Namibian Sun

Barefoot pic sparks charity avalancheWarmbad's children endure immeasurable suffering Pledges are streaming for the children of the village of Warmbad with donations even coming from domestic workers.

A barefoot pupil found crying because of the cold at a school in Warmbad, south of Karasburg, has shed light on a charity drive initiated by teachers to help address the lack of basic necessities many of the children struggle with on a daily basis, including hunger and a lack of adequate clothing.

With the region commemorating Day of the African Child this weekend, a six-year-old Windhoek pupil via her Facebook page 'Cat Adams - Acts of Kindness' has joined teachers at Michelle Durocher Primary School in Warmbad in their efforts to provide basic necessities such as food and warm clothes to needy pupils.

To date, dozens of pledges for clothing, food, stationery, toiletries and money have been made in response to the plea of Cat Adams, a frequent charity advocate, to help the 133 pupils at the school.

One of the pledges was made by a domestic worker. She wrote: “I don't have much, but a week ago I was given old clothes for boys. It's not a lot, but maybe it will be of some use.”

Teachers at the school this week said they are overjoyed with the response.

“It has snowballed. So many people have come on board who want to help. It's a wonderful response to a small idea we had,” teacher Christo Adriaanse told Namibian Sun.

The first shipment of donations of sleeping bags and food arrived from the Windhoek High School charity 'Voice of Hope' this week.

Hungry bellies

“Imagine you come to school and you are hungry. It will overwhelm you. So we wanted to see how we can help,” Adriaanse explained.

He said the idea took form after the teachers met earlier this year and identified the school's flailing academic performances as primarily the result of the difficulties many of their pupils experience daily, which impact their ability to perform at school.

“We identified a major problem, being that our children's basic needs are often not met or satisfied. It's related to a lack of clothes, basic care, not having enough to eat, happy homes. Many of the pupils, those not in the hostel, come to school hungry. Many come to school neglected.”

The boy in question, whose photo of his bare feet in the south's freezing temperatures this week shed light on the school's initiative and the serious issues pupils' experience, highlighted the problem.

“About two weeks ago, a teacher found him sitting outside the classroom. He was crying. When she asked him why, he pointed to his bare feet and said he was cold.”

The teachers banded together and were able to provide the boy with shoes and socks.

But Adriaanse underlines that the problem is widespread and the teachers are keen to address daily basic needs on a long-term basis, including providing a meal before school each morning.

“We decided if we give them a meal each morning, before class, they will concentrate better, be a little calmer, and in that way we can perhaps improve their academic performance.”

And it's a long-term initiative, he underlined.

“Our plan is not to do this as a one-off. Tomorrow they will be hungry again.”

He explained the teachers began reaching out to community members, but they were already buckling under economic pressures. Then they managed to reach out to a charity that is led by students at Windhoek High School, and “that is when things started happening”.

This week, they came to the attention of Cat Adams, the six-year-old girl who has frequently driven charity outreach programmes for children and animals.

Her mother, Celene, told Namibian Sun Cat's motivation is “purely to make a difference”. “Cat is six now and the next generation has to be better than us.”

Donations have begun to stream in, including shoes, clothing, scarves and gloves, toys, toiletries and stationery.

JANA-MARI SMITH

We are kept in dark places - Katrina

Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa says 'The Journey' human rights campaign, which ends today, is the perfect platform for even the most timid voices to speak up.

“Because we are voiceless we are kept in dark places, but the moment we realise we are human and we have rights guaranteed in the Namibian constitution, our voices will come out,” she said.

The Journey - a brainchild of National ouncil chairperson Margaret Mensah-Williams - uses dialogue and visual and performing arts to address human rights issues. It started on Wednesday.

Mensah-Williams emphasised that this is a journey in which Namibians, already with a Bill of Rights, demand their human rights.

“It is a journey of hope to ignite the right to belong. A journey of raising our voices and a journey of managing trauma, as well as a journey of removing the swords from our hearts,” she said.

Deputy gender minister Lucia Witbooi said so many children living on the streets are deprived of the right to be raised by their own parents.

“We should take into account that we have an opportunity to explore the journey, to document and identify the experiences of survivors as well as the effects that gender-based violence had on them,” she said.

Witbooi said government must focus on the development of child behaviour programmes as well as life and relationship skills.

Namibia has made a great strides in its journey to ensure access to human rights protections for all its citizens, and this has been bolstered by The Journey. Included in the country's journey so far has been the tabling of various parliamentary motions and the signing of international treaties and laws.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Kingship battle escalates

An Ondonga faction backing Konis Eino Kalenga is likely to proceed with an application to interdict urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga and Oshana governor Elia Irimari after the minister failed to provide assurances that he had backtracked on a decision to recognise Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo as the new Ondonga king.

Kalenga's legal team gave Mushelenga until close of business yesterday to provide assurances, information or documents, but Mushelenga had not done so by midday.

Kalenga, through his lawyer Elia Shikongo from Shikongo Law Chambers, said by Wednesday, Mushelenga failed to communicate to them, but had rather referred the matter to attorney-general Albert Kawana.

“The minister has referred the matter to the government attorney for advice. The attorney advised that he will be taking instructions from his client and revert.

“The government attorney requested that the matter be held in abeyance until he has properly consulted and advised his client.

“We undertook to do so until Monday, 17 June on the condition that the minister provide the assurances requested in our letter as well as the information and documentation requested in that letter on or before Thursday, 14 June (yesterday),” said Shikongo.

He said if this did not happen, he has instructions to proceed with an urgent application.

All efforts to get comment from senior elder of the royal family, Selma Gwanandjokwe Sheyavali, who is heading the faction backing Kalenga, failed.

Mushelenga announced on Monday that government had recognised Nangolo as the designated king, ahead of Kalenga, who had also laid claim to the throne.

Both Nangolo and Kalenga applied to the ministry to be designated as the successor to the late Omukwaniilwa Immanuel Kauluma Elifas, who died in March.

Kalenga is accusing Mushelenga and Irimari of bias in terms of the verification process and says the minister was provided the wrong information by the governor, which led to Mushelenga concluding that Kalenga's application did not pass the verification process.

