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Geingob bemoans tribalism in Swapo

July 28, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Geingob bemoans tribalism in SwapoGeingob bemoans tribalism in Swapo JEMIMA BEUKES

WINDHOEK



President Hage Geingob has challenged Swapo members to deal with the recurrent ghosts of tribalism and factionalism, which undermine party's cohesion and its ability to deliver services to the electorate.

“Some comrades are abandoning solidarity and sacrifice because they look at the Swapo in terms of what they should gain and not what they should give to the party. Membership of Swapo has always been about adhering to values and principles, and not personal advancement,” he said.

Swapo will urgently address access to decent housing, health, education and deepening inequality in Namibia, its head said.

Geingob, who last year lamented the mushrooming of informal settlements as a humanitarian crisis and declared a state of emergency around this crisis, said Swapo must “give full effect to my decision on solving the crisis in informal settlements”.

This comes in the wake of a devastating fire in the Twaloloka informal settlement in Walvis Bay, which destroyed about 150 shacks and killed a child.





“We cannot allow our people to live in such conditions. We regret the loss of life,” Geingob said on Monday in his closing speech at the party's introspection meeting held over the weekend.



Job-creation

Geingob added the introspection helped them confront the pressing issue of youth unemployment and the need for inclusion at different levels.

“Our demographics are changing and we have to expand opportunities for young people by ensuring better quality services to scholarship holders and facilities in the education sector,” he said.

He added the party's central committee and politburo will meet in coming weeks to deal with the issues raised and recommendations.

“The extraordinary congress of the party will at a later stage discuss the amendments of the rules and modalities for intra-party electoral processes. I would like to sincerely thank all of you for your robust participation in this very important meeting. Over the past three days we have been of use to Swapo, the only party we know and the only party we love.”



jemima@namibiansun.com
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Corona shuts Windhoek businesses

July 28, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Corona shuts Windhoek businessesCorona shuts Windhoek businesses• Private entities, govt offices and parastatals send staff home Ludwigsdorf, Khomasdal, Goreangab and Havana are among the areas in Windhoek where Covid-19 cases have been confirmed recently. OGONE TLHAGE

WINDHOEK



Although the harbour town of Walvis Bay remains the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic in Namibia, a flurry of business, government and parastatal closures in Windhoek, where a surge in suspected or confirmed cases has been recorded, have plunged the capital city into a sense of gloom.

The national case tally is now rising quickly and is hurtling towards 2 000 infections.

More worrying is the latest forced business closures, along with both parliamentary, government and parastatal staff being sent home because of possible exposure to the coronavirus.





With the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases steadily on the increase in Windhoek, health executive director Ben Nangombe said the ministry was concerned and that targeted mass testing was being discussed for certain areas in the capital.

This follows confirmed cases at the University of Namibia (Unam), NamWater, Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Namibian Police, Windhoek City Police, MTC and Bank Windhoek, among others.

Ludwigsdorf, Khomasdal, Goreangab and Havana are among the areas in Windhoek where cases have been confirmed recently.

“We have looked at such a [mass testing] plan and are working with the regional [health] directorate. It has not been approved [yet]. We are looking at a target of 1 000 people,” said Nangombe.

“We have identified locations that we are targeting. It will be announced once we have reached that decision. I do not want to comment on a decision that has not yet been taken,” he said.



Limited resources

Speaking during a webinar yesterday, former health minister Bernard Haufiku said the government's approach of targeted mass testing would help it manage the limited resources at hand.

“We have to be careful about mass testing; we are going to waste resources. Maybe targeted mass testing, we can look at that,” Haufiku said.

“Testing everyone will not be cost effective.”

Reflecting on Namibia's possible Covid-19 peak, Haufiku said there was a possibility that this would happen in September.

“We have to be very cautious. We are not yet at the peak. In Namibia we are still climbing. We suspect that we could reach the peak in August, if we are lucky,” he said.



Adherence

Health minister Kalumbi Shangula said a “worrying upsurge” in the number of confirmed cases had been observed.

Shangula yesterday announced 74 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the country's total number of confirmed cases to 1 917. Of the new cases, 56 are from Walvis Bay, four from Lüderitz, four from Windhoek, three from Swakopmund, two from Oshakati, two from Rundu and one each from Okahandja, Omaruru and Onandjokwe.

“Although the town of Walvis Bay remains the epicentre of the pandemic at present, cases are increasing in other parts of the country. This is and must be a source of concern for all Namibians. It calls for greater vigilance and personal responsibility of each and every Namibian to do our part to stop the spread of this disease in its tracts. And it can be done,” Shangula said.

He encouraged the continual wearing of face masks, the frequent washing of hands, and only going out into public if it is absolutely necessary.

