Namibian Sun

Parties clash over Pan African Parliament seatsOpposition contest for remaining seats “PDM and LPM have done a great job in keeping the ruling party on its toes, it would be a travesty if such a small issue divides them,” a source said.

STAFF REPORTER

WINDHOEK

It took a heated debate to reach consensus on who will form part of the delegation to represent Namibia as a continental lawmaker at the Pan African Parliament (PAP).

With Swapo from the onset deciding to send three of its members, only two seats remained up for grabs.

It is understood that, initially, the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) wanted to occupy the remaining two seats. This was, however, met with resistance from the Landless Peoples Movement (LPM), which felt it deserved a seat.

As the official opposition party, boasting 16 seats in the National Assembly, PDM allegedly felt that it was entitled to the remaining seats and that LPM has no grounds to claim anything because they only have four seats.

There are, however, arguments that the allocations should be based on parliament in its entirety - National Council and National Assembly.

The situation, sources privy to the matter said, threatened to strain the relationship between the two parties.

‘Travesty’

“PDM and LPM have done a great job in keeping the ruling party on its toes, it would be a travesty if such a small issue divides them. PDM must also be considerate and allow others to get exposure also,” said the source.

PDM and LPM currently have 18 and 10 seats in Parliament respectively.

The parties eventually reached consensus and decided to finalise the list.

National Assembly Speaker Peter Katjavivi on Tuesday announced that Swapo’s Hamunyera Hambyuka, Loide Kasingo and Popular Democratic leader McHenry Venaani would be the representatives from the National Assembly.

The other two members will come from the National Council.

It is understood that the two members from the council will be from Swapo and LPM.

Namibia will also be represented by Utaara Mootu (LPM), Vipuakuje Muharukua (PDM) and three Swapo MPs, Agnes Kafula, Phillipus Katamelo and Paula Kooper, on the SADC Parliamentary Forum.

Namdeb set to evict housing tenantsWe’ve given you ample time, company says Workers have been given until 30 April to find other accommodation, or risk facing legal action.

OGONE TLHAGE

WINDHOEK

Diamond mining company Namdeb is set to evict employees from houses it owns in Oranjemund. Workers who have not submitted offers to purchase the properties have been given until 30 April to find other accommodation, or risk facing legal action.

The company said it has given the employees ample time to sign agreements with the adoption of its accommodation strategy, in which it intends to offload various properties.

“It is a well-known fact that Oranjemund currently does not have sufficient appropriate accommodation for the accommodation requirements of the town. The implementation of Namdeb’s accommodation strategy has indicated a significant need from Namdeb employees to buy a house in Oranjemund; more than the houses currently being occupied by Namdeb employees,” a letter by the company read.

It afforded tenants living in its houses the opportunity to purchase the properties, the company said.

Get out

“Following numerous extensions for private tenants to exercise their First Right of Refusal to purchase their current properties, the company has now exhausted this venture and thus will not offer [the] same any more after 30 April (sic),” the letter said.

“Given that you have not submitted your offer to purchase your property to date, Namdeb hereby invokes its rights in terms of the termination clause of your lease agreement whereby 30 days’ notice, which is effective from 1 April 2021, to vacate the premises you are occupying, no later than 30 April.

“Failure to comply with this termination notice by the said date will result in Namdeb exercising its right to institute legal action against you so as to take possession of the properties,” the letter added.

EDITORIAL As Covid-19 continues to dominate our daily lives, there’s a surge in contradictions regarding the vaccines currently being distributed and administered globally.

Here at home, every Tom, Dick and Harry has their own version of how the vaccines work. From claims of fertility impairments to alteration of DNA, the perpetrators of myths are busy in the kitchen. Comedy Central stuff!

Of course, we should not swallow every innovation hook, line and sinker, but when lies are invented to discredit the efforts of men and women who worked around the clock to save the world, it’s simply sickening.

The spread of false information about the vaccines risks not only the success of vaccination campaigns, but public health in general.

Although our concern and worry over the virus is not misplaced, the most useful thing people can do at this stage is to stick to trusted sources of information like the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organisation and reputable media outlets.

This will protect us from the irresponsible rumourmongers and people who use this time of crisis as an opportunity to sell things or inflame emotions.

It is time to step up to the plate as humans and see how we can assist authorities to succeed in defeating Covid-19 once and for all. One way of such assistance is to shut up instead of evangelising about things we know nothing about.

Swapo has fallen off the truck – Nahas

JEMIMA BEUKES

WINDHOEK

The ruling party has fallen off the liberation and social justice truck, a situation which calls for party veterans to regroup and restore it for future generations.

This is according to Swapo veteran Nahas Angula, who said the glue that kept the party together in the past was its pursuit for social justice. Former prime minister Angula was speaking to Namibian Sun’s The Evening Review talk show recently.

"We might have made mistakes here and there. But the reality of the current Swapo party came out of the moral weaknesses of one of our comrades. We started to compete for resources and to abuse public resources. We started to empower ourselves instead of the masses," he said.

Angula added that the so-called Fishrot scandal came as a surprise to many of the party's cadres and that former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala, who cautioned the party to reinvent itself, has no moral grounding.

"They are the ones who have damaged the Swapo brand because of their greed. People started questioning that Swapo is talking about solidarity and justice. We are supposed to feel with the poor and unemployed youth of this nation. Instead, some of the comrades took advantage of this position and looted,” he said.

