Namibian Sun

Ohole oyo yeeta eyaluko moondholongo

OGONE TLHAGE

OVENDUKA

Esiloshisho lyohole ndyoka lya pewa mboka ya monika ombuto yoCovid-19 moodhoolongo yaVenduka oshowo mOmbaye olyo lya etitha eeluko li li pombanda pahapu dhaKomufala gwOondholongo moNamibia, Raphael Hamunyela.

Hamunyela okwa tseyitha kutya momwedhi Aguste, aanadholongo ya thika pe 100 oya kwatwa kombuto yoCovid-19 modholongo yaVenduka. Okwa tsikile kutya monena omu na owala iipotha 31. Sho a pulwa kutya oshike sha etitha eeluko ndyoka, Hamunyela okwa popi kutya ohole.

“Ayehe mboka ya monika ombuto oya kala taya pewa oondya dha yooloka.

Otwe ya pe iikondopeki yaakwiita yolutu na otwe ya pe woo ohole,” Hamunyela a popi.

Oohahende dhoka tadhi kalelepo aatamanekwa moshipotha shoFishrot oya nyenyeta kutya aayakulwa yawo oyeli moshiponga shokukwatwa kombuto ndjoka, sho gumwe gwomuyo e na ombinzi ya londa, omanga yaali ye na omukithi gwosuuka.

Aanambelewa yuundjolowele oya kunkilile kutya omauvu ngoka otaga tula pombanda ompito yokukwatwa kombuto yoCovid-19.

Hamunyela okwa popi kutya omalelo goodholongo oge na oshinakugwanithwa oshinene okukwashilipaleka kutya egameno nuundjolowele olya kalekwapo.

Omilandu dhEhangano lyUundjolowele mUuyuni odha kalekwapo opo kukwashilipalekwe kutya aanadholongo inaya kwatwa kombuto yoCorona.

Okwa tsikile kutya otaya landula woo omilandu dhIigwana yaHangana opo ya kalekepo egameno.

Okwa popi kutya oshi li itashi vulika okugandja omiti dhokukaleka oonyala dha yela aluhe kaanadholongo ihe shoka kashi li owala uupyakadhi moNamibia ihe nomuuyuni, nopehala otaya kwashilipaleke aluhe oothewa nomeya.

Omaikuthomwenyo geli pombanda moNamibia• Kwa holoka uutile kutya omiyalu otadhi londo pombanda Aantu ye li po 752 okwa lopotwa yi idhipaga moNamibia pokati komwedhi Januari momvula yo 2019 sigo omasiku 31 gaJuli momvula yo 2020.

JANA-MARI SMITH

OVENDUKA

Omiyalu dhoka odheetitha uutile kutya omaidhigapo otaga londo pombanda unene muule woomwedhi twa taalela unene sho oshigwana sha taalela omikundu dhopaliko nonkalathano omolwa ombuto yo Covid-19.

Omiyalu omipe dha hololwa kopolisi odha ulike kutya momvula yo 2019 okwa lopotwa omaikuthomwenyo geli po 486 moshilongo. Moomwedhi heyali dhotango dhomvula yo 2020, pokati kaJanuari nomasiku 31 gaJuli, opolisi oya lopota omaikuthomwenyo geli po 266.

Aalumentu oyo unene yeli moshiponga sho momvula yo 2019, aalumentu 409 kwa lopotwa yiidhipaga omanga aakiintu ye li po 58.

Aanona yaamati yahetatu oshowo aakadhona 11 yomvula dhili kohi yo 18 okwa lopotwa yiidhipaga momvula yo 2019.

Aalumentu 222 okwa lopotwa yiidhipaga pokati komwedhi Januari nomwedhi Juli nuumvo ya landulwa kaakiintu 31, oshowo aanona yaamati yahamano naakadhona yaheyali yoomvula dhili kohi yo 18.

Oshitopolwa shaKhomas osha lopotwa omwaalu guli pombanda okuya muJuli nuumvo, sho mwa lopotwa omaso 48. Omusati omwa lopotwa omaso 42 omanga Otjozondjupa mwa lopotwa omaso 29.

Omvula ya piti omwaalu guli pombanda gwomaikuthomwenyo ogwa lopotwa moshitopolwa Omusati, sho mwa lopotwa omaso 66, sha landulwa kOhangwena moka mwa lopotwa omaso 62 omanga omaso 51 ga lopotwa moshitopolwa shaKhomas.

Omapekaapeko oga holola kutya aalumentu yoomvula dhopokati oyo unene ya ninga iihakanwa yomaso ngoka.

Uuministeli wuundjlowele owa koleke oshiwike sha piti kutya pokati kowedhi Januari sigo omwedhi Juni, aantu ye li po 435 oya kambadhala okwiikutha omwenyo.

Oshinyolwa shuuministeli sha nyanyangithwa oomvula mbali dha piti osha holola kutya, momvula yo 2015 aantu ya thika po 25 000 oya kambadhala okwiidhipaga momvula ndjoka ayike.

Pethimbo kwa dhimbulukiwa esiku lyoWorld Suicide Prevention Day, oonkundathana dhaakuthimbinga dha ningwa oshiwike sha piti mOvenduka, Omunambelewa gwenzulonkalo, Jennifer Lifasi, okwa popi kutya Namibia okwa taalela oshiponga shomaikuthomwenyo.

