Star teacher of the week

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Star teacher of the week Elzeth Harmse

I’m an Afrikaans teacher for grades 8 to 12 at Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool.

When and why did you decide to become a teacher?

I started teaching Afrikaans for grades 5 to 7 from 2013 until 2017 at the Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool (WAP) and moved to the high school of WAP in 2018 where I am still teaching Afrikaans. I have taught grades 8 to 12 in the meantime. I was a journalist before I became a teacher and instead of writing as a career, I am now trying to create writers for the future. Looking back on my own school years, I should have known early on that I would one day become a teacher as I was always assisting classmates in school or university, so I guess it is instinctively part of me and not just a job.

What is the best aspect about being a teacher?

The holidays! No, I am only joking. The best aspect is knowing that I have a new chance every day to make a difference in someone else’s life, whether it is big or small, or only in that moment or one that can last them a lifetime. Not all careers have the privilege of getting so many chances to inspire and influence someone on such a personal level.

Can you tell us of your journey towards becoming a teacher?

After school I didn’t immediately study teaching, but soon realised my chosen study path would not become my career, so I switched majors and soon after started working as a journalist and continued to study part-time. After four years working as a journalist, I started teaching. In the end I completed my studies in communication science, languages and also senior secondary teaching with languages as my main subjects.

What is the highlight of your teaching career?

This is a really hard question as there are so many possible answers, but a while ago an old student told me that I was the one teacher he would never forget and that I really made a difference in his life because I never judged him and made it feel okay to always be himself, regardless of what others think. That really hit me – realising that we have an impact on the learners, but also a responsibility in creating a safe environment for them to reach their potential.

Can you name a class and year you will never forget and why?

Yes, actually, my register class in 2017 – the 7D’s. Everyone connected so well and there was no drama, the kids were eager to help and support each other, they spoiled me a lot and we had so much fun in between all the work and responsibilities. If you have a strong group willing to walk the extra mile, it really makes the job worthwhile.

What lessons have you learned from your learners?

I learn lessons from learners on a daily basis, but one that stands out is the fact that children really learn through example. They won’t necessary remember what you tell them, but will act according to what they see, therefore it is important to stay true to one’s morals and to not say one thing, but do the complete opposite as children are not fools.

What leisure activities do you participate in?

None, because I am always grading essays and tests! Whilst this is true, I always try to take some me-time and spend time with friends and family or read or write or go on small adventures where possible.

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School feeds the flock

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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School feeds the flock Elizabeth Joseph



KEETMANSHOOP

Keetmanshoop Junior Secondary school has been offering a soup kitchen to their learners for two years now. The staff said they saw the need in the lives of the children and had to do something.

The kitchen currently feeds 30 children from grade eight to 11 every day. Alternating groups of learners come to school daily.

"We get our food from donations from the school and other community members, but it's a hassle. We all try our very best to make sure that these children have at least one proper meal in a day," life skills teacher and coordinator of the project, Janine Diergaardt, said.

They hope to get more community members involved so that they can help the school feed Keetmanshoop one child at a time.

"I implore more Keetmanshoop residents to get involved in programmes like this because at the end of the day, we are helping empower these children and making sure they don't go hungry," she said.

To make a donation, contact the school at 063 224 005 and Diergaardt at 081 204 9537.

South Africa lose in Sudan, miss out on Cup of Nations

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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South Africa lose in Sudan, miss out on Cup of Nations NAMPA / AFP



South Africa failed to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after losing 2-0 to Sudan on Sunday in their final Group C match in Omdurman.

Saifeldin Malik gave the hosts a fifth-minute lead in a clash of former African champions by heading past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams off a free-kick.

Mohammed Abdelrahman doubled the lead on 31 minutes, taking advantage of hesitancy by captain Thulani Hlatshwayo before firing past Williams at his near post.

South Africa coach Molefi Ntseki took off star forward Percy Tau just past the hour and surprisingly replaced him with defender Sifiso Hlanti, given the desperate need for goals.

Meanwhile, Ghana defeated Sao Tome e Principe 3-1 in Accra in a match played at the same time to finish first with 13 points, followed by Sudan (12), South Africa (10) and Sao Tome (0).

SA no longer a force

South Africa have gradually faded as a Cup of Nations force after hosting and winning the competition in 1996 and finishing second and third in the following two editions.

Failure to qualify for the 2021 tournament in Cameroon means Bafana Bafana will miss the finals of the marquee African competition for the fourth time in seven editions.

