is how they ensure that everybody has a different experience.

They always ensure that all travelling logistics are set and ready for a specific travel experience, ensuring suitable transportation, accommodation and planned activities.

Kadila, the CEO of the company, said that working in the tourism industry was something he always wanted to be part of, and with Anchor Adventures, they enable exactly what the people would like to see and experience while travelling with them.

Bringing different people together to share experiences, a drink or a meal, and simply interact, is what they are most passionate about. In addition, the partners at Anchor Adventures find satisfaction and accomplishment in creating experiences for people and seeing them smile and having fun during their travelling experiences, and according to the team that makes everything worthwhile.

Anchor adventures is always looking for ways to improve how they create experiences for their clients and the quality of the experience. The company has a varying number of team members for each trip and strategically plans who to work with.

Primarily, they have an active website and social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram) to get their message and distinct approach to tourism across to their target market. They additionally document all their tours and have them on their website from which they then tailor the different package messages that they share in order to attract new clients and retain existing clientele.

Through networking, they have managed to acquire international partners who host exhibitions, trade shows, etc. to sell tourist destinations and do the "groundwork".

Anchor Adventures keep their clients satisfied through striving to ensure personal connections with them, by being relatable and providing the best service possible.

They gain an understanding their target market, which comes with comprehending preferences and overall expectations through personal interactions and documented knowledge.

The team explains that it’s not only about understanding what their market needs, but most importantly, positioning cultural tourism as a hallmark of their existence, because this is the epicentre of the business, says Kadila.

They treasure learning experiences, and in so doing, build consumer intelligence, which ensures meeting and exceeding their expectations in terms of customer satisfaction, which guarantees loyalty in the end.

Competition is one of the challenges faced by the company, as the tourism industry is dominated by transnational companies with big market shares, which makes it difficult for emerging companies to thrive. It is for this reason that they specifically adopted a unique marketing theme (cultural tourism - people meeting people) as the focal point of the business, in order to deviate from mainstream, traditional tourism marketing themes of landscapes and wildlife.

Second to competition, getting their marketing message to the intended target market, persuading clients to rather opt for a travel experience that transcends the beautiful deserts, landscapes and safaris, with what really makes a country great - its people - has also been a challenge. Part of their marketing theme involves getting different cultures together to exchange ideas, knowledge, traditions, and to have fun. Anchor Adventures aims to create a platform for travellers and natives to indulge in a different way of life. Celebrating how amazing people are is the main goal for this company, which advocates for letting all embrace one another!

They pride ourselves on having identified a tourism theme that has long been neglected, despite the potential it holds - looking at the multitude of ethnicities that define Namibia as a multicultural country.

They take pride in promoting cultural development and the preservation of indigenous cultures and their way of life.

Murder accused fights for bail

A Namibian soldier accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend has appealed to the High Court against a magistrate's decision to deny him bail last year.

Johannes Neuaka (40) allegedly shot Zya Juliet Shane Rittmann (25) in Damara location, Katutura, on 21 January 2018. Rittmann was hit in the head and died instantly.

After handing himself over to the police, Neuka was charged with murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and negligent discharge of a firearm.

Relatives told the police that Rittmann and Neuaka's five-year relationship had ended shortly before the murder.

During the bail hearing in the Katutura Magistrate's Court last year, Rittmann's mother testified that the relationship had been abusive.

She testified that her daughter had come home “countless times” with a bruised and swollen face. The mother also testified that Neuaka had once attacked Rittmann with a pair of scissors.

Appeal grounds

In papers filed with the Windhoek High Court this week, Neuaka's legal team presented 11 grounds of appeal, claiming that Magistrate Agatha Brigitte Okamaru had erred when she denied him bail.

One of these grounds is that she failed to take into account that although Neuaka was no longer being paid, we was never fired by the Namibian Defence Force and that he had to provide for his 11 children.

The magistrate found that Neuaka had exaggerated when he claimed to be supporting 11 children.

Neuaka's lawyer argues that the number of children was never challenged in court by the State prosecutor.

In its responding heads of argument, the State pointed out that Neuaka was able to produce only eight birth certificates of children he claimed were his.

The State further argued that the issue of his children was not the sole grounds for bail being denied.

Errors

Magistrate Okamaru denied Neuaka's bail application in October last year, saying it would not be in the interest of the public or the administration of justice to release him pending his trial. She further emphasised that Neuaka's version of events had been contradictory and not believable.

Another ground for Neuaka's appeal is that the magistrate did not consider that his version of events, that the shooting was accidental, had not been challenged.

The State countered that a witness had testified that Neuaka had pointed a firearm at the deceased and shot her.

Neuaka's lawyers argue that the magistrate erred when she believed the testimony of the investigating officer.

According to Neuaka's court papers, the investigating officer testified that Neuaka had arrived at Rittmann's house in a black Audi. He got out of the car, “carrying his child and a bag, put the child down and asked him to go call his mother, saying daddy is calling you and that the deceased went to talk to [Neuaka].”

This version was never put to Neuaka, the lawyers argue, and thus constituted hearsay.

The legal team also argues that the magistrate's decision that Neuaka did not qualify as a “good candidate for bail” was not supported by sufficient evidence.

The State argues that the magistrate cannot be faulted for her conclusions and that the appeal does not contain sufficient evidence to warrant an overturning of her decision.

Neuaka is represented by lawyer Mbanga Siyomunji, while state advocate Erick Moyo is appearing on behalf of the State. High Court Judge Petrus Unengu postponed the appeal hearing to 10 July.

JANA-MARI SMITH