No comment could be obtained from Mushelenga.

ILENI NANDJATO

Hopeless, destituteKavango family's battle for survival A lack of national documents is worsening the poverty and suffering of people in the Kavango East Region.

A family of five at Kayeura village in the Musese constituency of Kavango East are living amid hopelessness in a makeshift structure made of pieces of a mosquito net, maize meal sacks and plastic bags.

They sleep on the bare ground and every day is a struggle to get food to eat.

Kornelia Sindimba (79) shared how difficult it is for her to care for her three grandchildren and three-week-old great-granddaughter.

Namibian Sun observed the terrible conditions the family faces.

They sleep in a two-metre by two-metre makeshift structure in which there is no bed or anything else, apart from a cloth lying on the ground.

Dogs and chickens move freely into this structure, as one can see the sky from inside, making the rain and cold unbearable.

Sindimba does not benefit from a monthly government pension grant as she is yet to collect for her ID, because she does not have transport money.

“We are suffering, we have no proper place to sleep in, as you can see, there is no food for us to eat and even soap to take a bath,” Sindimba said.

She said in order to survive she used to do odd jobs such as working in mahangu fields and getting a bit of mahangu, which they will use sparingly.

However, due to the current drought situation, Sindimba is finding it even harder to survive, as no one is approaching her to work in their fields.

They now eat porridge once a day at suppertime, as their food has nearly run out.

“We only eat once a day and that is in the evening. We cannot afford to eat twice or else the little mahangu, which was difficult to get, will be finished,” she said.

Sindimba indicated the entire household does not have national documents, which also deprives the children of their government grants, which can improve their livelihood.

Sindimba said she does not have money for transport to collect her ID at Nkurenkuru, which is about 60 kilometres away.

Her ID collection slip is dated February 2018.

“It's been a while since I went to Nkurenkuru to enquire about my ID and if I ask a neighbour for money to get my ID the question is: How will I pay back that loan?” Sindimba asked.

Sindimba said her daughters left their children with her and it has been years since she has seen them. Her grandchildren's fathers don't pay a cent and have also abandoned them.

One of her grandchildren, 18-year-old Renalda Nedimbo, who is the mother of a three-week-old baby girl, said she dropped out of school last year while in grade 5.

When approached for comment, Musese constituency councillor Sakeus Kudumo said he is aware of the situation of people sitting without national documents, something he described as a “disaster”.

He said this is worsening poverty levels in the constituency and the Kavango East Region at large.

“It is a disaster. This is why most of the communities are poor,” Kudumo said.

He said even before Namibia gained its independence, people from Kavango were not interested in getting national documents.

Kudumo said in his spare time he visits communities and transports those without documents to home affairs, where they can acquire about the documents.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Horrific, but inevitable

Incidences of assaults by military personnel on civilians have been widely reported in the mainstream media and on social media over the last couple of months.

Many members of the public have come out complaining about unprovoked assaults by Namibian soldiers who are a part of joint crime-prevention operations with the police. In their defence, the NDF members either claimed they were the ones being assaulted or were being hindered in the execution of their duties. Later, evidence of army brutality emerged after a former journalist sustained serious injuries, including a cracked skull, when she was assaulted by NDF soldiers during an Operation Hornkranz raid on a bar in Katutura in April. This shocking incident was condemned by all and sundry, including the commander-in-chief of the NDF, President Hage Geingob. The ministry of defence also released a statement, saying it was shocked by reports of brutality, reportedly being perpetrated by members of the NDF. Despite the widespread outrage and clamouring to send the army back to its bases, another government-backed operation dubbed Kalahari Desert was commissioned to replace Hornkranz. Operation Kalahari Desert has now claimed the life of a taxi driver who was reportedly shot dead by a soldier while attempting to avoid a roadblock manned by both NDF and police officers in Greenwell Matongo. We have in the past argued against the deployment of soldiers for the mere fact they are not trained in policing, but for deadly military situations. Maintaining law and order should never be the job of the army. This is the job of the police and the assistance of the army is only required in exceptional circumstances. Crime operations are necessary and there is no doubt about that. However, the army is an indiscriminate broadsword, while crime often needs an incisive and targeted scalpel. It remains shocking that the government of the day remains hell-bent on releasing its military on ordinary civilians. Now the chickens are coming home to roost.

Swapo suspends dissidentsSix party leaders accused of interference Otjozondjupa governor Otto Iipinge is one of six Swapo Party regional leaders who allegedly resisted a “regional restructuring exercise”.

Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa yesterday refused to comment on the sudden suspension of six influential party leaders in Otjozondjupa.

Otjozondjupa governor Otto Iipinge, along with three regional councillors and two local authority councillors at Grootfontein, were suspended from all Swapo activities this week, allegedly for their continued interference in a regional restructuring exercise.

Among those suspended are Okahandja constituency councillor Steve Booys, his Otjiwarongo counterpart Julius Neumbo and Nelao Amagulu, the regional councillor for Grootfontein.

Two Grootfontein town councillors, Jack Tsanigab and Absai Haimene, have also been suspended. Their suspension is expected to be discussed at an upcoming politburo meeting.

“Why do you want to put your nose in the business of the politburo?” Shaningwa asked yesterday when approached for comment.

Booys also refused to comment, saying he was not aware of his suspension, while Iipinge also would not comment.

The six are accused of undermining the elected leadership of Swapo in the region.

They have also been accused of conducting illegal and “unauthorised renewal of mandates” within districts of Otjiwarongo and Grootfontein.

“A necessary corollary or consequence of the suspension is that the suspended comrades must forthwith cease to engage themselves in any Swapo Party activities pending pronouncement by the political bureau of the Swapo Party,” said Swapo regional coordinator Susan Hikopua.

“The regional executive committee has on numerous occasions condemned these unsavoury actions. In particular, the leadership sought the intervention of the office of the secretary-general in order to restore normalcy. However, the Otto Iipinge-led group has rebuffed these bona fide attempts and vowed to take all necessary actions to remove the current leadership from their positions,” Hikopua said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Kalahari turns deadlySoldier shoots taxi driver dead After persistent forewarning that using the military against civilians in crime-prevention operations would lead to tragedy, a taxi driver has been shot dead by a soldier.