Admitting mistakes

Asked whether veterans such as himself shoulder the blame for the party’s disintegration and divided state, Angula said self-correction calls upon them to admit that mistakes were made.

“Yes, I have been in the leadership of the Swapo party for some time, but we trusted each other, thinking all of us are working for the common good - but unfortunately some have succumbed to temptations to be rich or whatever and did some things some of us never thought could be done,” he said.

On his involvement at the party’s next congress, Angula said he will help to educate the nation on what Swapo stood for.

“Yes, Swapo might have fallen off the truck, but that is the challenge of life. Let us see how we can put ourselves back on track as a party. I hope we will [re-invent], look at our neighbours - they were at the same point at some point. They did some self-correction and rebuilt the ANC brand,” he said.

Angula also believes the fact that the Fishrot suspects are tried in a court of law can help convince Namibians that not all Swapo members are corrupt.

jemima@namibiansun.com

Govt pays N$15m for PM farmsPrime minister says no preferential treatment received A company owned by the prime minister and her husband has scored big from a multimillion-dollar sale of farms to government.

TUYEIMO HAIDULA and MATHIAS HAUFIKU

WINDHOEK

A company owned by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and her husband, Onesmus Tobias Amadhila, last year sold two farms in the Otjozondjupa Region to government for N$15 million, after having bought the properties for N$5.5 million in 2011.

Seize The Moment Investment Fifty Six Corporation bought Farm Goab No. 760 - measuring 2 750 hectares - and the 7 485-hectare Farm Duwib 1149 from Karl Heinz-Friedrich in August 2011.

The information on how the PM-linked entity profited just under N$10 million for the land in nine years is contained in deeds documents publicly available at the Registrar of Deeds.

The PM denied any wrongdoing and disputed claims that the farms prices were inflated when they were sold to government.

On 9 November 2020, Farm Duwib – which cost N$3.8 million nine years earlier - was sold to government for N$8.6 million.

But before it was sold, it was subdivided in two parts measuring 2 500 and 5 100 hectares respectively.

Government took ownership of the 5 100-hectare portion, and the remaining part remained under the ownership of the company.

Three weeks after buying the portion of Farm Duwib, government paid N$5.8 million for Farm Goab (called Agenab) from the same company.

A month after finalising the two deals, the company then landed a N$5.2 million loan from Agribank, using the remaining portion of Farm Duwib as surety.

Nothing untoward

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the questions regarding the sales contain a lot of inaccuracies in terms of information cited concerning prices for the acquisition and sale of property, as well as borrowing. This is despite the figures being contained in official deeds documents.

She also said there has not been any over-pricing for properties as suggested.

Regarding claims of preferential treatment and that other farmers have been struggling to sell their farms to government because of a lack of funds in the public kitty, the prime minister responded: “There has not been any preferential treatment accorded to me or my family members by any public institution”.

She also disputed the N$5.2 million Agribank loan, saying “this information is not corroborated by any records”.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila added: “There seems to be a deliberate misrepresentation of information for reasons that are only known to those who are doing so”.

Efforts to get hold of her husband proved futile, as calls and text messages went unanswered.

Money woes

The sale of the farms took place around the same time when Kuugongelwa-Amadhila told the nation in a progress report on the second land conference that purchasing of land by government from farmers could be suspended or stopped completely due to a lack of funds.

At the time, she said the purchasing of farms would only be possible if the lands ministry is in a financial position to do so.

“So far, the market has delivered land for acquisition. However, the power of acquisition relies on the status of an economy at a given time. It is the status of the economy that informs how much can be spent. The current economic turbulence did not allow the increase of funds for lands purchase,” she said in the 2020 report.

Nampa reported in 2019 that commercial farmers offered 469 farms for sale to the state in 2018.

Of these, 89 farms - measuring a combined 387 622 hectares - were withdrawn by the sellers.

The ministry sent back a further 17 farms measuring 62 323 0130 hectares, and waived 12 farms with a combined area of 49 144 2959 hectares.

The lands ministry’s 2018 annual report, in which the figures are contained, does not explain what happened to the remaining 350 farms offered to government.

NPTH rejects Jooste’s advice on hotel stake purchase

OGONE TLHAGE

WINDHOEK

Namibia Post and Telecommunications Holdings (NPTH) has rescinded its decision to purchase a 50% stake in the Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre, and will instead declare a dividend to government to allow it to make the purchase itself.

NPTH CEO Kristofin Itembu had in February sought the services of a consultant to conduct a due diligence to assess whether the purchase would make financial sense.

Namibian Sun has now been informed by sources that NPTH has opted out of the deal, despite earlier pressure from public enterprises minister Leon Jooste to buy the stake.

It is understood that NPTH does not want the controversial Swakopmund Hotel under its property base, even though it has the financial muscle to buy into it.

This publication can, however, confirm that NPTH will soon declare a N$135 million dividend to government, official documents have revealed.

“The board considered the proposal of purchasing the 50% shares of Legacy Hotels and resolved not to acquire some for various financial and economic reasons. The board, however, is aware and mindful of the financial predicament that TransNamib finds itself in,” NPTH board chairperson Sencia Kaizemi-Rukata wrote to Jooste earlier this month.

Unclear

The NPTH board has resolved that an estimated ordinary dividend of N$135 million for the financial year ended September 2020 will be declared to the State as ultimate shareholder.

Kaizemi-Rukata told Jooste government can then use the dividend for the share purchase.

At this stage, it is unclear whether the 50% shares to be procured is that which belongs to TransNamib, or whether it is Stocks and Stocks’ portion.