“These are the realities of our times. The only way Namibia can suppress the spread of the disease is by following and complying with these measures without fail. At all times, and by everyone,” he said.

His sentiment was echoed by the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention director, Dr Eric Dziuban. According to him, the choices and recommended responses Windhoek residents make would determine how far the disease would spread.



Institutional responses

The Katutura Magistrate's Court was closed after a prosecutor stationed there tested positive. The doors of the court have now been closed for 21 days. Staff members have been sent home until the 21 days have lapsed.

The City Police closed its head office for six hours after an officer tested positive for Covid-19.

NamWater closed its doors after an employee had been in contact with a positive case. The office is expected to open on 3 August.

Unam confirmed its first Covid-19 case, while 39 students at the institution are currently quarantined and a further four staff members have been requested to self-isolate for fear of possible exposure to Covid-19.

The Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa) head office temporarily shut down due to a suspected positive Covid-19 case.

The NBC also recently confirmed a positive case, but its northern industrial head office remains open.

A police officer has also tested positive, but the chief police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, would not say at which police station the officer was stationed.
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Govt U-turns to apply for N$4.5bn IMF loan

July 28, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Govt U-turns to apply for N$4.5bn IMF loanGovt U-turns to apply for N$4.5bn IMF loan JO-MARÉ DUDDY

WINDHOEK



After stating to Namibian Sun in April that it would avoid the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial aid, government yesterday confirmed it has approached that institution for a loan of N$4.5 billion to help finance its record deficit of nearly N$21.4 billion in the current fiscal year.

Finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi yesterday confirmed that the government last week submitted a special drawing rights (SDR) 192 million application to the IMF's rapid financing instrument (RFI) to help it address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Namibia.

Shiimi yesterday told Namibian Sun that government would assess the terms and conditions of the loan once the IMF responds to see if it is favourable.

“We hope we get what we asked for,” he said.

In April, the finance ministry said that in a bid to avoid further heightening public debt, Namibia had so far resisted the temptation to approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to finance the national budget or the war against the coronavirus.





While tabling his N$72.8 billion budget, which included N$8.4 billion earmarked for the payment of interest on government loans, finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi revealed that “taking into account the total financing requirements”, government debt stock would to rise to N$117.5 billion, corresponding to 68.7% of gross domestic product (GDP), from 54.8% estimated in 2019/20.

The IMF, notoriously known for removing the fiscal autonomy of countries it lends to, recently offered a US$50 billion war chest to help countries fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

South Africa was on Monday granted a US$4.3 billion loan from the IMF, the single biggest allocation of emergency financing from the fund yet for the pandemic-hit country.

The IMF approved the loan for President Cyril Ramaphosa's government in order to address “the challenging health situation and severe economic impact of the Covid-19 shock” on Africa's most industrialised economy.



RFI

According to the IMF's website, the RFI provides rapid and low-access financial assistance to member countries facing an urgent balance of payments need, without the need to have a full-fledged programme in place.

“It can provide support to meet a broad range of urgent needs, including those arising from commodity price shocks, natural disasters, conflict and post-conflict situations, and emergencies resulting from fragility,” the fund states.

SDR is an international reserve asset created by the IMF to supplement its member countries' official reserves. The value of the SDR is based on a basket of five currencies -the US dollar, euro, Chinese yuan, Japanese yen and the British pound.

The SDR value in terms of the US dollar is determined daily based on spot exchange rates. According to the IMF's website, the SDR yesterday afternoon equalled nearly US$1.41. A loan of SDR192 million therefore translates to nearly US$271 million which, at yesterday's exchange rate, is around N$4.5 billion.

In his maiden budget tabled towards the end of May, Shiimi made provision for Covid-19 related borrowing of N$3.23 billion.

According to the IMF's website, Namibia has a quota of about SDR191 million. The country currently has no loans at the fund.
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Santam commits N$ 30 million

July 28, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Santam commits N$ 30 millionSantam commits N$ 30 millionUrgent relief is for clients The N$ 30 million disbursements are equal to 70% of one month’s value of the sum insured for Santam’s policyholders in the identified industries. We decided to assist with a substantial contribution to help sustain our policyholders. Franco Feris, chief executive officer: Santam Namibia. Santam Namibia has committed N$ 30 million to clients with Contingent Business Interruption (CBI) extensions in their policies who have incurred losses due to Covid-19.

The urgent relief is for clients in the hospitality, leisure and non-essential retail services industries that have CBI cover, Santam said in a media statement issued on Monday.

“We understand that the pandemic has caused devastation on individuals, businesses and the overall economy. Therefore, we decided to assist with a substantial contribution to help sustain our policyholders in the most impacted industries,” Santam Namibia chief executive officer Franco Feris said.

The aim of the relief payment is to support policyholders who are in financial distress and does not serve as indemnity under a policy contract, it said.