Namibia's police chief has strongly condemned the killing of an unarmed taxi driver by a soldier attached to Operation Kalahari Desert and vowed this will not happen again on his watch.

“This is a really regrettable and unfortunate incident that resulted in the loss of a life of one of our citizens. I can assure you we will make sure this is not repeated,” police inspector-general Sebastian Ndeitunga told Namibian Sun yesterday.

Ndeitunga said his and the Namibian police's condolences go out to the family of the taxi driver, who is believed to be a Zimbabwean national.

“We will make sure the person who did this will be held accountable for what happened. It is unacceptable to use excessive force against an unarmed civilian. We are dealing with the situation.”

Ndeitunga was speaking in the wake of the arrest of a soldier (38) who fired his AK-47 at a fleeing taxi after the driver had made a sudden U-turn to avoid a roadblock set up by members of Operation Kalahari Desert on Thursday morning at around 01:00. The suspect is expected to make his first appearance before the Katutura Magistrate's Court today.

The soldier, whose name was not released, was charged with a count of murder and negligent discharge of a firearm, Ndeitunga said.

Ndeitunga stressed yesterday that all members of crime-prevention operations, including the soldiers brought on board to assist, were given induction training and ordered to “conduct themselves within the law and not to use excessive force when not necessary”.

He admitted that the alarm expressed by civilians following the incident and other reports of unlawful assaults and excessive force “is a reasonable fear”.

Nevertheless, the police chief said the crime prevention operation was established to address citizens' “serious fear of crime”.

Different mindsets

The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement yesterday pledged to ensure that soldiers, “whose training is to kill, are removed from our streets”.

In a statement issued by the AR's Job Amupanda, he said efforts were under way to tackle the matter at the High Court “to ensure that another life is not lost at the hands of soldiers”.

South African defence analyst Helmoed Heitman yesterday said several challenges arise when soldiers are deployed to assist police operations.

Soldiers are “not trained in the use of minimum force. If you want to survive on the battlefield, you shoot very quickly. You do not wonder what is going on.”

On the other hand, the police are trained to be patient, to provide assistance and to calm situations down.

“I would rather say, if you are going to use soldiers, then train them properly and issue them with pistols for ordinary crime-prevention or suppression operations.”

Heitman advised that if soldiers are needed to assist the police, a senior police officer should be present at all times to determine the rules of engagement.

In the longer term, he said soldiers must undergo basic police training.

“The real long-term solution is to expand the police so they have enough manpower.”

Be careful

Ombudsman John Walters said it was time for the authorities to rethink the strategies in place.

“Is there no other way that we can do this?” he asked.

Walters warned against turning “Namibia into a military or police state. We pride ourselves in that we are a peaceful nation and we cannot allow this peace to be disturbed.”

He underlined that a balance needs to be achieved between crime prevention and ensuring the safety of civilians.

“The life of a human being should weigh heavily and only in very exceptional circumstances should you use a lethal weapon to protect yourself or in defence.”

In an open letter addressed to President Hage Geingob yesterday and shared on social media, Abednego Ekandjo said Namibian soldiers should be deployed to fight terrorism, and not to kill Namibians.

“If the logic of deploying soldiers armed with lethal weapons in the midst of citizens is to create fear and subsequent discipline, then you must be informed that the plan has gone awfully, terribly wrong. A citizen, who probably made a U-turn out of fear, has been shot dead just like that. Is this the Namibia you and your comrades have sacrificed and fought for?”

Ekandjo called for the current crime-fighting strategy to be scrapped immediately.

“This is totally unacceptable,” he emphasised.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Tobacco project lights up

Years after Swapo's Oshikoto coordinator Armas Amukwiyu and his Chinese partners first started pushing for a N$1 billion tobacco project in the Zambezi Region, cabinet has finally given the green light.

A cabinet resolution indicated yesterday that Namibia Oriental Tobacco had been given approval to lease a tract of land for a tobacco and maize plantation in the north-eastern region.

The resolution also said that the terms and conditions of the project would be finalised through the Cabinet Committee on Trade and Economic Development (CCTED). The company had promised to create 3 000 jobs. Amukwiyu yesterday confirmed the approval of the project, but would not divulge any details as he “was driving”. For years it seemed the project, which is set to use 10 000 hectares of land, had stagnated amid an alleged fallout between Amukwiyu and President Hage Geingob in the run-up to the Swapo elective congress in 2017.

Amukwiyu had stood against Geingob's preferred candidate for the party's secretary-general position, Sophia Shaningwa.

There was a new twist in June last year when it emerged that land reform minister Utoni Nujoma had apparently facilitated a cabinet presentation by the Chinese investors in the Namibia Oriental Tobacco project.

The project has courted controversy since it was first announced about four years ago. Former health minister Bernard Haufiku had vigorously campaigned against the initiative, describing it as a “chemical weapons” project.

He also urged residents of the region to “choose health above toxins”.

“My plea to the youth, who apparently support the planting of chemical weapons in the name of tobacco in that great region, is: Let us choose health above toxins; choose life above death!” he said at the time.

The Affirmative Repositioning movement, as well as a youth forum in Zambezi, had also voiced strong opposition to the project.

Amukwiyu at the time stated that they could move their project to another African country, should they be denied land in the Zambezi Region.

Tobacco farming is booming in countries like Zimbabwe where even small-scale farmers are buoyed by a huge demand for tobacco in China and other parts of the world.

STAFF REPORTER

Open wallets key - GertzeLack of financial support continues to knee-cap women's football The Brave Gladiators and local women's football in general need a massive financial boost in order to compete with the best in the world.

Namibia's women footballers need consistent financial support in order to one day brush shoulders with the best in the world.

This is according to Jacky Gertze from the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Women's Desk, who said the Brave Gladiators need youth structures and consistent financial resources to one day qualify and compete at prestigious competitions like the Fifa Women's World Cup.