Meanwhile, a government official who spoke to this reporter indicated that dividends declared to government are not allocated to certain projects by default.

“That money will end up in the Treasury pool and depending on the pressing needs of the country, the funds might end up being used for something else. I believe that is why Jooste wanted to go the NPTH route,” the official, who chose not to be named, said.

Due diligence in progress

Jooste acknowledged that his ministry was looking at a due diligence on the potential purchase of Legacy Hotels stake, saying the purchase could prove to be a valuable asset for TransNamib in future.

“We are currently conducting a due diligence on the Swakopmund Hotel company before a final decision will be taken. The rationale for this is to secure a potentially valuable asset that has the ability to generate capital for TransNamib,” he said.

The hotel’s property value justified the potential purchase, Jooste said.

“Considering that the property had a market value of around N$500 million according to a 2016 market value valuation, we are of the opinion that our attempt to secure the property at a reasonable price - as opposed to us losing the property for a mere N$5 million - is in the best interest of TransNamib,” he said.

Jooste added that consultation had been sought with the TransNamib board and Cabinet after the High Court ruled that the rail agency must sell its 50% stake in the hotel for N$5 million.

TransNamib’s board defied Jooste’s directive not to appeal the decision when it filed its notice to appeal last month.

RÖSSING DONATES TO AIDS ACTION’S COMMUNITY SOUP KITCHEN

STAFF REPORTER

Rössing Uranium recently donated N$8 000 to the Catholic AIDS Action (CAA) soup kitchen in Windhoek.

Johan Coetzee, Rössing Uranium managing director, said even though 2020 was challenging for all industries due to Covid-19, they remain committed to supporting the community.

“I am proud of all our employees and contractors for their contributions towards the project, therefore, this is indeed a testimony that we are working for Namibia,” he added.

The funds were collected from Rössing employees through the sale of cupcakes during the World AIDS Day celebrations last year to support orphans who lost their parents due to AIDS-related illness.

The support was initially meant for the CAA Erongo soup kitchen, but due to Covid-19 challenges, the CAA decided to allocate the funds to their soup kitchen in the Khomas Region.

Catholic AIDS Action executive director Lorence Hembapu and human resource and administration manager Queen Naiyuma receiving a mock cheque from Rössing Uranium company secretary Glynis Labuschagne.

Windhoek’s dobox Helps budding coders realize their dream One forward-thinking organisation using the CodeCave to its advantage is the Ndjuluwa Academy, which is now able to offer a highly demanded coding course.

Staff reporter

In late 2020, DoBox conceived and launched a project called CodeCave, a room and presentation area which has welcomed entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, and small businesses to use its dedicated ICT space in Windhoek and think big in terms of their activities.

Ndjuluwa Academy CEO and Head Teacher, Helvi Shinedima explains why. “Although we currently have computer literacy as an extramural course, we can now offer specific coding classes, for which there was an overwhelming amount of interest from our learners. Until joining DoBox’s CodeCave, we lacked the facilities that would help our learners unlimit their potential in the tech landscape but, with the quality connection that Paratus provides to CodeCave, both our teachers and learners may now not only improve their computer skills but also satisfy their curiosity around coding.”

In October 2020, only a month after CodeCave opened, the academy was able to increase its offering of coding classes to school-going children as well as to the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL). In just five months, eight students, aged between 11 and 21, are now taking the coding class and the academy expects more to come on board with this course soon.

Helvi says that young people wanting to develop their skills and ultimately work in the tech ecosystem are seriously challenged if they do not have access to a suitable venue, modern computer equipment and good trainers. “They are even more challenged if they don’t have a quality and always-on internet connection. CodeCave at DoBox is giving academy learners and budding coders the perfect space to learn and flourish by eliminating these challenges.”

Paratus Namibia MD Andrew Hall, said: “We are so excited to see so many young ICT individuals using the CodeCave location, supported by our fast and reliable internet connection. We are firmly committed to helping our future entrepreneurs push the boundaries.”

“Success is self-accountability and a little bit of environmental assistance.”said Helvi Shinedima, CEO and Head Teacher at the Ndjuluwa Academy.

Local firms invest in financial experts

STAFF REPORTER

Local firms Arysteq Asset Management and Simonis Storm Securities have joined forces to award seven bursaries to Namibian students embarking on a career in finance.

Due to their shared passion and commitment for the Namibian financial sector, the two companies established the Arysteq Foundation in 2016.

This week, four bursaries were awarded to students studying towards BSc Financial Mathematics and B Accounting at the University of Namibia, while one candidate was awarded a bursary to study towards a BSc in Applied Mathematics and Statistics at the Namibia University of Science and Technology.

These bursaries will support students with their tuition, textbooks and accommodation needs. The remaining two bursaries have been awarded to two students pursuing their studies in B Accounting at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. These comprise of a top-up amount of N$30 000 which will contribute to their existing bursaries.

Paying it forward

The foundation aim to support local skills development and capacity-building, which will contribute toward the growth of the local economy.

As a core belief, it believes in “paying it forward”. Arysteq Asset Management is one of six companies selected by the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) to participate in its incubation programme. The programme paves the way for the next generation of Namibian fund managers to manage local pension fund money.

“Covid-19 has created an uncertain outlook for the labour market and, therefore, has placed a threat on future employment prospects for Namibian youth. Despite the current economic climate, we want to support the next generation of financial specialists in realising their dreams.