Okwa popi kutya onkalo ndjoka otayi limbilike noonkondo unene sho ondjele yomaikuthomwenyo moNamibia yi li pombanda muAfrica.

Namibia oku li ponomola ontine yiilongo yi na omaikuthomwenyo geli pombanda muAfrica omanga pondondo yopauyuni e li ponomola onti 11.

Omuhungimwenyo, Iani de Kock, mokaklinika kaBel Esprit mOvenduka okwa popi kutya ondjele yomaikuthomwenyo moshilongo otaku tengenekwa otayi ka mbalipala okuyeleka nondjele yopauyuni nomaidhipago geli po 11 momwaalu gwaantu 100 000.

De Kock okwa popi kutya omolwa onkalo yuupyakadhi wopaliko tawu ethithwa woo ketukuko lyombuto yoCovid-19, ondjele yomaikuthomwenyo oku na uutile yi londe pombanda muule woomwedhi twa taalela.

MoNamibia unene onkalo yokwaahena iilonga oyo tayi etitha omadhilaadhilo gomaidhipago oshowo omaidhipago, pahapu dhOmundohotola gwopauvu gopamadhilaadhilo, Dr Shaun Whittaker, sho a kunkilile omvula ya piti.

Omulumentu ngoka a dhenge ongodhi pethimbo lyoonkundathana dhoka, iitumbula kutya Jaco a za moKhomasdal okwa gandja etumwalaka lyetsomukumo.

Okwa popi kutya okwa kambadhala okwiimangeleka shoka sheetitha a ye mocoma moshipangelo uule womasiku gatatu.

Sha landula onkambadhala ye ndjoka, epangelo olye mu pe omayakulo gehungomwenyo oshowo omiti, na okwa tya po nawa ngashiingeyi na oku na omukumo.

“Pehulilo lyesiku otwa pumbwa okuuvako kutya shoka uuvu na kashi shi oshinima shoka to vulu okwiidhimbika. Owa pumbwa okwiilombwela kutya otandi ehama na owa pumbwa ekwatho. Konga ekwatho. Shoka osho oshinima shotango na osha simana.”

Ministry shuns shipping plan• Does not allow import and transit of livestock from SA The agriculture ministry said it does not allow the import and transit of livestock and other cloven-hoofed animals from South Africa, due to the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the neighbouring country.

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

The agriculture ministry has distanced itself from a proposed plan that would have seen thousands of livestock being shipped to the Middle East from Namibian ports.

It was reported that Tradeport Namibia, the company that proposed the shipment, planned to export 125 000 farm animals to Kuwait, but the plan has since been put on ice.

The animals would have been held at Ariamsvlei until there were adequate numbers for further transport to ports, and then via sea to the Middle East.

Agriculture ministry executive director Percy Misika stressed that the ministry is the competent authority for animal health and the establishment of animal handling facilities such as places of quarantine, the issuance of veterinary import/in-transit permits and the certification of animals and animal products in the country.

“The ministry has not received any applications for veterinary permits from any country,” he said.

He added the ministry does not allow the import and transit of livestock and other cloven-hoofed animals from South Africa, due to the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the neighbouring country, which was detected in January 2019 in Limpopo.

Miskika said the ministry distances itself from all reports in the media regarding the matter, adding that the public at large and media should seek clarity from the ministry in future.

Plan on ice

Last week, the director of Tradeport Namibia, Monty Ndjavera, told Namibian Sun he gave instructions to “put everything on hold for now”.

This includes the environmental clearance application that had given rise to the protests.

Ndjavera said his decision to stop the process was made after he noted the strong opposition, both locally and internationally, to the export of live farm animals via sea to foreign abattoirs or farm animal buyers.

He said his logistics company does not want to be involved in business that will attract widespread outrage.

Ndjavera stressed he is a proud Namibian and wants to ensure his company's reputation remains intact. He further clarified that no specific clients had been identified, as the venture was still in its infancy.

290 Otjiwarongo streets without names

Ester Kamati

OTJIWARONGO

Of the nearly 490 streets in Otjiwarongo, including 99 in an informal settlement at the town, only about 200 have been named, mainly in the central areas of the town.

This means about 290 streets remain without names, the town's CEO Moses Matyayi confirmed.

The CEO said this is inconvenient for travellers or others visiting the town, as it means residents cannot give an exact address where they live.

A committee responsible for naming streets and extensions at the town submitted their suggestions to council, however, they were rejected. The council was then tasked to come up with themes to guide the committee to make it easier for them to come up with a list the council will approve.

Heroes, veterans suggested

Deputy mayor Moderatha Shaduka suggested that Namibian heroes and veterans should be honoured by streets being named after them.

She added that the environment can also be a guiding factor, including using animals or plants that are common to a particular area.

She further advised that different languages can be used, and also suggested that post-independence councillors should be honoured as well.

ester@myzone.com.na

Company news in brief

Vodafone’s sale of Egypt unit lingers on

Vodafone Group said yesterday due diligence regarding the US$2.4 billion sale of its 55% stake in its Egyptian unit has been "substantively" completed by the potential buyer, Saudi Telecom Co (STC).

The London-listed telecom firm said that despite the expiry of a memorandum of understanding, the company remains in talks with Saudi Arabia's largest telecoms operator to finalise the deal in the near future.