The N$ 30 million disbursements are equal to 70 per cent of one month’s value of the sum insured for Santam’s policyholders in the identified industries.

The one month is indicative of the period where most businesses were impacted by the restrictive trading environment imposed by Namibia’s stage one lockdown due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

The 70 percent is based on a view that the businesses would have experienced variable expense savings during the lockdown.

The relief payments will be set at a minimum of N$ 25 000 and a maximum of N$ 1.5 million for individual CBI policyholders.

“As Santam we pride ourselves on being a responsible and patriotic corporate citizen. Over our 60-year-old history, we have built a reputation of always acting with integrity and in the best interests of our clients and stakeholders,” Feris said.

He added that the insurer has to date also contributed more than N$ 20 million in Covid-19 funding to provide relief through premium reductions, premium refunds as well as direct support to insurance industry business partners, corporate social responsibility and government initiatives. - Nampa
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Sustainable development crucial

July 28, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Sustainable development crucialSustainable development crucialOptimising the utilization of resources The region is open for investment owing to its political stability and predictable climate environment. Let's work together with all population categories in the region for the implementation of planned government projects.Bonifasius Wakudumo, governor: Kavango east Kavango east regional governor Bonifasius Wakudumo has called on the residents of the region to embrace the spirit of hard work and unity and optimise the utilization of natural resources for sustainable development.

Wakudumo while delivering his state of the region address (SORA), said the region is open for investment owing to its political stability and predictable climate environment, hence his call to invite local and foreign investors to come on board and invest in the region.

“Therefore, I would like to urge the Kavango East regional council, Rundu town council, Divundu village council, traditional authorities, religious leaders, private sector, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the residents of the Kavango rast Rrgion to work as a unit towards progressive development,” urged Wakudumo.

The Kavango east region, he said is a zone of social and economic opportunities that promise to offer a better living standard to all Namibians and a beacon of hope in the country’s democracy which continues to function and provide social-political space for the implementation of government policies and programmes aimed at transforming the general populace.

“Working together with all categories of the population in the region for the implementation of planned government projects and programmes was a stimulus towards achieving the 5th National Development Plan (NDP5) and Harambee Prosperity Plan,” he said.

The governor further mentioned some of the regions success stories such as the completion of phase two, three and four of roads, water and electrical reticulation system at Ndiyona settlement, which was constructed at a cost of N$ 17 million.

He added that another milestone is the rehabilitation of Sam Nujoma Drive and B10 road at a cost of N$ 4 million, the construction of 146 houses by private developers in Rundu as well as the approved sale of 135 plots in Divundu of which 108 are for residential and 27 for business purposes. - Nampa
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Nust confirms positive Covid-19 case

July 28, 2020, 3:39 am
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Nust confirms positive Covid-19 caseNust confirms positive Covid-19 case Namibia University of Science and Technology - NUST has confirmed that a part-time lecturer has tested positive for Covid-19. Namibia University of Science and Technology - NUST has confirmed that a part-time lecturer has tested positive for Covid-19.

The staff member is apart of the department of architecture and spatial planning at the university. The lecturer has since been placed in government quarantine after visiting the campus last on 8 July.

Additionally, Nust is waiting for the results of another presumptive case. More information to follow in due coarse.

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Cause of Twaloloka fire ‘impossible’ to determine

July 29, 2020, 7:03 am
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Cause of Twaloloka fire ‘impossible’ to determineCause of Twaloloka fire ‘impossible’ to determineFirefighters had to fight bystanders and the blaze at the same time. Fire hydrants blocked by onlookers LEANDREA LOUW

WALVIS BAY

The Walvis Bay Fire Brigade had their hands full trying to subdue a massive fire in Twaloloka settlement this past Sunday evening, while being protected by police from an angry mob armed with knives and pangas.
The blaze claimed the life of a three-year-old boy and left hundreds homeless.
About 150 shacks burnt to the ground, leaving residents with nothing but the clothes they were wearing at the time.
The situation worsened when onlookers began pelting firefighters, police reservists and municipality workers with stones.
It later emerged that it was not Twaloloka residents who clashed with the armed forces.

Scratched and bruised
A firefighter said they had to extinguish the fire while a group of onlookers, armed with pangas (machetes) and okapis (pocket knives) crowded around them.
Fire chief Dennis Basson said the members of his team are all okay, bar a few scratches and bruises.
“One of the firefighters was hit on the nose and threatened with a panga. Otherwise, they are doing okay. Some of the firehoses were also cut. Without the police and the armed forces providing protection, the situation would have been much more disastrous.”