Gertze was responding to questions on what steps the Gladiators need to take towards growth, to one day be counted amongst Africa's best by emulating the likes of World Cup debutants South Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon. Gertze said every national team needs youth structures and the consistent injection of resources, enabling players to be identified and groomed for under-17, u-20 and senior international competitions.

She stressed the biggest problem in this part of the world is that corporates either inject millions into boosting teams, as Sasol did with Banyana Banyana - thus allowing them to focus on international friendlies and competitions - or settling for the Namibian way, where the focus is on youth programmes.

“Up till now competitions have been lacking in the Cosafa region. For the first time this year we will have Cosafa u-17 and u-20 competitions (for women) and that announcement will help our players,” said Gertze.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is also expected to introduce an u-17 women's competition next year, to boost youthful players.

Gertze, who is also a former national team player, emphasised that this will allow them to shake their reliance on the same crop of senior players, as they will be able to choose from other divisions as well. She said they had been struggling with the lack of competitions, but the new tournaments are already a 50% step in the right direction to develop local players into World Cup material. She further stressed that they want to stick to their philosophy of developing players from grassroots level until they qualify for the senior team, but they also need good resourcing for this to materialise. Sharing Gertze's sentiments is Thuba Sibanda, the head coach of Unam Bokkies.

Sibanda has just returned from a Fifa Women's Football Convention, which was held in France, days before the World Cup kicked off. She said strengthening development programmes with children entering at 10 years old and building elite youth development programmes with quality should be Namibia's focus.

“We need to also support the regions as they have a large pool to scout players from and to provide opportunities for the national teams, we need to play more matches, regionally and internationally.” Sibanda also emphasised the importance of coaching courses to ensure quality coaches. She further urged corporate Namibia to invest more in the women's game. Regarding the ongoing World Cup in France, Gertze said Banyana Banyana are the most well-prepared representatives from Africa, through their Sasol sponsorship deal. “Cameroon have talented, professional players.

But their preparation was poor as the professionals are coming from their off-season. Lack of financial support might also cost them a chance at the cup,” Gertze said. She added that Nigeria also received no financial injection from their government, but they too have great players. Sibanda is putting her money on the Netherlands to lift the cup, which is being defended by the United States.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Ugly fallout over Afcon budget 'inflation'

Fifa normalisation committee (NC) chairperson Hilda Basson-Namundjebo says it will be unprofessional to engage nameless and faceless people who are trying to derail Namibia's hopes at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament in Egypt with their accusations.

Basson-Namundjebo was responding to a letter drafted by a group calling themselves the Special Defence Unit, who are accusing her of singling out sports ministry executive director Emma Kantema-Gaomas as the person behind the inflation of the Afcon budget.

The budget initially stood at N$23 million, but was later reduced to N$19 million.

According to a source it has now been cut to N$13 million after the ministry sat down with the NC to discuss and get clarity on what seemed like fishy allocations.

This was after questions were raised by the public about why some personnel were being paid huge sums of money.

Some of the allocations that received scrutiny were N$150 000 for a “sport massage appearance fee”, an equipment manager appearance fee of N$150 000 and a video scout fee of N$180 000.

Another amount which caused a stir was N$420 000 for media personnel and others. The 'others' being referred to was not clarified.

This allocation and many other issues irked the public and the Special Defence Unit accused Basson-Namundjebo in their letter of trying to divert funds to personal projects and using the NC as a money-making scheme.

“We wish to inform you that we have unearthed that you are behind the inflation of the budget as the first budget submitted to the ministry was N$23 million, which was revised to N$19 million making it comparatively market-related to other participating countries.

“We have established that you have inflated the budget so that you can divert funds to your other personal projects such as the salvation for the near bankrupt newspaper (referring to The Patriot newspaper owned by Basson-Namundjebo). “Our investigations have also found that you and you team have lost sight of your main assignment of organising the elections and are currently viewing your stunt as the NC as a money-making scheme,” the letter reads.

It also alleges that Basson-Namundjebo, as well as the vice-chairperson Franco Cosmos, will pocket N$150 000 apiece as Afcon participation fees on top of their salaries. “On top of the salaries that you are to getting you are also a beneficiary of the CAF grant fees, which the Namibia Football Association is hesitant to declare.”

Basson-Namundjebo said their mandate is simply normalise football matters in the country and that she will not validate people with agendas. She further said her job is to make sure that Ricardo Mannetti and his charges are happy as they gear up to face Morocco, Ivory Coast and South Africa in the group stages at Afcon 2019.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Super Falcons up against FranceNigeria skipper relishes showdown It will be a thriller when Nigeria take on France at the Fifa Women's World Cup today.

For Nigeria captain Desire Oparanozie, her country's meeting with hosts France today will be like playing on “home soil”.

“I'm excited playing in France and playing against France as well. I will have a couple of my friends in the French team,” the 25-year-old tells AFP.

This is her third World Cup, and it has a special flavour given she plays her club football in France for Guingamp.

Today's match, which is crucial for Nigeria as they seek to join France in the last 16, will be played not far from Guingamp, in Rennes.

“When you're playing against the host nation, you're not just playing against 11 players, you're playing against the crowd,” warned Oparanozie, who helped her team to a 2-0 win over South Korea on Wednesday to claim their first points in Group A.

After a 3-0 loss to Norway in their opening match, that result means the Super Falcons still stand a chance of making it out of their group at a World Cup for the first time in 20 years.

Nigeria may dominate women's football in Africa, having won 11 out of 13 Cups of Nations, but only once have they got beyond the group stage at the World Cup.

“In past World Cups, we haven't really done well and we are working very hard to make sure that we qualify from the group stage,” said Oparanozie.

To help them do that, the Nigerians moved last year to appoint Thomas Dennerby as coach - the Swede who led his home country to third place at the 2011 World Cup.

“He brings a whole lot of positive things in the team. He has a very broad knowledge about women's football,” said Oparanozie. “We've seen a couple of changes since he arrived.”

Among the most important changes was the improved preparations ahead of the tournament.