"Vodafone now looks to STC and Telecom Egypt to find a suitable agreement to enable the transaction to close," Vodafone Group said in a statement.

On Sunday, STC said no agreement had been reached to buy the stake in Vodafone Egypt, and that the parties have agreed to keep dialogue open.

STC had in January signed a non-binding agreement, before citing coronavirus-driven logistical challenges to seek extension twice, first in April and then in July. Originally expected to close in June, the deal would have been STC's biggest in more than a decade. – Nampa/Reuters

AstraZeneca resumes vaccine trials

UK shares rose yesterday as drugmaker AstraZeneca (photo) resumed trials of its Covid-19 vaccine, while Brexit fears simmered ahead of a parliament vote on a plan to break international law by breaching parts of the divorce treaty with the European Union.

The House of Commons will debate the Internal Market Bill, which the EU has demanded prime minister Boris Johnson scrap by the end of September. After the debate, lawmakers will decide if it should go to the next stage.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 rose 0.6% in early trading, with a 0.8% gain for AstraZeneca Plc among the top boosts to the index.

The drugmaker said over the weekend it had resumed British clinical trials of its Covid-19 vaccine, one of the most advanced in development, after getting the green light from safety watchdogs. – Nampa/Reuters

China would rather see TikTok US close

Beijing opposes a forced sale of TikTok's US operations by its Chinese owner ByteDance, and would prefer to see the short video app shut down in the United States, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Friday.

ByteDance has been in talks to sell TikTok's US business to potential buyers including Microsoft and Oracle since US president Donald Trump threatened last month to ban the service if it was not sold.

Trump has given ByteDance a deadline of mid September to finalise a deal.

However, Chinese officials believe a forced sale would make both ByteDance and China appear weak in the face of pressure from Washington, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation.

ByteDance said in a statement to Reuters that the Chinese government had never suggested to it that it should shut down TikTok in the United States or in any other markets. – Nampa/Reuters

UK clinches vaccine deal with Valneva

Britain has secured access to up to 190 million doses of a potential coronavirus vaccine from Valneva in deal worth as much as 1.37 billion euro, the French-Austrian vaccine firm said yesterday.

It had already been disclosed in July that the British government had reserved 60 million doses of Valneva's inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine under development.

The firm said it expects to begin trials of the two-dose vaccine in December and if it is successful for it to become available in the second half of 2021.

The 60 million doses supplied to Britain in 2021 would come at a cost of 470 million euro (US$557 million).

Britain will then have options on 40 million doses in 2022 and between 30 and 90 million across 2023 to 2025, which would cost 900 million euro.

Shares in Valneva jumped more than 20% in early morning trading in Paris. – Nampa/AFP

Neste to cut up to 470 jobs

Finnish biofuel producer and oil refiner Neste plans to cut up to 470 jobs in Finland to seek 50 million euro (US$59 million) of savings due to declining demand for fossil oil products, it said yesterday.

"The company is exploring the shutdown of its refinery operations in Naantali and focusing the Naantali site on the terminal and harbour operations, as well as transforming the Porvoo refinery operations to co-processing renewable and circular raw materials," it said in a statement.

Neste, which has invested heavily in renewables, said in July it had delayed the expansion of its Singapore refinery from the middle of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023, citing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Neste said it continued to believe renewable energy solutions would grow in the coming years, but that the Covid-19 pandemic had substantially accelerated the decline in demand for fossil oil products, with no recovery in sight.

"The energy transition is proceeding faster than expected," Neste said, adding necessary investments into its Naantali refinery were no longer viable due to large over-capacity for oil refining globally. – Nampa/Reuters

Covid-19: Erongo must 'redouble efforts'

ADOLF KAURE

SWAKOPMUND

Despite Walvis Bay recording no new positive Covid-19 cases on 8 September, Erongo governor Neville Andre says there is still room for improvement.

“Let us redouble our efforts in raising awareness in our communities on preventative measures as well as providing general Covid-19 information to our people,” Andre said in a speech read on his behalf in the Swakopmund municipal chambers this past Friday. The governor added, in the speech read by chief regional officer Ludmilla Habate Doëses that Erongo will soon welcome tourists under the tourism revival initiative. The initiative, which came into effect on 1 September, is aimed at boosting the country's ailing tourism industry.

“The ministry of environment, forestry and tourism has planned adequately and put in place appropriate protocols to ensure that the visiting tourists adhere to the regulations and are safe,” he said.

He also urged residents to welcome and embrace tourists.

“Let us make sure they enjoy their stay amidst these difficult times,” Andre said.

No longer the epicentre

He expressed his appreciation to stakeholders who played a role in ensuring that the virus is being contained so that Erongo is no longer the Covid-19 epicentre of the country.

These stakeholders include health workers, the security cluster, private sector partners, civil society, faith-based institutions, traditional leaders, youth and volunteers, international partners, politicians, administrative heads and staff of offices, ministries and agencies, he said.

adolf@erongo.com.na

Swapo busing in voters - LPM

OGONE TLHAGE

WINDHOEK

The Landless People's Movement has alleged that Swapo is busing people into the Hardap and //Karas regions, with the aim of registering them as voters for the local and regional authority elections in November.

The supplementary voter registration period ends today.

The allegations were made by LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi at a media conference on Friday.