Impossible
Basson said establishing what caused the fire would be impossible.
“I can guarantee that we will not be able to determine the exact cause of the fire since the scene was tampered with. The scene was disturbed as there was way too much interference.”
The site was only cordoned off by police on Monday morning at approximately 10:00.
“We understood that a candle might have been involved, however, this is not conclusive.”
Basson further said there are three fire hydrants in Twaloloka. “We specially installed the hydrants last year, but we simply could not access them with all the people at the scene,” he said.

Quick response
He said the fire brigade received a call at 19:32 and the first crew left for Twaloloka at 19:40.
“The first crew went out with two fire trucks and our water tanker to assist with additional water. Upon arrival, we realised it would be a challenge since people parked their vehicles in the roads and were standing all over the scene.”
According to Basson, this made it almost impossible for the firefighters to get close to the scene.
“Another challenge was that we could not implement a proper strategy to fight the fire since we could not deploy our trucks and equipment properly. We were battling with people hampering us in executing our official duties,” he said.

Treated for injuries
Meanwhile, the municipal water truck was pelted with stones and the driver had to hide in the truck during the onslaught.
He was treated in hospital for his injuries and has since been discharged.
The fire chief refuted allegations that fire trucks are parked without water at the fire station.
“It is law, internationally, that you keep your fire trucks filled and parked with water. The only time a fire truck is without water is when it is taken out of the fleet for repairs or written-off. The moment we get called out for a fire, that truck must be ready. For us to first fill up a truck before going to a fire scene would waste 10 to 15 minutes, which is precious time when dealing with a fire. This has never and will never happen.”
Basson advised that everyone should know emergency numbers. “The fire brigade’s emergency number is 081 922. At all times, make way for fire trucks to reach the scene. Bystanders should immediately give way for the firefighters to deploy their equipment properly. Please be patient during these trying times. We really need to assist each other in any way we can.”

leandrea@republikein.com.na

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Sunshine, Salute sanitise gyms

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Sunshine, Salute sanitise gymsSunshine, Salute sanitise gyms SPORTS REPORTER

WINDHOEK



MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy and Salute Boxing Academy have kept to their promise of keeping their boxers safe by sanitising and fumigating their gyms at least once a month.

The two boxing stables went a step ahead by sanitising not only their gyms, but all the gyms in Windhoek at no cost.

This exercise was sponsored by Salute Trading, a company also in the sanitising business.

“We are committed to assisting other gyms to ensure they are safe at all times and we will continue to assist them with the fumigation of their gyms.

“We encourage all our boxers to practice personal hygiene at all times and practice social distancing whenever they are in public,” read a joint statement from the boxing stables.
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Top Score Oshiwana tournament kicks off

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Top Score Oshiwana tournament kicks offTop Score Oshiwana tournament kicks off Nampa



The second edition of the Top Score Oshiwana seven-a-side soccer championship was launched at Oshakati in the Oshana Region on Tuesday.

This year's tournament has attracted 79 soccer teams, compared to 46 last year, and kicks off today, 30 July, until Sunday, 2 August, at the Uukwangula Sports Stadium.

The stadium is located about 10 kilometres outside Oshakati on the way to Okahao.

The tournament's main promoter, Jackson Felisberto Da Silva, said besides 69 youth clubs, 10 legendary teams are registered to contest for a trophy and medals in a separate category.

Big prizes up for grabs

Hailing from different regions of Namibia, the teams will be duking it out for a top prize of N$12 000, gold medals and a floating trophy, while the runners-up will get N$8 000 and silver medals.

The third team will walk away with N$5 000 and bronze medals.

Namib Mills' Top Score brand sponsored the tournament to the tune of N$94 414 000.



Uniting people

“Sport is meant for entertainment, physical fitness and mental development, as well as to unite people as friends,” Oshana governor, Elia Irimari, said at the launch.

He added that sport keeps the body active and healthy.

Ongwediva-based Mayweather Trading Football Club is the tournament's defending champion.
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Old rivalry to be reignited

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Old rivalry to be reignitedOld rivalry to be reignited• Schools rugby coming this Saturday Windhoek High School hosts a friendly match against Windhoek Technical School to give their pupil a chance to enjoy one of their last games. Limba Mupetami

WINDHOEK



A thrilling friendly match will take place this Saturday between Windhoek Technical School's (HTS) Warthogs and Windhoek High School's Kudu Bulls.

This will be one of the first school rugby matches since the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

According to Hendrik Grove from WHS, the match has been organised as a parting gift to the grade 10 players, as it is their last year to play school rugby. He further said safety regulations adhered to, as stated by the Namibia Sports Commission.



Excitement all around

Head of sports at HTS Ronelle Bezuidenhout added that they are very excited to watch the rivalry unfold.

She shared Grove's sentiments about safety and said they will try their utmost best to ensure that everyone is safe and that the venue is contamination-free.

She further added that there will be a special medical room at the venue in case there is a rugby fan with an alarming temperature.