“These bursaries support the students, allowing them to focus purely on their studies and achieve the best results possible,” Purvance Heuer, the managing director of Arysteq Asset Management, said.

“Investing in the development of skills in our industry is not just a responsibility, but also a strategic imperative of our group. Through continuous learning, training and development opportunities, we are actively contributing to reducing the skills gap in Namibia”, added Simonis Storm Securities’ Bruce Hansen.

Empowering women

The Namibia Financial Sector Strategy 2011 - 2021 calls for the creation of dynamic financial players who can provide support to the domestic economy. Both Arysteq Asset Management and Simonis Storm Securities have positioned themselves as dynamic players in the market, delivering transformative thinking and local expertise within the financial sector. Further skills development can only benefit the industry.

The two companies take great pride in being equal opportunity employers and are delighted that the majority of the successful bursary recipients are women. This outcome shows a natural support towards women empowerment in the industry.

“Recognising that every financial player has a role to play in contributing to the goals of the Namibia, the National Development Plan and Vision 2030, it is paramount that the next generation can take a seat at the table and play their role in enabling economic growth and development,” the companies said in a statement.

“A lack of skills can constrain a developing economy such as Namibia; therefore, the Arysteq Foundation is proud to join hands with these students and their families as they pursue their dreams.

“We wish the students all the best for the year ahead and we are patiently looking forward to welcoming them to our respective firms should the opportunity arise,” foundation chairperson Andrew Jansen said.

FNB closes branchesThe bank has issued public notices well in advance of all closures FNB encourages customers to make use of active alternative channels or cash in-store options for their cash related transactions. Staff Reporter

Over the past few years, FNB Namibia has focused on developing a strong financial service offering, with special emphasis on digitisation. This means that they are constantly finding ways and means to ensure that every customer has access to banking services without a physical branch.

The bank’s digitisation journey has been successful thus far and has cemented the outlook of the bank that expanding and increasing its branch and ATM footprint is not part of the bank’s overall digitalisation strategy.

They review their representation points and locations on a regular basis and take into account other offerings including digital banking technology such as USSD, Online banking and the FNB App, as well as the increasing availability of alternative channels such as Cash at Till, eWallet at Till, and CashPlus where cash can be deposited and withdrawn, especially in rural areas.

The availability of convenient and affordable alternative banking channels and their increased adoption of customers over traditional branches, have reduced volumes to a level where it is no longer viable to continue with physical presence of branches in towns such as Oshikuku, Arandis, Usakos, and Klein Windhoek.

The bank has issued public notices well in advance of all closures and has worked closely with the regulator and community leaders in areas where branches have been closed and will continue to actively engage stakeholders.

“FNB prides itself on being the ‘best financial service provider, employing the best people’ and as such will not be retrenching any staff from closed branches, but rather will redeploy them into other business units within the business,” says Rodney Forbes who is the Executive Officer: Points of Presence.

He adds that going forward, they can assure the public and its customers that assessing real customer needs is an ongoing process we continuously undertake to ensure inclusive banking for all. FNB encourages customers to make use of active alternative channels or cash in-store options for their cash related transactions.

EIF launches Sustainable Development Awards – nominations now open

STAFF REPORTER

The Sustainable Development Advisory Council, in cooperation with the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF), will host the third edition of the Sustainable Development Awards on 21 May.

The awards recognise and reward the contributions of outstanding individuals and institutions in the field of sustainable development.

This year, the awards target the private sector and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), community-level natural resource management and utilisation initiatives, research and development, youth action for sustainable development, pioneering journalism in the field of sustainable development, green banks, schools in action for sustainable development, women in action for sustainable development, thought leadership and the ministerial award.

All individuals, organisations, businesses, companies and community groups are invited to submit applications within respective categories.

Self-nominations and third-party nominations will be considered. Entries may be submitted for programmes or projects implemented during last two years, starting January 2019.

“We invite citizens nationwide to join us in the search of companies, local authorities, civil society organisations, youth, media practitioners and individuals who have demonstrated and promoted sustainable and responsible development,” EIF chief executive, Benedict Libanda, said.

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta revealed the theme for this year’s awards - ‘accelerating the green economy transformation as we recover from Covid-19’.

“We remain cognisant about the challenges of the pandemic along with the devastating impact it has had on the Namibian economy, but [it] has simultaneously provided an opportunity for us to rethink the country’s approach to economic growth and socio-economic development,” he said.

The Sustainable Development Awards were first held in 2015 and were based on a joint idea of the Sustainable Development Advisory Council and the EIF. It was planned to be hosted every two years and a subsequent second edition of the awards was held in 2017. The third edition of the awards was, however, delayed, but will now be held in May.

The ceremony is made possible through sponsorships by the Agricultural Bank of Namibia, First National Bank of Namibia, Namibia Wildlife Resorts and BDO Namibia, who will serve as the official auditors of the awards.

The deadline for entries is Friday, 16 April, at 13:00. For more information on the application process and categories, visit the EIF website.

EIF chief executive Benedict Libanda at the launch of the 2021 Sustainable Development Awards in Windhoek.

NBL donates beer to diplomatic missions

STAFF REPORTER

WINDHOEK

Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) recently donated 340 cases of Windhoek Lager to the ministry of international relations for the country’s 31st independence celebration activities abroad.

The consignment, valued at close to N$100 000, was set to be dispatched to Namibia’s diplomatic missions across the globe in celebration of the country’s 31st independence celebrations, which was commemorated on 21 March.