Swapo is bringing in voters from Ruacana due to the threat posed by LPM, Swartbooi claimed.

He also claimed the ruling party was anticipating losing key constituencies in the two southern regions. “There has been a history of Swapo transporting people from one place to another; it is nothing new.

“What is now new is the threat of defeat in terms of Hardap. It is so real, more than they assessed is possible,” Swartbooi said.

He claimed the LPM was informed of the Swapo strategy by sources within the Electoral Commission of Namibia.

Allegations refuted

Swapo, however, denied the allegations.

In an interview with Eagle FM, ruling party secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa said: “Swapo has no right to do the transportation of people, either by cars or buses, during the state of emergency. They are confusing voters and also putting issues in their heads,” she said of the LPM.

Shaningwa said if there is any truth in the allegations, she would like to be provided with vehicle registration numbers and, if possible, the names of those who were transported.

“We should not promote issues of this nature,” Shaningwa added.

Taxi passenger dies in crash• Others injured in deadly Eros accident The Honda driver allegedly drove through a red light and collided with a Nissan Note taxi.

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

A 24-year-old man died in an accident in Windhoek on Friday afternoon after the taxi he was travelling in collided with another car.

According to the police, the accident happened at the corner of Robert Mugabe Avenue and Etna streets in Eros.

It is alleged that the driver of a Honda Ballade was driving along Robert Mugabe Avenue, approaching the traffic lights.

The Honda driver allegedly drove through a red light and collided with a Nissan Note taxi.

The taxi driver sustained serious head injuries, but is in a stable condition.

The 24-year-old passenger, Bethuel Mukono, died instantly. Another taxi passenger sustained serious injuries.

The driver of the Honda sustained moderate injuries and was the only occupant in the car.

Trans-Caprivi Highway

In a separate incident on Friday at Ndiyona in the Kavango East Region, a pedestrian was hit by a car on the Trans-Caprivi Highway. Kanyanga Johannes Shikongo was crossing the road when he was hit. He died on the spot.

In Oshakati's Oneshila location, the 27-year-old driver of a white Golf hit a 39-year-old woman who was crossing the street. Dorothea Kapenambili Ashipala, a resident of Ongwediva, died instantly.

The driver of the Golf fled the crime scene, but was arrested later.

Matheus Kasanga (58) died on Thursday of injuries sustained when he overturned his car on the road between Okankolo and Onayena on 22 August.

Horror as DRC gold mine caves in50 artisanal miners still missing Dozens of people die each year in accidents in largely unregulated artisanal mines in Congo, where often ill-equipped diggers borrow deep underground in search for ore. … they often don't have the financial means or access to technology to dig and shore up the tunnels properly. - Sara Geenen, Associate professor: University of Antwerp

Crispin Kyala – Informal gold miners in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo scoured rubble at the weekend for more than 50 colleagues presumed dead after a mine collapsed under the weight of heavy rain.

Hundreds of young men in rubber boots crowded around the site of Friday's cave-in, with some removing rocks by hand from the muddy hillside, video footage showed.

Dozens of people die each year in accidents in largely unregulated artisanal mines in Congo, where often ill-equipped diggers borrow deep underground in search for ore.

Alexandre Kamundala, deputy mayor of the nearby town of Kamituga, said no bodies had been recovered so far.

"The rescue teams have been working hard since this morning to try to find bodies, but given the lack of working tools, they are finding it difficult to move forward efficiently with the search."

Protective equipment

Cave-ins, landslides, and asphyxia are common risks faced by artisanal miners, who rarely have any protective equipment beyond rubber boots, according to Sara Geenen, an assistant professor at the University of Antwerp in Belgium who has conducted research at artisanal gold mines around Kamituga.

"Being an old mining town, Kamituga does have quite a lot of people with geological and technical expertise, but they often don't have the financial means or access to technology to dig and shore up the tunnels properly," Geenen said in an email.

A World Bank report last year estimated the number of small-scale miners in Congo at 2 million, many more than work in industrial gold, copper and cobalt mines owned by companies like Glencore and Barrick Gold.

Shock

Kinyenye Furaha passed out from shock when he realised a mine collapse in eastern Congo had buried more than 50 fellow miners including his brother, he said on Sunday, as the hunt continued for bodies two days after the disaster.

Before the rain started, Furaha had left the site to remove some large rocks. Soon after, a child ran up to say water was rising in the mine, Furaha told Reuters.

"We went back there and found only the pit filled with water. And that's when I lost consciousness," he said.

Miners were caught out because the wet season is yet to get fully underway, said Kamituga mayor Alexandre Bundia.

"The main problem is that people did not heed the rain," he said outside his office in the mining town in Congo's mountainous and mineral-rich South Kivu province.

Scores of men in rubber boots gathered again on Sunday at the mine site on a muddy hillside. A rescue team passed sacks of earth out of the pit in the search for the buried miners, who are all presumed dead.

Back in Kamituga, women gathered to mourn their lost relatives. Sitting close together on the floor, they stared into the distance without speaking, while one held a sleeping baby to her chest. – Nampa/Reuters

Suspect arrested for child rapes

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

A 36-year-old man was arrested at Keetmanshoop on Sunday for allegedly raping two minor boys.

According to the police the incident occurred at the Naute Dam farm and the boys are aged six and eight.

In another case reported to the police, a 14-year-old girl was raped by a 26-year-old man at a farm in the Outjo District on Sunday.