Only 250 people will be allowed into the venue.

The match will take place at HTS Rugby Field and will kick-off at 10:30, and will also be streamed live on the My Zone Facebook page.
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Tour de France moved forward

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Tour de France moved forwardTour de France moved forward Nampa/Reuters



The start of next year's Tour de France has been brought forward by a week to avoid clashing with the men's road race at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has said.

The 2021 Tour will begin on 26 June and end on 18 July, six days before the start of the Mount Fuji road race. It was originally scheduled to begin on 2 July in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Tokyo Games were scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August this year, but have been postponed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.



New calendar

“With the Tokyo Olympic Games being held from 23 July to 8 August 2021, the dates of several events have been adapted,” the UCI said in a statement, unveiling its calendar for the season.

“It is of note that to avoid an overlapping of the Olympic road cycling races (24, 25 and 28 July) with the Tour de France (initially envisaged for 2 to 25 July), the French stage race will finish on 18 July, the weekend before the first weekend of the Olympics.”

The UCI also said the Tour of California and the RideLondon-Surrey Classic would not be a part of its new calendar, which consists of 35 events.
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Uefa confident positive Covid-19 test won't affect tie

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Uefa confident positive Covid-19 test won't affect tieUefa confident positive Covid-19 test won't affect tie Nampa/Reuters



European soccer's governing body says it is confident Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Manchester City will go ahead as planned next week, despite one of the Spanish side's players testing positive for Covid-19.

Real confirmed on Tuesday that forward Mariano Diaz had tested positive, casting doubt on his participation in the 8 August tie at the Etihad Stadium.

“Uefa is in contact with the club and monitoring both the situation and decisions of the relevant Spanish authorities,” Uefa said in a statement to British media.



Surge in cases

“We are confident that this case will not affect the regular staging of the match in question.”

Real trail Manchester City 2-1 from the first leg of their last-16 tie before the competition was suspended in March.

Spain has seen a surge in Covid-19 positives with thousands of new cases reported on a daily basis in the past week, taking its tally up to over 298 000.
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NZ players keen to face the best

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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NZ players keen to face the bestNZ players keen to face the bestNichol addressing the inevitable New Zealand's rugby players are keen to ensure any future Super Rugby format involves facing the best opposition as it has led to greater competition on the international stage, the head of their union has said. Nampa/Reuters



With travel restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 hindering future cross-border competition, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has proposed a new format for its sides that does not involve teams from South Africa or Argentina.

NZR Players' Association head Rob Nichol, however, said they were simply addressing the fact that borders might still be closed.

“The players love the idea of travelling abroad and playing fixtures against really good opposition,” Nichol told Reuters. “But the way we are with Covid, the future might look different.

“We may be still consigned to our own borders.”

Super Rugby was supposed to revert to a 14-team round robin format next year, but NZR's plans for a competition involving eight to 10 teams had been read as the organisation abandoning the southern hemisphere's South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby (Sanzaar) alliance.



Agreement stands

Nichol, however, said as far as he knew, NZR remains committed to Sanzaar, which organises the Super Rugby club tournament and the international Rugby Championship.

“NZR is not walking away from Sanzaar,” Nichol said.

“They've just recognised that they can't have a Super 14 next year so what they're doing is looking at what they can do.”

One possibility would be playing club teams from South Africa, Argentina and Japan in a crossover tournament at the conclusion of New Zealand's Super Rugby competition, he said.

However, for that to happen, World Rugby would need to broker an agreement between national unions and the powerful European clubs on a global calendar, allowing them to shift test windows to the end of the year.



Flexibility

Current test windows are in June and July, when northern hemisphere teams travel south, and November and December, when the south travel north.

The Rugby Championship is played from August to October, while the Six Nations is in February and March.

Nichol said shifting the mid-year tests to an extended October to December window would allow that flexibility for a cross-border club competition in the southern hemisphere.

Those matches got the players excited, he said, while the long-haul travel and weeks away from home had helped prepare them for the intensity of tests, which spilled over into the international arena and ultimately Rugby World Cups.



Performing week in, week out

Southern hemisphere teams have won eight of the nine global tournaments and five of the six since rugby went professional in 1996.

“Super Rugby has been fantastic for the southern hemisphere,” he said. “I'd argue it's a big reason why southern hemisphere countries have done so well at Rugby World Cups because they're so used to travelling to foreign environments and performing week in, week out.”
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Omukokele gwomOmusati a holoka mompangu omolwa ekwatonkonga

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Omukokele gwomOmusati a holoka mompangu omolwa ekwatonkongaOmukokele gwomOmusati a holoka mompangu omolwa ekwatonkongaA mangululwa pa nkukililo Johannes Sackaria (85) okwa holola mompangulilo yamangestrata gwaKahao, konima sho a tulwa miipandeko ta tamanekelwa oshipotha shekwatokonga lyokatekulu kokamati. KENYA KAMBOWE

RUNDU



Oshiningwanima shoka osha ningwa momasiku 30 gaJuni nuumvo momukunda Otsalindi mOtamanzi.