“We didn't really have that in the past. But this time is different. We had a couple of quality international friendlies and tournaments.

“We went to China, to Cyprus for the Cyprus Cup and we were also in Spain to play against Canada, so we had a good preparation for this year's World Cup.”

Another of Dennerby's decisions was to make Oparanozie the captain, something she describes as “an honour” and “a great privilege”.

“It always comes with a whole lot of expectations, I would say. I mean the players expect a lot from me, the coaches, the federation, the country as a whole,” she said.

Oparanozie left her homeland at the age of just 17 and had spells in Russia, Germany and Turkey, eventually settling in France at Guingamp in 2014.

“It was really hard in the beginning. At that age I missed home a lot, it was cold, the food was different, the culture, the people,” she said of leaving Nigeria. “It was really difficult but looking from where I came from, I wanted to grow in my career, I didn't have any option other than to try to make a career for myself.”

She also had to overcome resistance from within her own family at the idea of becoming a footballer.

“In a typical African home, they think the girls shouldn't play football, they think it's a boy's sport.

“Even in my family, they were against it, but luckily enough I had my father's support and that's what helped me to carry on with my career.”

She is now eager to help youngsters who want to follow in her footsteps, and recently set up her own foundation for boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 18.

In July, she will be back in her home town of Owerri, in southern Nigeria, to hold a seminar for several hundred youngsters.

“I organise seminars to encourage them to be whatever they want to be. That's my own way of giving back.”

NAMPA/AFP

Namibia lose to RussiaUruguay retain Nations Cup title The Namibians, coached by Welshman Phil Davies, were whitewashed by the Russian team, mentored by former Namibia national team coach Lyn Jones.

Namibia's senior national rugby team failed to capitalise on their momentum from an earlier win over Uruguay and were defeated 20-0 by Russia on Saturday in their final match of the World Rugby Nations Cup.

The Russians were the better team in a match marred by yellow cards. Namibia received three and Russia one.

The halftime score was 13-0 after an early penalty and a converted try put the Russians in charge. By the end of the match, the Namibians had not scored a point.

The Namibians beat defending champions Uruguay in their second match. That match ended 30-28 in the Namibian team's favour, as they recorded their first win at the tournament.

This was definitely a sweet victory for the Namibians after they lost their first match 25-39 against Argentina XV. The warm-up tournament forms part of the team's preparations for the upcoming 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Filled with a squad comprised of youthful and experienced players, Namibia will play alongside Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Italy in Group B in Japan.

Heading into the final round of Nations Cup, all four sides - Uruguay, Russia, Argentina XV and Namibia - had one win and one loss to their names, meaning that first place was still mathematically achievable for all the competing teams.

A bonus point victory for Argentina would have seen them take the crown, while Uruguay simply needed to secure a victory. All other permutations would have seen Russia top the log.

The sub-par weather in Montevideo, Uruguay's capital, meant that tries were always going to be hard to come by. This, of course, did not work in Argentina's favour, as they needed to touch-down four times to secure the championship.

As the game developed, it became increasingly clear that a bonus point victory was not on the cards for the Argentina. Uruguay scored the first try of the match within ten minutes of kick-off and never gave up their lead. Uruguay were ahead 20-10 at halftime and Argentina could do nothing to wrestle a victory off the 2017 and 2018 champions.

The match finished 28-15 in Uruguay's favour and consigned Argentina to a third place finish.

–Additional info by RugbyPass

LIMBA MUPETRAMI

Omagumbo gopoloyeka yomass housing geli pe 1 201 kage na aantuOmagumbo gamwe oge na ondilo, nondando yago itayi vulika koshigwana Omupresidende gwongundu yoRDP, Mike Kavekotora okwa popi kutya oshiyetwapo shetungo lyomagumbo gehwata moshilongo shoka sha li sha nuninwa okukandula po ompumbwe yomagumbo moshigwana oshili opoloyoeka yopapolotika ya ndopa.

Omagumbo geli po 1 201 ngoka ga tungwa kohi yopoloyeka yomass housing konyala moondoolopa oonene moshilongo, kage na aantu molwaashoka gamwe inaga pwa, gamwe ogeli monkalo yanaipala nenge ondando itayi vulika.

Omagumbo geli pe 1 108 gomomwaalu ngoka otaga longwa natango omanga geli po 93 ga pwa ihe kage na aantu natango.

Uuyelele mboka owa gandjwa kuuministeli weyambulepo lyoondoolopa niitopolwa mOmutumba gwoPashigwana. Omupeha minista Derek Klazen okwa li ta yamukula komapulo ga ningwa kOmupresidende gwongundu yoRally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), Mike Kavekotora Etine lyoshiwike sha piti.

Kavekotora okwa popi kutya oshiyetwapo shoka oshili opoloyeka yopapolotika ya ndopa, molwaashoka inayi dhilaadhilwa nawa, ta popi kombinga yomagumbo kage na aantu, geli monkalo ombwiinayi oshowo ondilo yago.

Sho a yamukula, Klazen okwa popi kutya omagumbo geli po 3 958 oga tungwa kohi yopoloyeka ndjoka yepangelo. Okwa popi kutya omagumbo ogeli poondondo dha yooloka nomagumbo geli po 2 819 oga pwa nale okutungwa na otamu vulu okuya aantu.

Okwa gwedha ko kutya omagumbo geli pe 1 139 ogeli pokumanithwa, omanga 2 819 ga pwa na oge na nale aantu.

Omupeha minista okwa popi kutya omagumbo geli po 362 kage na natango aantu moshilandopangelo molwaashoka inamu tulwa natango omayakulo gamuni.

Mondoolopa yaOpuwo, omu na omagumbo geli po 24 ngoka natango taga tungwa omanga mondoolopa yaNkurenkuru egumbo limwe lya tegelela okupewa mwene. Ondoolopa yaTavi oyi na omagumbo gaali ngoka ga tegelela okupewa ooyene konima sho etulo lyominino dhiiyekelwahi momagumbo ngoka lya etitha ekateko.