It is alleged that the incident occurred at Farm Omburu on Sunday afternoon. The suspect has been arrested.

At Okahandja’s Five Dollar Camp, a 55-year-old woman was raped by an unknown man on Sunday.

It is alleged that the woman was sleeping when the suspect entered her shack and raped her.

Also at Okahandja, in the Nai-Aib location, a 26-year-old woman stabbed a 32-year-old man to death when she intervened in a fight between him and his girlfriend. According to the police she is a relative of the girlfriend.

Gerhard Ganuseb and his girlfriend were apparently fighting while the other woman was peeling potatoes. When she intervened, she was assaulted by Ganuseb and this prompted her to retaliate. She stabbed him with the kitchen knife she was using, resulting in his instant death. The woman was arrested.

Dagga dealing

A 65-year-old German national was arrested in Ludwigsdorf, Windhoek, on Friday for possession of 86 kg of dagga plants valued at N$143 000. N$5 350 in cash was also confiscated from the suspect as the proceeds of crime.

At the Onhuno Traffic Checkpoint in Ohangwena a 42-year-old Namibian taxi driver was arrested on Friday when he was found with a parcel of dagga hidden under the driver's seat.

In Windhoek, two men aged 41 and 33 were are arrested in the Ausspannplatz area on Friday for possession of 36.63 g of hallucinogenic mushrooms and seven MDMA (ecstasy or molly) capsules with a combined value of N$16 350.

Rhino poaching

Three suspects were arrested on Thursday for conspiring to poach a rhino between Kamanjab and Farm Marinhohe.

It is alleged that the suspects were dropped off to hunt a rhino in Etosha National Park but the police were tipped off and acted promptly to arrest them. A rifle and ammunitions were seized.

During the arrest the suspects were searched and 11 rounds of live ammunition and dagga were found in their possession.

They have been charged with hunting of specially protected game, conspiracy to hunt protected game, unlicensed possession of ammunition, defeating the course of justice and drug possession.

Beware of corona scammers

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

There has been a spike in coronavirus-related scams in Namibia as fraudsters try to take advantage of people.

Global information and insights company TransUnion has warned Namibians to be on their guard against these scams.

According to a statement issued by the company, criminals are taking advantage of the financially vulnerable and people looking for information about the pandemic to defraud them or steal their personal details.

The country manager for TransUnion Namibia, Lara Burger, says cybercriminals are sending emails and text messages from seemingly legitimate organisations with information about the coronavirus or financial improvement schemes.

She said in the past few months, fraudsters have been active on social media and public platforms to try and take advantage of unsuspecting individuals.

Identity theft

“Once people click on the links in emails or text messages, they unknowingly download software which allows criminals to take control of their devices and access their personal information and financial data, which could lead to identity theft,” says Burger.

According to her identity theft is a huge problem in Namibia.

“The problem with this type of crime is that victims only find out about the theft months later, by which time the fraudsters would have obtained false lines of credit and racked up significant debt in their name.”

Burger warns that phishing is a major part of identity theft and fraud.

“You will get an official-looking email from a bank or other organisation offering you information or asking you to verify some aspect of your account. Do not do it. No reputable company will ever ask to verify details by clicking on a link in an email.”

Burger advises that people should make sure they have a strong password for important accounts such banking, online shopping and email. The best way to check if your identity and credit is safe is to check your credit report, bank and card statements.

“Fraudsters are especially active at a time of crisis when people are distracted. Keep track of what is on your credit report for signs of suspicious activity, such as accounts that you do not recognise or credit checks from companies with which you have never done business,” Burger advises.

N$100m saved in travelling costsCoronavirus lockdown clips ministers’ wings The absence of foreign trips since March has resulted in a N$101 million cost saving for the state.

OGONE TLHAGE

WINDHOEK

The government has saved more than N$101 million in travel costs by high-ranking government officials, including President Hage Geingob.

Geingob and other high-ranking officials have been unable to travel outside Namibia since March because of global coronavirus lockdowns.

Geingob announced in February that he would not make any foreign trips until June and advised ministers not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

A total of N$222 million had been earmarked for travel expenses by government officials. Of that amount, only N$15.8 million has been spent so far. This represents 7.1% of the total budgeted amount.

During the same period in 2019, the government had spent N$116 million of its travel budget of N$263 million.

The finance ministry could not provide any figures for travel specifically by Geingob’s office.

“Savings of N$101 million compared to last financial year’s expenditure for the same period [was realised]. The spending during this period was on domestic travelling, mainly on Covid-19 related missions,” finance ministry spokesperson Tonateni Shidhudhu said yesterday.

Wanderlust

The subject of Geingob's travelling was highlighted by The Namibian last year. The newspaper noted that the president had travelled to 16 countries since assuming the presidency in 2015. These destinations included China, Kenya, Mauritania, Canada, England, Ethiopia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Botswana, Malawi, Angola, Guinea and Portugal.

Up to the end of 2018, Geingob is said to have pocketed N$850 000 in subsistence and travel allowances.

According to Geingob, he travels because it is necessary to do so. Asked whether he was willing to cut his travelling expenses, he told All People's Party member of parliament Ignatius Shixwameni that he had been travelling since the 1960s.

“I travel because it is necessary …do you think at my age I enjoy travelling?” he asked.