Sackaria, okwa holoka komeho yomukwatheli omupanguli, Alma Arutur, noshipotha she osha undulilwa komasiku gaali gaKotomba, opo opolisi yi vule okumanitha omakonaakono.

Sackaria okwa mangululwa pakunkililo konima sho omukalelipo gwanakuninga oshihakanwa ina tinda emangululo lye. Emangululo lye otali utha wooopo a ze mo megumbo moka mwa ningilwa oshiningwanima shoka.

Onzo oya popi kutya okanona oka holola shoka ka ningilwa konima sho ka mono yinakulu ta gwaya omagadhi ga faathana naangoka ga longithwa kuye omanga ina ningilwa omuyonena.

Pahokololo lyokanona heulu okwe mu pula e mu tegelele mondunda ye opo ya lale pamwe.

Okanona hoka shito ohaka lala nayinakulu. Nonando omutamanekwa okwa tindi, ofamili oya ka patulula oshipotha nopolisi yaKahao.
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Aavali ya lombwelwa ya kuthe ombinga melongo lyaanona yawo

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Aavali ya lombwelwa ya kuthe ombinga melongo lyaanona yawoAavali ya lombwelwa ya kuthe ombinga melongo lyaanona yawo KENYA KAMBOWE

RUNDU



Omukomeho gwelongo moshitopolwa shaKavango East Fanuel Kapapero okwa popi kutya aavali inaya tegelela aanona yawo yuundulilwe koongundu tadhi landula ihe naya kwashilipeleke kutya aanona yawo oya mona iitsa iiwanawa okuya pehulilo lyomvula.

Kaparero okwa popi ngaaka pethimbo a ningwa naye oonkundathana kEwi lyaNooli omwedhi nguka, sho a pulwa kombinga yongushu yelongo pethimbo mpoka kwa taalelwa ombuto yocorona.

Ooskola odhindji dhepangelo odha tokola okutopola ootundi moongundu oombali, opo ya vule okugwanitha po ompango yokwiikala kokule pethimbo taya longo.

Shoka otashi ti aanaskola otaya kala taya kala komagumbo omasiku gamwe po naavali oya pumbwa okukwathela aanona niilongwa yawo.

“Aavali oya pumbwa okudhanga ombinga yawo nokukwathela ooskola melongo lyaanona yawo,” omunambelewa ngoka a popi.

Okwa popi kutya ooskola ntano moshitopolwa shawo kadha li dha vula okutameka omolwa uupyakadhi womeya nonkalo yuuyogoki. Ooskola dhoka odha tumbulwa kutya Aloys Ashipara Primary School, Shimpanda Primary School, Tyeye Primary School, Tjova Senior Primary School oshowo Mbambangandu Primary School.

Okwa popi kutya ngashiingeyi aanona mboka oya tameka ooskola, nuupyakadhi mboka owa kandulwapo.
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'Don't expect automatic promotion'

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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'Don't expect automatic promotion''Don't expect automatic promotion'Parents urged to play their part in ensuring good symbols Although quality education has been compromised by the Covid-19 pandemic, teachers are trained and encouraged to ensure the best end-of-year results are achieved, with the help of parents. KENYA KAMBOWE

RUNDU



Kavango East education director Fanuel Kapapero says parents should not expect that their children will automatically be promoted to the next grade, but instead should play their part to ensure their children score good symbols at the end of the year.

Kapapero made the remark in an interview with Namibian Sun, when asked about the quality of education during the coronavirus pandemic and the role of parents during this difficult time.

Most government schools have divided classes into groups taught on alternating days to comply with the social distancing regulation.

This means learners will be spending days at home. Kapapero called on parents to assist their children with schoolwork.

“Parents really need to play their part and assist the schools in terms of educating the learners,” he said.

Quality compromised

Kapapero said the quality of education during the pandemic is compromised as the syllabus has been altered, but that does not mean parents should neglect the role they have to play in educating their children.

“Our teachers are trained and encouraged to ensure that we achieve the best results. Parents also need to play their role,” Kapapapero reiterated.

He said five schools in the region initially could not resume face-to-face learning after the school closure because of water and sanitation problems.

The schools were Aloys Ashipara Primary School, Shimpanda Primary School, Tyeye Primary School, Tjova Senior Primary School and Mbambangandu Primary School.

Kapapero said learners at these schools have since resumed face-to-face classes after the education directorate ensured that the problems were addressed.
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COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEFCOMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF McDonald's sales suffer

McDonald's Corp reported a broad drop in global same-store sales and missed profit expectations, as its restaurants were shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic, limiting operations to only drive-thru and delivery.