Mondolopa yaKatima Mulilo, ehangano lyoNational Housing Enterprise (NHE) otali ka gandja omagumbo geli po 17 kooyene omanga gaali ga pewa nale ooyene.

Mondoolopa yaKarasburg, omagumbo geli po 57 kage na aantu molwaashoka oge na ondilo na kape na aantu mboka taye ga vulu, omanga geli po 83 taga tungwa moKaiti.

Omagumbo geli gane moRundu kage na aantu molwaashoka oga yonagulwa komvula onene. Omanga moondoolopa ngaashi Lüderitz omu na egumbo limwe kali na omuntu, Outjo natango egumbo limwe kali na omuntu, Khorixas omagumbo gaali kage na aantu omanga Mariental mu na omagumbo gatatu ogo kage na aantu.

Mondoolopa yaHenties Bay, omagumbo geli gatatu kage na aantu sha etitha kekaleko lyomatsokumwe gomalando.

NAMPA

Omuprima a gunu iiputudhilo yepangelo

Omuprima minista okwa popi kutya onkalo kutya omahangano ogeli oshitopolwa shepangelo, hasho tashi popile okukala omahangano ngoka giikolela owala kiiyemo okuza koshiketha shepangelo.

Okwa popi kutya nomahangano gepangelo ngoka inaga nuninwa okuninga iiyemo oga pumbwa okukala nomalelo omawanawa ngoka taga lalakanene elongitho nawa lyiimaliwa oshowo okwaadha omalalakano gawo.

Okwa popi kutya iiputudhilo yepangelo oya nuninwa okulonga yiithikamena ihe poompito odhindji omahangano ohaga kala giikokelela owala kiiyemo okuza kepangelo nokukala omukundu omunene gwopashimaliwa kepangelo, omolwa elongitho pambambo lyoonzo dhepangelo.

Omuprima Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila okwa popi kutya nonando omahangano ngoka ogwiikokekela mepangelo ngele tashi ya kiiyemo yokutamekitha, oga pumbwa okwiilongela kugogene nokukwashilipaleka kutya ogiiyambulapo paliko go taga vulu woo okugandja iiyemo kaaniipambuliko yiiputudhilo mbyoka ngaashi epangelo.

Eyambidhidho noopresenda 2

Sho a popitha ominista yiiputudhilo yepangelo, Leon Jooste, iilyo yomalelo giiputudhilo yepangelo noomenindjela oshowo aakomeho ayehe, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila okwa popi mEtitano lya piti kutya, omahangano ga yama kepangelo oga pumbwa okuyambidhidha epangelo moonkambadhala dhokukondjitha oshikukuta shoka sha taalela oshilongo.

Okwa popi kombinga yeindilo lyepangelo opo aanashilonga ya vule okugandja oopresenda 2 dhiiyemo yawo lumwe komvula kepangelo.

Okwa popi kutya iimaliwa mbyoka otayi ka longithwa moonkambadhala dhokukondjitha oshikukuta, ta popi kutya epangelo olya ukitha woo eindilo ndyoka koshikondo shopaumwene pamwe naaniilonga moshikondo shopaumwene, opo ya vule okuyambidhidha epangelo.

Iikumungu ya taalela epangelo

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila okwa popi kutya iiputudhilo yepangelo oya pumbwa okutula miilonga omikalo dhingi kehe dhopaigwana, ta gwedha po kutya oominista dhiikondo yomondjila nenge Jooste oye na oshinakugwanithwa shokukwashilipaleka ekondololo nepangelo ewanawa lyomahangano ngoka, okupitila momalelo gomahangano, nokukwashilipaleka egandjo lyomayakulo dhingi koshigwana ngaashi yiinekelelwa oshinakugwanithwa shoka, nokukwata woo nawa oonzo dhepangelo.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila okwa popi kutya omupya omunene omahangano ogendji ngoka otaga gu po omolwa okwaahalongela kumwe mokati komalelo naapombanda yomahangano. Okwa nyana woo omukalo gwekutho miilonga lyaanambelewa aakuluntu momahangano, shoka tashi hepeke noonkondo iimaliwa yoshigwana sho tashi ningwa inaku landulwa omilandu dhomondjila.

Omuprima okwa pula iiputudhilo yepangelo yi ngongepo oompangela dhoka tadhi etitha omayambulepo keliko lyoshilongo nokwaadha omalalakano goompangela dhoshilongo ngaashi Harambee Prosperity Plan, Fifth National Development Plan oshowo Vision 2030.

Okwa tsikile kutya omupya omunene ngashiingeyi omahangano ogendji gepangelo otaga popilwa owala muuwinayi omolwa omatompelo ga puka ngashi kutya itaga longo nawa nenge otaga ndopa okugandja omayakulo.

Okwa popi kutya olundji elongitho lyiimaliwa oyindji miifuta yaaniilonga, ta gwedha po kutya nonando iifuta yili nawa oyili enano lyuunongo wopombanda, inaku pumbiwa okupitilila oongamba dhoondjambi ndhoka dha tulwa po kepangelo, opo owala taku vulu okukwatwa nawa iimaliwa.

OMUTOOLINKUNDANA GWOMENI

SA, Ghana play to goalless draw

South Africa played to a goalless draw with the Black Stars of Ghana in a practice game played behind 'closed doors' at the Dubai Police Academy on Saturday.

Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter named two separate teams, one that played in first half and the other that played in the last 45 minutes, in a bid to give every player a run ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament scheduled to kick off next week in Egypt.

Played in blazing heat, Bafana started the brighter of the two and could have taken the lead in the second minute, but Thulani Serero opted to pass from the edge of the box and Ghana survived.

There was very little goalmouth action in the opening stanza, as the scorching heat took centre stage, although Ghana at times was threatening.

In the second half the Bafana second side led by Lebogang Maboe was buzzing throughout and with steady shooting could have surprised their opponents.

NAMPA/ANA

Fury batters SchwarzBritain eyes Wilder rematch Unbeaten British heavyweight Tyson Fury outclassed Germany's Tom Schwarz to score victory via a second-round technical knockout on Saturday.