Geingob further said that the time spent in transit made travelling undesirable but added that the use of a private jet made it a little better.

Power for 50 households at Ozohambo

OTJINENE – About 50 out of a planned 300 households in the Ozohambo informal settlement in Otjinene now have electricity connected to their homes as part of a peri-urban electrification project by Cenored and the Otjinene Village Council.

The councillor of the Otjinene constituency, Erwin Katjizeu, during the electricity switching-on ceremony in Ozohambo on Friday applauded Cenored for responding to the call to electrify the settlement and making a difference in the lives of the inhabitants.

Katjizeu added that the provision of electricity is crucial for improving living standards, supporting development, creation of job opportunities and fostering social activities.

“Access to electricity drives development and is essential for job creation, constituent empowerment and the combating of poverty; electricity is one of the key inputs for socio-economic development,” he said.

He said 150 households are included in the first phase of the peri-urban electrification project and the remaining 100 households’ electricity meter boxes will be installed in the next financial year, while the other 150 households will receive electricity during the second phase of the project.

Empowerment

Speaking at the same event, Cenored’s executive manager of engineering and systems development, Silvester Wayiti, said the company has answered the call by the White Paper on Energy Policy developed by the energy policy committee of the ministry of mines and energy in May 1998, calling upon ensuring that access to electricity is granted to inhabitants of any given village, settlement and town as a tool for social economic growth.

“We continue to plan and execute electrification projects in areas where we operate,” said Wayiti.

Once the electricity is connected in these households, children will be able to study at night and local entrepreneurs will be able to set up businesses at the settlement, he added.

Cornelia Kao, a local resident said she has lived in Ozohambo for 16 years without electricity, adding that she was overjoyed that the settlement is finally being electrified.

Another resident, Natalia Jaezuruka, also said children in the settlement can now study at home during the night.

“And for those of us who sew, this will allow us to start our sewing businesses and make ends meets,” she added. - Nampa

Airport abuzz at first international arrivalBusinesspeople, family visits Most passengers on the first international flight allowed to land at Hosea Kutako International Airport on Friday came to join their families or for work reasons. My businesses had to come to a complete standstill. – John Mureithi, Kenyan businessman with local interests

Ndapewoshali Shapwanale - Flowers in hand, Namibian fashion designer Ennio Hamutenya on Friday waited impatiently for his girlfriend to disembark the first international flight to land since borders shut in March to tackle coronavirus.

"As soon as I heard the good news I decided to get her onto the first flight," said Hamutenya, 23, clutching a bouquet of roses and dandelions.

"I cannot wait to see her," he added, two hours ahead of the scheduled arrival time.

The terminal filled with cheers when 26-year-old Katrina Shtern finally stepped out into the hallway and the young couple embraced for the first time in months.

"I have not been here for a long time," said Shtern, who flew from Germany on the Ethiopian Airlines flight. "I am happy to be here."

Tourists drought

Namibia officially reopened to foreign visitors on September 1 in a bid to salvage the tourism industry, hard hit by coronavirus restrictions.

The first flight landed at Hosea Kutako International Airport on Friday afternoon, carrying just over 40 passengers coming mainly from Austria, Germany and Kenya via Addis Ababa.

But most had come to the sparsely populated southern African country to join their families or for work reasons.

Namibian national Michael Schubert, 43, had been struggling to return home from Austria after his work contract ended.

"I went through flights being cancelled, borders closing and opening and closing," said Schubert.

Businessman John Mureithi, 51, explained that he had been stuck in his home country Kenya since December, leaving him unable to supervise his construction operations in Namibia.

"My businesses had to come to a complete standstill," he complained, eager to return to work.

Namibia reopened to foreign visitors despite a steady increase in coronavirus cases.

Infections have more than tripled since the start of August, rising to over 9 100 this month.

Recorded deaths exceed 100.

To avoid importing more cases, anyone coming into the country is required to test negative no more than 72 hours before travelling.

At the airport, announcements constantly reminded passengers in face masks to sanitise, wash their hands and keep a safe distance.

Back at work

Staff at duty free stores dusted and re-stocked shelves.

Souvenir shop employee Salome Ndinoshisho was excited to be back at work.

"We were just at home all this time so when we received the call [to come back] I was overjoyed," she told AFP.

At the check-in counters, Congolese national Fatima Manuel muttered angrily as she was charged for excess luggage.

The 26-year-old student was finally able to return home after finishing an English course in June.

"I thanked God when this flight was announced," Manuel exclaimed. "It was becoming very expensive for me staying in Namibia."– Nampa/AFP

No export nest egg

Namibia imported N$61 million worth of eggs and dairy products in July, according to the latest trade figures released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). Compared to July 2019, the import of these products dipped by 4.9%. On the other hand, Namibia exported eggs and dairy products of only N$2 million, a drop of 40.4% compared to July 2019. Photo Nampa/AFP

Swapo must be laughing hysterically With only two months left before the much-hyped regional and local authority elections, the country's opposition is divided – a comedy show that Swapo must surely be enjoying from a distance.

Swapo hasn't had a good laugh in a very long time, for obvious reasons. And now the party is giggling like schoolgirls at the comedy of errors that is its opposition adversaries.

The formation of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has caught Panduleni Itula's bedfellows in the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) unawares.