Shares of the Chicago-based burger chain sank more than 2.5%. Global same-store sales fell 23.9% in the second quarter, dragged down by big international markets including the United Kingdom, France and Latin America.

Analysts had forecast a 23.24% fall, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. In the United States, where the company operates more than a third of its restaurants, same-restaurant sales fell 8.7% but were better than the anticipated 9.97% fall, as most locations were able to stay open with drive-thru and delivery options.

On a conference call with investors, executives struck a cautious tone but noted that US July sales have improved and should end "slightly positive" for the full month.

The second quarter "represents the trough in our performance as McDonald's has learned to adjust our operations to this new environment," chief executive officer Chris Kempczinski said. – Nampa/Reuters

Rite Aid deployed systems

Over about eight years, the American drugstore chain Rite Aid Corp quietly added facial recognition systems to 200 stores across the United States, in one of the largest rollouts of such technology among retailers in the country, a Reuters investigation found.

In the hearts of New York and metro Los Angeles, Rite Aid deployed the technology in largely lower-income, non-white neighbourhoods, according to a Reuters analysis.

In telephone and email exchanges with Reuters since February, Rite Aid confirmed the existence and breadth of its facial recognition program. The retailer defended the technology use, saying it had nothing to do with race and was intended to deter theft and protect staff and customers from violence.

Last week, however, after Reuters sent its findings to the retailer, Rite Aid said it had quit using its facial recognition software. It later said all the cameras had been turned off.

"This decision was in part based on a larger industry conversation, the company told Reuters in a statement, adding that other large technology companies seem to be scaling back or around facial recognition given increasing uncertainty around the technology utility. – Nampa/Reuters

Facebook, Amazon to defend

Amazon.com Inc chief executive Jeff Bezos and Facebook Inc's Mark Zuckerberg will defend their respective companies before a congressional hearing on Wednesday by saying they face intense competition from large rivals.

Bezos and Zuckerberg's written testimony, made public on Tuesday, will be presented to a panel of lawmakers investigating how their business practices and data gathering have hurt smaller rivals.

Bezos says Amazon occupies a small share of the overall retail market and competes with retailers like Walmart, which is twice its size. He also says the coronavirus pandemic boosted e-commerce businesses across the spectrum and not just Amazon.

Bezos also lays out how small sellers have succeeded on its third-party marketplace, a practice that has come under scrutiny from lawmakers.

Zuckerberg argues that the social media company became successful "the American way, by starting out with nothing and providing products that people find valuable. – Nampa/Reuters

Starbucks 'steadily recovering

Starbucks Corp's business is "steadily recovering" worldwide as most of the coffee chain's stores have reopened with the easing of coronavirus-led restrictions, it said on Tuesday.

Shares of the Seattle-based company rose about 6.5% in extended trading after it said it would return to profitability in the current quarter on improving sales and margins.

Comparable store sales fell 40% globally and 41% in the Americas for Starbucks' third quarter ended June 28. This was less than analysts' forecast for declines of 42.05% and 42.82% respectively, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

Starbucks, like many restaurants and coffee chains, took a big hit from government-imposed measures to curb the pandemic, prompting it to rely more on delivery and drive-thru services to make up for lost business.

More people used the chain's drive-thru and delivery options to buy coffee and food, with mobile orders rising 6 percentage points from a year ago to make up 22% of total transactions in the quarter. – Nampa/Reuters

Visa beats estimates

Visa Inc's results topped analysts' estimates on Tuesday with a 23% drop in quarterly profit as consumer spending continued to be pressured by high unemployment due to lockdowns aimed at curbing the coronavirus outbreak.

Net income fell to US$2.37 billion, or US$1.07 per Class A share, in the quarter ended June 30, from $3.10 billion, or US$1.37 per Class A share, a year earlier.

Analysts had estimated, on average, that the company earned US$1.03, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Analysts at Jefferies attributed the beat to lower-than-expected expenses. Visa shares traded down nearly 2% after market hours.

The quarter was the first to reflect how spending on Visa transactions was impacted for three straight months by coronavirus-related shutdowns.

Visa said total payments volume decreased 10%, on a constant dollar basis, and the number of process transactions declined 13% from a year earlier. Cross-border volume fell 37%, reflecting the fall in international travel.– Nampa/Reuters
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Survey to determine if schools are ready

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Survey to determine if schools are readySurvey to determine if schools are ready NAMPA

WINDHOEK



Education minister Anna Nghipondoka says her ministry has undertaken an online assessment in all 14 regions to determine whether schools are prepared to resume with face-to-face classes for grades four, five, six, eight and 10.