Tyson Fury, determined to put on a show on his Las Vegas debut, overwhelmed Tom Schwarz with a dazzling display of ring craft, before unloading in the second round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The flamboyant 30-year-old had established his dominance early, rocking Schwarz repeatedly with a series of stiff left jabs in the opening round that rapidly reddened the previously unbeaten German fighter's face.

In the second round Fury bamboozled Schwarz by switching to southpaw, once again landing blows on his less experienced opponent with ease.

Fury had Schwarz on the canvas after uncorking a crisp right-left combination that left blood pouring from the German fighter's nose.

He then cornered Schwarz and unfurled a series of unopposed punches that left referee Kenny Bayless no option but to wave an end to the fight.

“The key tonight was to enjoy myself,” Fury said afterwards. “I used the jab; I was slipping and sliding.”

“I came here to have fun and put on a show for Las Vegas and I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did,” added Fury, who had entered the ring wearing a Stars and Stripes-themed costume to the strains of James Brown's 'Living in America'.

“I felt like it was my coming out party,” Fury added. “I wanted to show a few things to the American public to introduce myself properly. And tonight I showed a little bit of speed, boxing skill, an ability to slip and slide and most importantly, to finish.”

The win saw Fury improve to 28-0-1 with 20 knockouts and will heighten demand for a rematch against undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

Fury and Wilder fought an epic battle in their first meeting in Los Angeles last December, when Fury famously got up from a 12th round knockdown to earn a draw.

Fury said after his win on Saturday that his camp is planning one more fight, either in late September or early October, before a rematch with Wilder early in 2020.

“What's next? Next year we're going to hunt down Deontay Wilder for that green belt,” Fury said.

Fury's US promoter, legendary boxing impresario Bob Arum, suggested a rematch with Wilder could surpass the earnings records set by Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather's 2015 bout.

“I've been around a long time,” Arum said. “And this guy (Fury) is right now easily the best heavyweight in the world, maybe one of the all-time best heavyweights.

“I mean how do you deal with a guy who is 6ft 9in and moves the way he does? He's something else and something special.”

Arum said that next year's likely rematch with Wilder would take place in Las Vegas.

“The fight will be in the first quarter of next year,” he said. “Right now, I can't see why that fight won't surpass Mayweather-Pacquiao.”

Fury's win came a fortnight after Britain's WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was stunned by Andy Ruiz Jr in a massive upset in New York.

“There was three horses in the heavyweight division, and then there were two,” Fury said, referring to Joshua's defeat.

“Deontay Wilder is coming. It's going to happen.”

NAMPA/AFP

Shack fire leaves families homeless

Several families were left homeless when a fire at Mondesa Single Quarters in Swakopmund destroyed nine shacks on Friday afternoon.

According the Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Gurirab the fire allegedly started in one of the shacks near Moshitila Apartments between 12:00 and 13:00, and spread to the other eight shacks in the yard.

“It razed all nine shacks to the ground. The incident was attended by members of the Namibian Police Force and Swakopmund Fire Brigade, and they extinguished the fire.

“No loss of life or serious injuries due to the fire were reported, only the shacks and the property inside were destroyed,” he said.

Gurirab added that the cause of the fire is still unknown.

“It is suspected that the owner of one of the shack where the fire started forgot to switch off the stove when the whole Swakopmund experienced a power outage early in the morning, and this might be the cause of the fire,” he said.

Gurirab urged willing members of the public to make donations of any kind to the shack fire victims.

“I believe the owners of these shacks will greatly appreciate it if someone helps them with anything, which can assist them to rebuild their lives,” Gurirab added.

Adolf Kaure

'I was a Swapo informant'NIMT suspect flaunts struggle credentials NIMT double murder suspect Ernst Joseph Lichtenstrasser says he gathered information to “bring about the downfall of the apartheid regime”.

Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) double murder suspect Ernst Joseph Lichtenstrasser, who claims he gathered information for Swapo during the liberation struggle, has insisted he is innocent.

He claims he only confessed to the killings because the police had threatened to arrest his wife, after “intensive questioning”.

Lichtenstrasser is charged with the execution-style shootings of NIMT CEO Eckhart Mueller and his deputy Heimo Hellwig in April in front of the training centre in Arandis.

He repeatedly referred to his time as a PLAN fighter, but maintained that had never participated in a battle and rather gathered information to “bring about the downfall of the apartheid regime”.

He insisted that he was innocent last week during a court appearance at the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court, where he formally applied for bail.

Evidence has also been produced in court that the spent cartridges found at the NIMT murder scene may have come from the same firearm used at a shooting range in the Tsumeb district, which Lichtenstrasser visited just before the killings.

“It was not me,” he testified.

The 58-year-old native Austrian was under heavy police guard.

The suspect said he came to Namibia before independence and disapproved of the then apartheid system, which is why he had become a freedom fighter and currently enjoys veteran status.

In addition, he successfully completed an apprenticeship at a vocational training centre in Stetten, Austria and therefore worked “well over ten years” as a teacher at NIMT in Tsumeb.

A petition signed by 2 000 people was read out to court officials by Arandis mayor Risto Kapenda at the entrance of the building before the proceedings got underway. The petition demanded that Lichtenstrasser be refused bail.

Lichtenstrasser maintained that although he had made a confession and admitted the murders, he had done so because of police threats that his wife would be arrested.

“I wanted to protect my wife and therefore confessed to the murders,” he said.

He claimed further he had admitted to the version of events presented to him by the police.

Lichtenstrasser testified after state prosecutor Antonia Verhoef presented five reasons why he should remain in custody.

These included that Lichtenstrasser is a flight risk and that it was neither in the interest of justice nor the public that he be granted bail. “The allegations are very serious,” she said.

Lichtenstrasser's lawyer Trevor Brockerhoff led his evidence.

The suspect admitted he was part of a NIMT concerned group that questioned management and Mueller's leadership.

He said all the group members had “strife” with Mueller, and not only him.

Although he denied the allegations, Lichtenstrasser admitted he was in the vicinity of Arandis “somewhere in the desert” on 15 April.