With AR's Knowledge Ipinge branding Itula a 'hypocrite' for his party's ban of independent candidates, relations between these two formations are non-existent.

Then over the weekend, the only two other political formations worth mentioning, LPM and PDM, were at each other's throats.

The LPM attacked PDM and its leader McHenry Venaani in a statement issued on Sunday evening, with the former accusing the official opposition of dirty campaign tactics.

These series of events are playing to the gallery of a Swapo comeback from the ashes of last year's hot contest where the party's two-thirds majority went up in flames.

A divided opposition is the exact icing that Swapo needed on its cake going into this election.

While it's true that the opposition must unite on principles and not just for their common dislike for Swapo, going into this election as a united front would have only served to redeem our limping democracy.

World’s gold miners wary of production ramp-upPrice surge no incentive Seven out of 10 of the global gold miners have cut planned output for the year by 7%, citing coronavirus-related shutdowns. The real trap in the gold industry in the past was chasing volume. - Tom Palmer, CEO: Newmont

Tanisha Heiberg and Arunima Kumar - The world's top gold miners are retrenching after Covid-19 related shutdowns despite record prices for the yellow metal, with cost-conscious executives prioritising investor returns over production growth.

Gold prices have jumped 30% this year to roughly US$2 000 an ounce as central banks dial up stimulus measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

That has fuelled a cash surge for miners, with top- and mid-tier producers holding roughly US$5 billion in cash as of June 30, according to Scotiabank estimates.

But interviews with executives, analysts and fund managers show miners are hesitant to spend on pricey projects and tap marginal deposits that require sizeable capital and take years to break even.

Seven out of 10 of the global gold miners, including Newmont, the world's biggest gold miner, Canada’s Barrick and South Africa's Gold Fields, have cut planned output for the year by 7%, citing coronavirus-related shutdowns, regulatory filings show.

The caution is a reversal from the 2011 gold price boom, which prompted buyers to overspend on acquisitions and led to billions in impairments when prices crashed in subsequent years.

Investor favour

Companies which have won back investor favour are fearful of making similar mistakes.

"The real trap in the gold industry in the past was chasing volume," Newmont chief executive officer Tom Palmer told Reuters.

Newmont's budget this year is US$1.3 billion, about half levels seen in the previous cycle.

Gold Fields said it wasn't rushing to change cut-off grades, the minimum grade that can be economically mined, despite the higher price.

"It's not easy to just turn the ship in a different direction," Gold Fields CEO Nick Holland told Reuters, referring to boosting output with the higher price.

Barrick's long-term price assumption remains unchanged at US$1 200, underpinning a growing dividend and debt reduction, CEO Mark Bristow said.

"No one made any real money" in the last cycle, he said at the Mines and Money Online Connect virtual conference last week.

Growth vs return

The spot price of gold has climbed more than 500% over the last 20 years, according to Refinitiv data. Global gold output, including from mines and recycling, rose 22%, according to World Gold Council data.

Miners have hiked dividends on the back of those stronger prices, with Barrick raising its quarterly payout 14% last month and Newmont boosting its payout 79% in April. Scotiabank analysts expect the industry's dividend growth to continue into 2021.

"Companies still need to take a very conservative approach," said Joe Foster of Van Eck Associates Corp, which holds shares in Barrick and Newmont and expects gold prices to eventually hit US$3 000.

Investors have even threatened to dump shares of companies that don't prioritise payouts.

"If we get to the point where growth versus returns becomes a decision point, we'll back the companies paying returns," said Mark Burridge at Baker Steel Capital Managers, which hold shares in Kirkland Lake Gold, Kinross Gold and others. – Nampa/Reuters

Africa Briefs

Uganda, Tanzania agree on oil pipeline

Tanzania and Uganda signed an agreement on Sunday paving the way for the construction of a crude oil pipeline running from Ugandan oilfields to the Tanzanian port of Tanga, a Tanzanian government spokesman said.

Uganda discovered oil reserves in 2006 and needs the planned 1 445-km East African Crude Oil Pipeline to be in place to start commercial production. The pipeline is estimated to cost US$3.5 billion, according to the two governments.

Hassan Abassi, Tanzania government spokesman, said on Twitter that 80% of the pipeline will run through Tanzania.

Tanzania will earn 7.5 trillion shillings (US$3.24 billion) and create more than 18 000 jobs over the next 25 years, or more, that the project is in place, Abassi said after the signing ceremony attended by Tanzania's president John Magufuli and Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni in Chato, northwestern Tanzania.

Uganda has not given a date for when construction of the pipeline will begin but said last year that once construction begins, it would take 2-1/2 to three years to complete. – Nampa/Reuters

Nigeria stops giving forex for food imports

Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday directed the central bank to stop issuing foreign exchange for food and fertiliser imports, according to a statement by his spokesman.

It follows a similar order the president issued last year that the nominally-independent bank only partly followed, with some food importers still receiving foreign exchange.

But Thursday's directive will completely ban providing foreign currency for all imported food and fertiliser, the spokesman told Reuters. "Nobody importing food should be given money," Buhari said.

Since his election in 2015, Buhari has sought to cut foreign imports, particularly agricultural products. Expanding Nigeria's farm sector is a key pillar of his economic policy.

But the bans on imports like rice have seen prices surge, sparking widespread frustration. – Nampa/Reuters

Algeria hunting season returns after ban

Curbs on hunting are to be lifted in Algeria from today after a ban of more 25 years first imposed during its bloody civil war of the 1990s.