“I am extremely honoured to be able to hand over this token of appreciation to our fellow Namibians and embassies abroad in appreciation for their valued support, hard work and dedication in representing the interests of Namibia, but also preserving the rights of Namibian citizens across the globe,” NBL managing director Marco Wenk said.

He added that they regard Windhoek Lager as the perfect ambassador as it not only carries the spirit of Namibia but also the name of the capital city.

Accepting the donation on behalf of the government, deputy prime minister and international relations minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, congratulated NBL for the extensive footprint they have secured so far in the world and for promoting the country so widely.

Marco Wenk, NBL managing director, and Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, deputy prime minister and international relations minister.

COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF

Nike sees social media storm in China

Anger with Nike Inc erupted on Chinese social media late on Wednesday after China’s netizens spotted a statement from the sporting goods giant saying it was “concerned” about reports of forced labour in Xinjiang and that it does not use cotton from the region.

Topics around the Nike statement were among the highest trending on China’s Twitter-like social media Weibo yesterday, and the social media storm had wider fallout.

Popular Chinese actor Wang Yibo terminated his contract as a representative for Nike in response to social media criticism over its Xinjiang statement, his agency said in a statement.

It was unclear when Nike had put out its statement, which did not have a date on it, and Nike was not immediately available for comment.

“We are concerned about reports of forced labour in, and connected to, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR),” Nike said in the statement. -Nampa/Reuters

Mastercard battles return of UK class action

A specialist London court will this week re-consider allowing an historic 14 billion-pound (US$19 billion) class action against Mastercard to proceed, which could entitle adults in Britain to about 300 pounds each if successful.

Former financial ombudsman Walter Merricks, who alleges that Mastercard overcharged more than 46 million people in Britain over nearly 16 years, hopes the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) will certify the case after the UK Supreme Court overruled objections to it proceeding in December.

A two-day court hearing will kick off on Thursday and will determine the fate of Britain’s first mass consumer claim and clarify the rules for a string of other competition class actions that have stalled in its wake.

Merricks, who is being advised by US-headquartered law firm Quinn Emanuel, alleges Mastercard charged excessive “interchange” fees, the fees retailers pay credit card companies when consumers use a card to shop - between May 1992 and June 2008 and that those fees were passed on to consumers as retailers raised prices.

Mastercard says the claim should not be brought, that people received valuable benefits from its payments technology and that the lawsuit is driven by US lawyers and backed by organisations focused on making money for themselves. - Nampa/Reuters

GM further cuts production in North America

General Motors Co extended production cuts in North America on Wednesday due to a worldwide semiconductor chip shortage that has impacted the auto sector.

The US automaker said its Wentzville, Missouri, assembly plant would be idled during the weeks beginning March 29 and April 5. It will extend down time at its plant in Lansing, Michigan, which has been idled since March 15, by two weeks.

The action was factored into GM’s prior forecast that it could shave up to US$2 billion off this year’s profit, spokesman David Barnas said. GM did not disclose how much volume would be lost by the move, but said it intended to make up as much lost production as possible later in the year.

The chip shortage came as North American auto plants were shut for two months during the Covid-19 pandemic last year and chip orders were cancelled, and as demand surged from the consumer electronics industry as people worked from home and played video games. That’s now left carmakers competing for chips.

Semiconductors are used extensively in cars, including to monitor engine performance, manage steering or automatic windows, and in sensors used in parking and entertainment systems. - Nampa/Reuters

Tencent's quarterly revenue jumps

Chinese gaming and social media group Tencent Holdings Ltd on Wednesday reported a market-beating 26% jump in quarterly sales, helped in part by a surge in revenue from its online gaming business.

Revenue rose to 133.67 billion yuan (US$20.5 billion) in the quarter ended December, versus market expectations of 132.19 billion yuan, based on data from Refinitiv.

Tencent, which has benefited from a surge in paying users for video games in China and international markets, said online games revenue rose 29% to 39.1 billion yuan.

Profit rose 175% in the same period to 59.3 billion yuan, largely thanks to fair-value gains in companies Tencent has invested in, and sales of stakes.

Tencent’s two hit games, Honor of Kings and PUBG Mobile, continued to top the rank in China and internationally, respectively, in this quarter.- Nampa/Reuters

VW's Skoda aims for 2021 rebound

Czech carmaker Skoda Auto, part of the Volkswagen Group, said on Wednesday it would invest around 2.5 billion euros over the next five years on future technologies, with more than half going to electric vehicle investment.

The Czech Republic’s largest exporter is hoping for a rebound in 2021 from a global car sales drop but faces uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic and a semiconductor shortage rattling the industry.

“This year is likely to be another big challenge,” finance director Klaus-Dieter Schuermann said. “We expect Skoda Auto’s group performance to improve, with sales revenue significantly above the level of last year.”

Skoda reported on Wednesday a 54.5% drop in 2020 operating to 756 million euros (US$894 million). Sales revenue dropped 13.8% to 17.1 billion euros.

Global deliveries remained above 1 million cars for a seventh straight year despite a 19% drop after production outages at the outset of the pandemic and a fall in China, its biggest single market. - Nampa/Reuters

Passion has driven LaueHe taught himself programming from around grade six and entered programming-based projects for the Science Fair several times from Grade 7 onwards. Laue completed a Bachelor of Engineering Honours (B.Eng.Hons) in electronic engineering and started with the research topic that would eventually become his PhD thesis.