He said he had a quarrel with his wife in Tsumeb the previous day and told her he was going to “Jason”, a former NIMT employee who currently resides in Swakopmund.

He rummaged through the safe and packed a .38 Special revolver and ammunition, and then proceeded south.

Due to pain in his shoulder he took strong painkillers along the way and “somewhere between Usakos and Arandis” he stopped and slept next to the road due to “fatigue and confusion”.

“I woke up confused on Monday (the day of the murders) and for safety reasons I drove a little further into the desert, where I fell asleep again,” he said.

On the Tuesday he decided to drive back to Tsumeb. During the trip he had heard about the killings on the radio and was arrested in Karibib. The bail hearing continues.

Erwin Leuschner

Afghanistan crushed by Proteas

South Africa's Proteas crushed Afghanistan by nine wickets on Saturday, but still have more to do.

Faf du Plessis said South Africa must win all their remaining games if they are to have any chance of reaching the World Cup semi-finals after they notched up their first win in the tournament.

The Proteas have endured a torrid start to their campaign in England and Wales, losing their first three matches before a no-result against the West Indies. But the outcome never looked in doubt in Cardiff, with man-of-the-match Imran Tahir taking four wickets as South Africa bundled Afghanistan out for a meagre 125 before cantering to victory by nine wickets.

South Africa skipper Du Plessis said his players had upped their game in the match, which was reduced to 48 overs per side after two rain delays.

“Hopefully this is a real confidence-booster for everyone on the team,” he said. “And there's a little bit of weight that you feel that's off your shoulders now, so now the guys we know what's lying ahead.

“We need to win every game that we play. But today was a really good step in the right direction.”

South Africa, missing injured paceman Dale Steyn, lost to England, Bangladesh and India before picking up a point in their rain-ruined match against the West Indies.

Their win on Saturday lifts them to seventh in the 10-team table after five matches, but their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals by reaching the top four are remote, with New Zealand and Australia still to come in their remaining four games. South Africa took their time in chasing down their target but Afghanistan, who look out of their depth at the World Cup, did not have the weapons to trouble their opponents. Hashim Amla (41 not out) and Quinton de Kock (68), put on 104 for the first wicket before Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib had De Kock caught by Mohammad Nabi.

Amla and Andile Phehlukwayo saw South Africa over the line as they reached their revised target of 127 in the 29th over.

There was little sign of the carnage to come when Hazratullah Zazai and Noor Ali Zadran put on 39 runs for Afghanistan's first wicket.

Zazai was the first to go and when leg-spinner Tahir bowled Zadran for 32 with his first ball, and then caught Asghar Afghan off his own bowling for nought in the same over, Afghanistan were in deep trouble.

Nabi became the third Afghan batsman to lose his wicket in the space of seven balls when he was bowled by Phehlukwayo.

When Naib was caught by Aiden Markram of the bowling of Tahir, Afghanistan were teetering on the brink of disaster at 77-7.

Rashid Khan struck 35 from 25 balls, with six fours, but even his late flourish could only lift the score to 125.

“We didn't expect that spell from Tahir,” said Nabi. “We did well against the seamers but the batsmen didn't take responsibility in the middle. We needed a good total on the board, so we needed a partnership. We made a lot of mistakes.

“We have a lot of batsmen in the team. We need in the middle of the innings for them to push the scoreboard up.”

NAMPA/AFP

Nedbank Citi Dash this weekendRunners urged to enter epic race Coinciding with International Olympic Day, the Nedbank Citi Dash aims to get Namibians off their couches and active.

Getting people active is exactly what the organisers of the Nedbank Citi Dash are aiming for, says organiser Patrick de Goede.

The annual Nedbank Citi Dash takes place in the capital this weekend, with the action starting and ending at Zoo Park, and following a loop along Independence Avenue.

De Goede says they are aiming to get 2 000 runners and walkers at the event on Sunday.

“But in future our vision is to get 5 000 participants involved,” he says.

He adds that this event is part of their #namibiabeactive campaign that is simply a broader vision to get people active, no matter what sport code they practice.

“This is especially important for the younger generation. Our youth is in trouble simply because the odds are stacked against them in terms of food and electronics. The Citi Dash is a call to everyone to get physically active. Running is probably the most cost-effective way to get active,” added De Goede.

Along with Nedbank's Lionel Matthews who will be participating, Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua ran last year, and the hope is that he will do so again this year. As a matter of interest, the day of the Citi Dash is International Olympic Day, which is celebrated around the world in more than 160 countries.

Runners and walkers can enter online via EventsToday/PayToday until Thursday at 18:00. Thereafter manual entries can be made at Cycletech (324 Sam Nujoma Ave) on Friday until 17:30. All numbers can be fetched at Zoo Park on Saturday from 14:00 until 18:00.

The elite dash for serious athletes starts at 7:00 in front of Zoo Park on Sunday, and they have 50 minutes to complete the route. At 8:00 the fun run and walks (5km or 10km) starts for everyone else.

Both routes start and end at Zoo Park.

Participation costs N$250 for the elite run and N$50 for the 10km or 5km fun run.

If you buy your ticket via PayToday, you get 25% off.

As an incentive, De Goede says that in total around N$55 000 in prizes are up for grabs. The top five elite runners in the open men and women's categories, the top three of the junior men and women's categories and the top three of both categories for athletes in wheelchairs and the vision-impaired will win prizes.

In addition, De Goede says that any corporate that enters 30 or more persons pays a reduced entry fee of only N$30, adding that businesses should get in touch with him for block bookings. To encourage schools and sport clubs to enter, there's also prize-monies to be won. “The club and school with the most entries, gets N$3 000 while second and third place receive N$2 000 and N$1 000 respectively,” says the organiser.

To add to the fun, there are ten N$1 000 prizes to be won in the fun run category. This will be handed out just before the prize-giving that starts at 10:00. By 11:00 everyone is expected to be home.

Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) will be broadcasting the event live via the Windhoek Express Facebook page.

For more info and to make block bookings, contact De Goede at patrick@cycletech.com.na

Gerine Hoff