The hunting season will run until February 15, said agriculture minister Abdelhamid Hamdani, quoted by national news agency APS.

Hunting was banned and farmers' rifles confiscated to prevent them falling the hands of Islamist militants during the war.

But wild boar hunting, for which Algeria is a destination for shooting holidays, was authorised in 2014 to combat the large increase in their numbers due to the ban. – Nampa/AFP

N$6m needed to send student care packages to Cuba

JEMIMA BEUKES

WINDHOEK

The health ministry says it will cost the government close to N$6 million to charter a commercial plane to courier toiletries to Namibian medical students in Cuba who have been deprived since May this year.

In July, this year the health ministry informed the parents of these students that new ways were being considered to get these products to Havana after earlier plans had failed.

However, over the weekend the students appealed to President Hage Geingob on Twitter, saying that they were still waiting to receive their toiletries.

“Good morning Mr President, we are suffering. We need the bags with our cosmetics that are stranded in Namibia. Please, hear the cries of the Namibian medical students in Cuba. The bags are already packed,” one student tweeted.

Presidential press secretary Alfredo Hengari yesterday confirmed that the matter had been referred to the ministry of international relations and the ministry of higher education.

The executive in the higher education ministry, Dr Alfred van Kent, referred Namibian Sun to the health ministry.

The executive director in the health ministry, Ben Nangombe, said the ministry offered to assist out of goodwill but it proved to be a very expensive exercise.

He added that it costs up to N$3 million to charter a plane just to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and that the quotations they are receiving for the transport of these parcels are more than this.

“We have to be frugal. If there were commercial flights then it would work but Covid-19 has made it difficult for us,” he said.

Spare no costs

Meanwhile Dylan Mukoroli, the national spokesperson for the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso), says no costs should be spared to make sure the students receive their supplies.

Mukoroli stressed that students are truly suffering and therefore the government must push harder to deliver these supplies to them.

“We are looking for is action from the executive director and the ministry at large. We understand they have the burden of Covid-19 but we have to learn to live with Covid-19 and the issues that are coming with it. We are not going to stop until we see the ED at Hosea Kutako sending off those parcels,” he said.

He said they understood the financial burden but no price could be put on the students who are experiencing a dire shortage of basic necessities.

“They have just received up to N$700 million to fight Covid-19. All we ask for is the necessary financial planning to use funds they have for Covid-19 to send those parcels. Even if it means the ministry must get an overdraft, the ministry must make sure they get the N$6 million to send those parcels,” he said.

Out of reach

The students told Namibian Sun that they are facing serious shortages and cannot always find these items in Cuban shops.

“Toothpaste, washing powder and sanitary pads are hard to find. They aren’t available always available in shops and when they are available, they finish within 48 hours and you might not get a chance to get any. We understand Cuba is trying their outmost best, but the Namibian government can try to help us send those bags please, we need them urgently,” the student said.

International relations acting executive director Rebecca Iyambo is yet to respond to questions sent to her.

jemima@namibiansun.com

Fishrot 7 could be releasedACC granted three months to wrap up probe A court yesterday hinted it would have no further just grounds to keep the accused in custody if state investigators further delay completion of their investigations.

OGONE TLHAGE

WINDHOEK

A magistrate yesterday thinly suggested the court might have no further reason to keep the Fishrot accused in custody if investigators do not wrap up their probe within three months, ending on December 14.

Windhoek Magistrate Vanessa Stanley granted the State a final postponement in the Fishcor and Nangomar Pesca court cases.

Magistrate Stanley made the ruling yesterday after the scheduled appearance of the seven men accused of corruption, money laundering and bribery charges in the so-called Fishrot debacle.

In the Fishcor matter, the accused are suspended Fishcor CEO Mike Nghipunya, former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau, former Investec CEO James Hatuikulipi, businessman Tamson Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelulo.

They stand accused of having benefited from a bribery syndicate involving millions of dollars in exchange for lucrative fishing quotas to Icelandic company Samherji, using Namibia’s national state-owned fishing company Fishcor.

Last week the Bank of Namibia said it had traced movement of up to N$10 billion linked to the Fishrot scandal.

In the Nangomar case, former Investec business manager Ricardo Gustavo is charged along with Shanghala, Esau, the Hatuikulipi cousins and Mwatelulo.

In the Fishcor case, N$75.6 million is said to have been paid to companies belonging to Esau, while N$103 million is said to have been paid over in the Nangomar case.

Shanghala, Esau, the Hatuikulipi cousins (James and Tamson), Mwatelulo and Gustavo have been in jail since their arrest in November 2019.

Nghipunya was arrested in February this year.

Lengthy investigations justified

Magistrate Stanley yesterday remarked that lengthy investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had been justified so far given the complexity of the cases.

She also noted that the Covid-19 lockdown in the country and the world had further complicated the investigations.

The magistrate further noted that the cases required voluminous investigations.

Gustavo’s lawyer, Trevor Brockerhoff, last week argued that investigations into the so-called Fishrot bribery scandal could take years to be completed.

Some of the other defence lawyers involved in the two cases suggested in their arguments on Wednesday that the magistrate should refuse a postponement, or release their clients from custody or grant them bail.

All seven men remain in custody.