Michelline Nawatises

Heinrich Laue was born and raised in Windhoek. When he was young, he loved taking things apart, even if it meant dealing with the subsequent disappointment of having broken a brand-new toy. “I clearly remember the anger and frustration when a particular toy was held together by a special type of screw for which I did not have the correct screwdriver,” he says.

As he grew older, he discovered computers, which became his hobby. His first computer was recycled from a rubbish dump - he loved fixing computers. He taught himself programming from around grade 5 and entered programming-based projects for the Science Fair several times from grade 7 onwards.

In Grade 11 (2009) Laue took a different route and submitted a team-based Science Fair project with a friend of his, where they developed a system for generating hydrogen from scrap aluminium.

“We came first in Namibia that year, and obtained a gold medal at the South African Eskom Expo for Young Scientists in Pretoria,” he said. The excitement of discovery, and in particular the opportunity to share discoveries with a friend, was indescribable and inspired him to study engineering.

Laue completed grade 12 at Windhoek Technical High School in 2010, achieving second place countrywide in the NSSCH examinations. He spent the next eight years at the University of Pretoria. He completed his Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) in electronic engineering in 2014. In 2015 the driven Laue completed his Bachelor of Engineering Honours (B.Eng.Hons) in electronic engineering and started with the research topic that would eventually become his PhD topic.

In 2016 he enrolled for a master's degree in electronic engineering, and in 2017 he converted his registration to a PhD on the recommendation of his supervisor. “I obtained my PhD in engineering in 2020 at the age of 28,” Laue says.

He held a bursary from NamWater, which allowed him to pursue postgraduate studies on a full-time basis, delaying his employment until 2019 when he returned to Windhoek and started working. “During my postgraduate years, I worked part-time as an assistant lecturer to help fund my studies,” he added.

His PhD research was in the field of antenna arrays where he designed and manufactured a new type of antenna-array system, published his work in several international journals, and presented his work at conferences in South Africa and Australia.

All about the job

People often ask him what electronic engineering has to do with NamWater. NamWater's infrastructure is monitored remotely by telemetry, and his department is responsible for installing the equipment that makes this possible. “We make use of our own radio networks across the country to relay the information to our servers, and utilise the cellular network in some areas,” he says. As an electronic engineer, his job is to design and install new telemetry systems and assist with the maintenance of these systems.

Challenges and Accomplishments

Adapting from an academic environment to the industry has been challenging. He had to learn patience with the way things work in the industry. “In my research, if I had an idea, I simply got to work on it. In industry, projects depend on complex interactions between different people, and I had to learn how to work effectively with people, and how to be patient when things take time.”

His biggest accomplishment was completing a PhD, “and my biggest blessing was being able to have fun doing so,” he says.

Depending on which phase a particular project is in, Laue could be sitting at his desk calling suppliers, doing a design on his computer, assembling equipment in the workshop, or installing equipment somewhere in Namibia. He spends most of his time at the head office in Windhoek, but also get the opportunity to travel all over the country, which is a great perk of his job.

What keeps him going

“I love accomplishing something that at first seemed impossible. This could be fixing something, solving a complex problem or even understanding something new,” he says. He can stick with a problem for a long time without giving up. He cherishes deep friendships, where they try to make sense of life together.

“I enjoy roasting coffee on my self-built roasting machine, ballroom and Latin-American dancing, and amateur photography. I danced ballroom and Latin-American competitively for a while in Pretoria, and joined the local salsa club when I moved back to Windhoek,” he adds.

The advice he would give to other young people is to cultivate curiosity. “Curiosity and effort combined have been shown to be as significant in predicting academic performance as natural ability,” he says. “If you want to set yourself apart, learn to be curious.”

He adds that you must intentionally ask questions about things that you would not normally be interested in, and talk to people that you would not normally relate to.

The path he chose is not a typical one; not many people in the industry have a PhD at the start of their career. His short-term goal is to register as a professional engineer with the Engineering Council of Namibia, and NamWater has been very supportive in helping him attain this goal. “I could see myself returning to a research-based environment, but for now I am focused on gaining practical engineering experience,” he says.

When asked what the best phase in his life was, he singles out his four years of full-time postgraduate studies. He says he had complete freedom to find a routine that worked for him.

“I am still amazed by how productive I was during that time. I always went to bed with an interesting problem on my mind, and often woke up with inspiration,” he adds. Laue had enough free time to take up new hobbies and made some amazing new friends. “After a gruelling undergraduate degree, I finally felt like I had a balanced life,” he says.

Pull Quote: “Intentionally ask questions about things that you would not normally be interested in, and talk to people that you would not normally relate to.” Heinrich Laue

A passionate and motivated mother Bernadette Bock is a newly appointed director of Unam (University of Namibia) “I chose my career path based on the need to make a difference and to have a positive impact on people’s lives” -Bernadette Bock

Desiree Gases

Born at Rehoboth, Bernadette Bock spent most of her secondary school years at Concordia College, but then completed Grade 12 at Centaurus High School. An alumnus of Unam where she completed a Bachelor of Economics degree, Bock spent eight years in Germany completing a Masters in Cooperative Economics at the Phillips University of Marburg, after which she worked for an international biodiversity research project, based at the same university, focusing on the impacts of political incentives on natural resource use. Bock gained professional experience in technical and leadership positions overseeing strategic planning.

She has been a director of the University of Namibia for less than a month now. Raising philanthropic funds in a financially suppressed economy will be challenging, she says. It will call for innovation, creativity and perseverance. But she is up for the challenge.