The latest failure is sure to pile pressure on the national football association to ditch Ntseki, with the group phase of 2022 World Cup qualifying starting on 31 May.

South Africa are in the same group as Ghana, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia and only the winners of the six-matchday mini-league advance to the final round.

Ghana have proved consistently superior to South Africa in recent years, including winning at home and drawing away in 2021 Cup of Nations qualifying.

Former national under-17 coach Ntseki was a shock choice to succeed England-born Stuart Baxter two years ago given he had never handled a senior-level team.

Results

Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew was among the scorers for Ghana against Sao Tome, the only team among the 48 in the group phase to lose all six matches.

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey also started for the Black Stars, whose last of four Cup of Nations titles came 39 years ago.

Tunisia beat Equatorial Guinea 2-1 in Rades in a match between countries who had already qualified from Group J, while Tanzania edged Libya 1-0 in Dar es Salaam in the same section.

Both teams conceded an own-goal in Tunisia after Seifeddine Jaziri raised his goal tally to three from two matches by holding off three Equatoguinean defenders to score in the fourth minute.

Guinea, who secured a place at the 24-team tournament earlier this week, surrendered an unbeaten Group A record when losing 2-1 to Namibia in Windhoek.

Captain Peter Shalulile was the Namibian star, scoring in each half after Mamadou Kane had given Guinea an early lead.

DTS, Revivals triumph during DOC tourney

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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DTS, Revivals triumph during DOC tourneyVolleyball takes over coast DTS showed volleyball dominance over the weekend. Adolf Kaure







SWAKOPMUND

There was great volley action at the coast over the weekend when DTS defeated Kudos 3-2 in the final of the 2021 Bank Windhoek DOC Open Tournament hosted by the Namibian Volleyball Federation.

The tournament took place at The Dome indoor sport centre in Swakopmund.

DTS was trailing in the final set, but managed to claw their way back to victory.

According to captain Meinolf Simbenda, the overall chemistry of the team enabled them to come from behind to claim the win.

“We kept on fighting until we got the win. As a captain, my role was to set up the play and I was just doing my part. I knew that we have very good attackers and a good defence on the net, so we just did what we had to do,” he said.

On their way to the final, DTS beat Happydu 2-1 in the first semi-final match.

In the second semi-final encounter, Kudos fought back from a set down and saved several match points to emerge victorious against Namibian Correctional Services.

Happydu made light work of the third match play off, after defeating Namibian Correctional Service 2-0.

Revivals beat Kudos

The adrenaline-pumping action continued during the women’s final as defending champions, Revivals Volleyball Club, defeated first time participants Kudos 3-0.

“We are stoked and excited that we got our trophy back,” Revivals captain Nokokure Kambatuku said.

It was sweet revenge for Revivals, who lost 2-1 to Kudos during the group stages.

“We fought tooth and nail until the very end and played through it point by point,” she said.

Revivals reached the final by defeating Windhoek rivals Khomas Nampol Volleyball Club 2-1 in an enthralling encounter.

Kudos beat Eleven Warriors 2-0 in the second semi-final.

Third place play-offs

To earn the consolation prize, Khomas Nampol Volleyball Club, who were one of the pre-tournament favourites, defeated Eleven Warriors 2-1. In doing so, they earned bronze medals for their third-place finish.

The well-organised competition produced brilliant volleyball, which brings hope to the sport on a national level and could see players representing the country once the national teams for both men and women are called up.

After a long absence of volleyball action, there is a future for the sport in the country, with more tournaments like the DOC Open lined up for this calendar year.

Auas Motors belê in onderwys

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Auas Motors belê in onderwys Auas Motors het N$170 000 geborg vir die aanbou van klaskamers by die Laerskool Bet-El in Windhoek. Atenu Developments sal die klaskamers oprig en Round Table Windhoek tree op as die fasiliteerder tussen die borg en die skool om die logistieke reëlings te behartig. In die foto is mnre. Werner Wormsbaecher, voorsitter van die Round Table Windhoek, Gerhard Vermeulen, die uitvoerende hoof van Auas Motors en Paulus Lewin, die waarnemende direkteur vir onderwys in die Khomasstreek. Foto MARISELLE STOFBERG

Ken jou idiome

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Ken jou idiomeMeer as 8 000 idiome, uitdrukkings in Afrikaans Twaalf spanne wat sewe skole verteenwoordig, het aan die eerste ronde van die Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuurvereniging se Idiomestryd-kompetisie deelgeneem. Die Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuurvereniging (ATKV) se Idiomestryd-kompetisie het vroeër vandeesmaand amptelik afgeskop.