Schools closed in March when Namibia recorded its first cases of Covid-19 and have gradually resumed since then, with different grades starting on different dates.

The grade four, five, six, eight and 10 learners are scheduled to return to school for face-to-face classes this coming Monday.



Assessment

Nghipondoka said the ministry undertook an online preparedness and readiness assessment survey for all 14 regional directorates of education in close consultation with the Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) to assess school readiness for Monday, as well as compliance and challenges faced by schools. “Schools are requested to respond to the mentioned assessment using the link with feedback expected by Wednesday (yesterday),” the minister said on Tuesday.

She said the ministry and Nantu would analyse the submissions and determine a course of action in response to the findings, which will be announced tomorrow.

“I appeal to all our stakeholders, particularly the learners, parents and the community at large, to remain calm. Our commitment to ensure the safety of our learners, teachers and all staff members remains paramount in all decisions that will be taken,” Nghipondoka said.
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Comet Neowise visible just after sunset

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Comet Neowise visible just after sunsetComet Neowise visible just after sunset ELVIRA HATTINGH

WINDHOEK



Comet Neowise (C/2020 F3) is now visible in the southern hemisphere just after sunset.

The Astronomy Society of Southern Africa said it has received several reports of comet sightings in South Africa. “It is visible about an hour and a half after sunset, very low on the north-western horizon,” the association said on its Facebook page.

“The comet is not visible with the naked eye because it appears too close to the horizon and has a brightness grade of only +4. That makes it a difficult target. “It is visible through telescopes and binoculars, however. The waxing moon will make it gradually harder to spot, particularly around full moon on 3 August,” it said.

The comet has been visible in southern Africa since 25 July and may be seen until 5 August, the organisation said. The Southern Cape Astronomy Club has published photographs of the comet taken at Walker Bay and in Johannesburg.

The comet reached its closest point to Earth - at a distance of 103 million kilometres - on 23 July.

It is the brightest comet since Hale-Bopp in 1995 and 1996.

Neowise, which was discovered in March and is about five kilometres in diameter, will only return in about 6 800 years.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), it is now 111 million kilometres from Earth and moving at a speed of 231 000 km/h.

Nasa's astronomical photo of the day on 22 July was of Neowise, and showed its two tails.
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Tourism worse off than in 2009

July 29, 2020, 3:00 pm
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Tourism worse off than in 2009Tourism worse off than in 2009• First comprehensive insight into global impact of Covid-19 The dramatic fall in international tourism places many millions of livelihoods at risk, including in developing countries like Namibia. ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK



The enormous toll of the coronavirus pandemic on international tourism has now become clear, with World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) data showing the cost up to May was already three times that of the 2009 global economic crisis.

As the situation continues to evolve, the United Nations agency has provided the first comprehensive insight into the impact of the pandemic, both in tourist numbers and lost revenues.

This comes ahead of the upcoming release of up-to-date information on travel restrictions worldwide.

The latest edition of the UNTWO World Tourism Barometer indicates that the near-complete lockdown imposed in response to the pandemic led to a 98% fall in international tourist numbers in May compared to last year.

The barometer also shows a 56% year-on-year drop in tourist arrivals between January and May.

This translates into a fall of 300 million tourists and US$320 billion lost in international tourism receipts, which the UNTWO says is three times the loss during the global economic crisis of 2009.



No recovery soon

While tourism is slowly returning in some destinations, the UNWTO Confidence Index has dropped to record lows, both for the evaluation of the period January-April 2020, and the prospects for May-August.

Most members of the UNWTO panel of tourism experts expect international tourism to recover only by the second half of 2021, followed by those who expect a rebound in the first part of next year.

The group of global experts points to a series of downside risks such as travel restrictions and border shutdowns still in place in most destinations, safety concerns associated with travel, the resurgence of the virus and risks of new lockdowns or curfews.



Drastically low

Furthermore, concerns over a lack of reliable information and a deteriorating economic environment are indicated as factors weighing on consumer confidence.

Recent statistics provided by the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) indicated that room occupancy rates at Namibian tourism accommodation establishments have dropped to drastically low levels.

The average rate recorded for room occupancy stood at a mere 7.71% for the month in June, compared to 51.21% last year.

During the second quarter of June, a room occupancy rate of only 4.86% was recorded in comparison to last year's 53.98%.



Global calamity

“This latest data makes clear the importance of restarting tourism as soon as it is safe to do so. The dramatic fall in international tourism places many millions of livelihoods at risk, including in developing countries.

“Governments in every world region have a dual responsibility to prioritise public health while also protecting jobs and businesses.

“They also need to maintain the spirit of cooperation and solidarity that has defined our response to this shared challenge and refrain from making unilateral decisions that may undermine the trust and confidence we have been working so hard to build,” said UNTWO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili.
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