“I chose my career path based on the need to make a difference and to have a positive impact on people’s lives. So, I have always worked in positions where I could develop and implement programmes to strengthen the resilience levels of vulnerable communities, and in that way, making my small contribution to the socio-economic development of Namibia. I also have bit of research experience and saw the role at the Foundation as an opportunity to combine my various skillsets for the promotion of higher education in the country,” she says.

For Bock, success in this position would be linked to the total funds raised in support of Unam’s objectives. Also, a good track record of managing mobilised resources prudently and in accordance with good corporate governance procedures and systems. Trust, transparency and accountability are crucial values to be maintained in this position.

For Bock, being able to complete a master’s course in the German language, after only having it as a third language in high school, was an accomplishment she will always be very proud of. Setting the Namibia Red Cross Society back on the road to recovery within a very short period of time is one of major achievements to date.

Bock adds: “I always seem to attract positions where I need to either set up systems and processes from scratch or where there is need to overhaul what is already in place. I have over the years successfully developed and administrated various grant fund mechanisms linked with international development agencies, while I was also able to improve community support structures of private sector as well as non-governmental organisations. I always enjoy seeing the results of my work and get motivated by it to push harder.”

When Bock is not at work, she loves spending time with friends and family and she has a three-year-old, very energetic son. For the future Bock just wants to focus on transforming the Foundation to reach its targets. She also wants to spend a lot more time with her son as he is growing up much too fast.

“Apart from developing technical skills and experience in your chosen field, also prioritise building yourself a good reputation based on excellent personal and professional ethics. Good ethics will never go out of fashion and no one can take them away from you,” Bock advises young people.

1 PHOTO (CONTRIBUTED)

CAPTION: Bernadette Bock, new director of Unam.

Climbing up the success ladder The acting director of marketing and communications Johannes Haufiku talks about how his passionate nature helped him work his way up at the University of Namibia. “I love learning new things, finding challenging truths that unsettle my beliefs, thoughts and even dreams.” -Johannes Haufiku

Desiree Gases

Haufiku was born and raised in Kuisebmond, Walvis Bay. He is now the acting director of communications and marketing at the University of Namibia.

He leads a team of talented creatives in the areas of marketing, public relations, visual design and stakeholder relationship building.

“I start most days with a morning meeting with at least one or more members of the Unam executive management team around 07:45. Then I proofread information that is outbound to the media or stakeholders such as government. Thereafter, I get a report from interns on what is trending on social media and see if action is required. I would then watch a bit of global news while skimming the local news and having some tea. I would then be able to check in with my team around 11:00, see what deadlines are around the corner. I always schedule my interviews with the media for noon. I do a lot of admin work in the afternoon. The day typically starts early and ends late.”

Haufiku speaks about his department’s biggest accomplishment, which has been helping Unam adapt to digital platforms for its corporate communication and marketing functions. He was appointed just before the emergence of Covid-19, so a lot of the challenges his team faced came in a form that was unexpected and disruptive, bringing changes to their processes. Convincing colleagues to explore new solutions to old and emerging problems was therefore the biggest challenge.

Haufiku says: “I love learning new things, finding challenging truths that unsettle my beliefs, thoughts and even dreams. That’s why working at a university is dream career because my mental faculties are constantly challenged.”

He plans to tick off a few more boxes at Unam, things he is passionate about and that he really wants students to experience when they come to the largest university in Namibia. Haufiku also plans on studying further in a different area, and venture into more challenging tasks, wherever they may be.

One of the best parts about Haufiku’s life was being raised by his grandmother with an iron fist. Even though he hated it at the time he now knows that love does not always need to be wrapped in a smile and hugs.

If he had the opportunity to change anything in the world, Haufiku says, “I would change the mind-set of Africans, so that they can stop seeing each other along tribal or national lines. I think this would allow them to work together and restore the dignity of the continent.”

1 PHOTO (CONTRIBUTED)

CAPTION: Acting director of marketing and communications at Unam.

From humble beginnings Oldest of four, Lorraine Gaoses was raised in Tsumeb and is now a big town environmental engineer. “I do aspire to one day be able to impart the knowledge I have accumulated in my field of expertise with aspiring environmental engineers.” Lorraine Gaoses

Desiree Gases

Gaoses attended Opawa Primary School as well as Martin Luther High School at Okombahe, where she later matriculated. Thereafter, she obtained a BSc in Chemistry with honours at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She then started her first job in 1999 at Unam as a chemistry tutor and towards the end of the same year started at the City of Windhoek as an industrial pollution control officer.

Three years later, at the age of 25, Gaoses had this extraordinary sense of maturity that informed her of exactly what she wanted in life. she knew then that she needed to improve on her career in the environment field, so Gaoses went on to study at the University of Witwatersrand for a graduate diploma in civil engineering, which was more focused on environmental engineering. At the age of 32, she graduated with a master’s degree in development finance from the University of Stellenbosch. Her thesis focused on environmental economics and finance. Gaoses is married with three children, two girls and a boy.

“As the current section head of environmental engineering, our team aspires to work with industry and Windhoek residents in preventing pollutants from entering our wastewater,” she says.

Windhoek has a unique set-up that the treated domestic wastewater forms part of the water supply. Thus, their primary goal has been the protection of wastewater as a water supply source.

“A typical day at the office entails effectively working our way through the weekly plan, responding to queries, conducting inspections of suspected pollution incidents, advising industries on wastewater handling just to ensure that we do not pick up any chemicals or foreign substances in our wastewater that will upset our treatment plants. Apart from monitoring different potential pollution activities, we also spend some time looking at our own facilities, such as the landfill, the wastewater treatments plants to make sure that we also do not pollute our own City.