Die skole wat deelneem, is Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool, Edugate Academy, Privaatskool Elnatan, Danie Joubert Gekombineerde Skool, Kartsveld Academy, Deutsche Höhere Privatschule Windhoek (DHPS) en Gobabis Gimnasium.

Die kompetisie word deur Bank Windhoek geborg en die leerlinge sal mekaar in verskillende kategorieë uitdaag, wat onder meer die voltooiing van Afrikaanse frases, die vorm van idiome met sleutelwoorde en ’n spervuurafdeling insluit wat fokus op die betekenis van die idiome.

Vir die duur van die kompetisie sal die deelnemers dit Woensdae om 14:15 uitspook in ’n uitklopradioprogram wat deur NBC se Hartklop FM aangebied word tot en met die finale ronde, wat na verwagting middel-Oktober sal plaasvind.

Die ATKV se Idiomestryd-kompetisie is daarop gemik om die Afrikaanse taal te bevorder en leerlinge te help om vertroud met Afrikaanse uitdrukkings en idiome te raak.

"Ons het meer as 8 000 idiome en uitdrukkings in die Afrikaanse taal wat die leerlinge tydens die kompetisie moet onthou en reg moet gebruik," het me. Leoni van Rensburg, voorsitter van die ATKV, gesê.

“Alle tale moet bewaar word. Dit is elke Namibiese burger se verantwoordelikheid om te verseker dat hul taal van krag tot krag groei deur hul moedertaal veral onder die jeug te bevorder. Ons is seker dat die deelnemende skole se leerlinge voordeel sal trek uit hierdie inisiatief,” het Bank Windhoek se hoof van korporatiewe maatskaplike belegging, borgskap en geleenthede, me. Bronwyn Moody, gesê.

Die wenskool sal ’n wisseltrofee van Bank Windhoek en kontantpryse ontvang. Alle deelnemers sal ook 'n sertifikaat ontvang tydens die Pluimpie gala-aand wat later vanjaar aangebied word.

Vir meer inligting, kan skole Leoni van Rensburg by 081 127 1193 kontak of stuur 'n e-pos aan leonivr123@gmail.com.

Sports slowly kicking off

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Sports slowly kicking off JG van der Wath stays committed to its annual fun day Enzo Amuele and Christelle !Garus-oas





JG van der Wath Secondary School in Okahandja held its annual fun day on 27 March at Nau-Aib Stadium in the garden town where children from different schools participated in sports codes such as netball and soccer.

The fun day had various schools taking part such as Catalyst Private School, Okahandja Secondary School (OSS) and two high schools from the capital, Jan Mohr and Ella du Plessis.

The event kicked off early in the morning with strict Covid-19 protocols being adhered to.

Teachers also participated in the netball games, playing against OSS, leading 9-7.

OSS’s under-19s played against Jan Mohr, drawing 10-10.

JG’s under-15s played against OSS, losing at 20-6.

JG’s under-15s also lost 17-8 against Ella and the under-17s lost 12-6 against Jan Mohr.

The soccer team for JG played against Catalyst, drawing 2-2. They lost the second game 1-2.

The netball coach Mrs Witbeen said there is still room for improvement and if there was enough time, they would have done much better. She added that the event was a team effort and for future events, she would love to see other regions participating and involve volleyball and rugby.

“The next event should be planned from the start so that we can get sponsors and organise it from scratch,” she said.

“More training is needed, especially with JG van der Wath. I saw that the other schools played very well.

The players also need support from the school and teachers, she said.

“I am proud of our school because they tried their absolute best with the little they have,” Desiree Kambonge, a teacher from JG van der Wath, said.

A learner from JG Van der Wath - who opted to remain anonymous - said the team that played the best for her was the under-19s from OSS. She further added that the team can do far better than the way they played at the game.

JG van der Wath’s captain Maximiliano Alfred said the game against Catalyst was fine and fair, but added that the team needs more practice, strategies and communication.

Team players from Catalyst said the game was exciting and that their players could’ve done better. They had difficulty communicating with each other, they said.