“While I have enjoyed this position, this job is not without challenges. One of these challenges we constantly face is showing the residents that the City has made strides and continues to improve on the pollution prevention front as well as ensuring that industries comply with the environmental standards.

“That being said, breakthroughs have been plentiful in this profession, particularly whenever we have been able to see industries reform their internal policies and make conscious decisions to install wastewater treatment plants to reduce pollution at source. Seeing these advancements inspire me to continue working in this field,” said Gaoses.

She adds “I am also inspired to see young people entering this field with so much vigour to make a difference in the how we treat the environment. They are constantly taking initiatives to make the changes they want to see rather than remaining complacent. This is something I would encourage the next generation to continue doing- constantly working towards your goals and remaining not only confident in your ability to make a difference but also staying positive is what I believe, everyone should do. If there were something she would change, is the mindset of individuals to be positive. I do aspire to one day be able to impart the knowledge I have accumulated in my field of expertise with aspiring environmental engineers and perhaps work towards a PhD”.

Teaching has always been a passion of hers, primarily in efforts to create effective methods for students who are not neurotypical to still have all the opportunities to obtain the same knowledge their counterparts have. This is a skill she has not been naturally blessed with, nonetheless she believes it is a skill that should be developed, and Gaoses admires people who do this work. All these ambitions can only be accomplished if she truly remains fearless.

“Over the years, as my faith has deepened and strengthened, I have learnt that fear is often insignificant as God is constantly with me in every situation; any fear we have is simply there to hold us back and we need rise beyond that.”

KSB commits further investment into Namibia

The newly appointed managing director of KSB Pumps and Valves (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd, DeWet Van Wyk will head-up the recently established KSB Pumps and Valves Namibia, a company formed out of a long history of service to Namibia's people by one of the world's leading pump manufacturers KSB.

The evolution from a sales office of the South African operation to a fully-fledged company comes at a time when soaring demand for pumps and services necessitates a move to bigger premises with a fully stocked distribution warehouse, service and repair facilities in order to meet future growth requirements.

Van Wyk, who is a veteran of the Namibian pumping industry, has been involved in many pumping projects around the country ranging from the procurement and installation of KSB pumps and valves at the country's major water utilities, to large-scale mining and agricultural projects, as well as a myriad of smaller projects that have commanded equal attention through the years. “We are fortunate that KSB has been one of the preferred pump suppliers in Namibia for decades and with our vast footprint in Namibia and the Namibian government pushing for more local content the decision was made to establish a fully-fledged Namibian company. “Situated in the Northern Industrial area of Windhoek, the company's new premises consist of nine offices, two boardrooms, reception and fully equipped workshop area. The office block is 370m², while the workshop adds a further 420m² to the facility. The workshop has 2 big roller doors for deliveries and collections that makes access in and out easy. The location has easy access to the highway and we are fortunate that most of our key customers and suppliers are in the same area,” says Van Wyk.

Growing strong

The history of success has been contributed largely by Klaus Streit and that of KSB operating in Namibia for more than 31 years teaming up with Fenner in 1990 and Hydroweld two years later when Fenner changed its strategy and necessitated the move.

The move to Hydroweld gave the team the room and resources to greatly expand operations in Namibia and laid the path for future business while building long-lasting relationships with the people of Namibia.

This growing success led to the operation becoming a KSB Sales Office for KSB Pumps and Valves South Africa in 2014 and effectively laid the foundation for the establishment of the new business.

“The opening of the doors of the new business and new premises on 1 January 2021 marks a new milestone for KSB Pumps and Valves Namibia to grow and expand our business to all corners of the country,” concludes Van Wyk.

STAFF REPORTER

AfDB approves N$1.5 billion loanPrioritising development funding Transforming key sectors such as agriculture and industry, and improve economic and social inclusion. It will help to create fiscal space to finance critical development spending, implement reforms that will help maintain macroeconomic stability. Tonateni Shidhudhu, Spokesperson: Ministry of Finance

The loan of N$1.5 billion which is payable for the period of 15 years was approved by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support governance and economic recovery in Namibia.

According to Tonateni Shidhudhu, spokesperson of the ministry of finance, the request was unanimously approved by the board of directors of the AfDB on 17 March 2021 to the tune of US$100.27 (N$1.5 billion).

The approval follows the completion of the Economic Governance and Competitiveness Support Programme (2017-2020) which has achieved significant results in the area of fiscal consolidation, public financial management and improvement in the business environment. However, the Covid-19 pandemic threatens to revers some of those gains, he said.

“As the country prepares for the post-pandemic era, the government is pursuing reforms in a wide range of areas. The proposed Government Economic Recovery Support Programme (GERSP) operation is designated to support the government's response and help to achieve inclusive post-pandemic economic recovery through improved governance and real sector reforms,” he added.

The three main areas of focus are fiscal sustainability, private sector-led agriculture and industrial sector transformation, and economic and social inclusion.

“It will help to create fiscal space to finance critical development spending, implement reforms that will help maintain macro-economic stability, transform key sectors such as agriculture and industry, and improve economic and social inclusion,” he said.

Finance Minister Ipumbu Shiimi said the approval of the fund comes at an appropriate time as we start the process of building back the economy and implementing the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP2) with the view of achieving sustainable and inclusive transformation.