Sports slowly kicking off

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Sports slowly kicking off JG van der Wath stays committed to its annual fun day Enzo Amuele and Christelle !Garus-oas





JG van der Wath Secondary School in Okahandja held its annual fun day on 27 March at Nau-Aib Stadium in the garden town where children from different schools participated in sports codes such as netball and soccer.

The fun day had various schools taking part such as Catalyst Private School, Okahandja Secondary School (OSS) and two high schools from the capital, Jan Mohr and Ella du Plessis.

The event kicked off early in the morning with strict Covid-19 protocols being adhered to.

Teachers also participated in the netball games, playing against OSS, leading 9-7.

OSS’s under-19s played against Jan Mohr, drawing 10-10.

JG’s under-15s played against OSS, losing at 20-6.

JG’s under-15s also lost 17-8 against Ella and the under-17s lost 12-6 against Jan Mohr.

The soccer team for JG played against Catalyst, drawing 2-2. They lost the second game 1-2.

The netball coach Mrs Witbeen said there is still room for improvement and if there was enough time, they would have done much better. She added that the event was a team effort and for future events, she would love to see other regions participating and involve volleyball and rugby.

“The next event should be planned from the start so that we can get sponsors and organise it from scratch,” she said.

“More training is needed, especially with JG van der Wath. I saw that the other schools played very well.

The players also need support from the school and teachers, she said.

“I am proud of our school because they tried their absolute best with the little they have,” Desiree Kambonge, a teacher from JG van der Wath, said.

A learner from JG Van der Wath - who opted to remain anonymous - said the team that played the best for her was the under-19s from OSS. She further added that the team can do far better than the way they played at the game.

JG van der Wath’s captain Maximiliano Alfred said the game against Catalyst was fine and fair, but added that the team needs more practice, strategies and communication.

Team players from Catalyst said the game was exciting and that their players could’ve done better. They had difficulty communicating with each other, they said.

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A tulwa miipandeko omolwa edhipago lya kuume ke

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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A tulwa miipandeko omolwa edhipago lya kuume keKuume ke a yakapo woo oshiyenditho she Aakalimo yomondoolopa yaSwakop oya haluthwa noonkondo konkundana yedhipago lyaThomas Frederick (Frikkie) van Schalkwyk (69), ngoka a pondwa sigo omeso kukuume ke omunamimvo 36. LEANDREA LOUW







Oshiningwanima shoka osha ningilwa megumbo lyanakusa moSwakopo oshiwike sha piti.

Omunambelewa omukwatakanithi omukonaakoni gwiimbuluma moshitopolwa shErongo, omupeha komufala, Erastus Iikuyu, okwa koleke kutya Van Schalkwyk, omunangeshefa okwa pondelwa megumbo lye mepandaanda lyaCamelthorn mOcean View lwopotundi onti 21:00 Etine lya piti.

“Nakusa nakuume ke ngoka omufekelwa moshipotha oyali megumbo lyaVan Schalkwyk sho oontamanana dha tukuka pokati kawo. Omufekelwa okwa pondo Van Schalkwyk opo a kanithe oonkondo ihe okwa si,” Iikuyu a popi.

“Omufekelwa okwa pata egumbo na okwa hingipo ohauto yanakusa yoJeep nokuya kegumbo lyomulandithi gwiingangamithi moNarraville mOmbaye hoka a pingakanitha ohauto ndjoka niingangamithi.”

Pahapu dhaIikuyu, omufekelwa okwiifala kopolisi lyopotundi onti 15:00 mEtitano, na okuli mondjeedhililo.

Van Schalkwyk okwa kala hazi megumbo lye oye ayeke nomufekelwa opo e ya mo a zilie kOtjiwarongo na okwe ya okukonga iilonga moSwakopo. Okwa kala ha zi naVan Schalkwyk.

"Olutu lwanakusa olwa adhika mondunda yokuuhala na olwa falwa koshipangelo shepangelo moSwakopo. Ohauto ye yoJeep oya falwa kosasiyona yopolisi hoka ya tulwa megameno,” Iikuyu a popi.

Aapambele yanakusa oya tseyithilwa eso lye nomutamanekwa okwali tegelelwa a holoke mOmpangulilo yaMangestrata gwaSwakopo ohela ta tamanekelwa oshipotha shedhipago nuulunga woshihauto. Edhina lye kalya li lya tumbulwa omanga ina holoka mompangu.

leandrea@republikein.com.na

Oominista dhaSA dha pulwa dhi katuke oonkatu moshikumungu shaMaya naPaula

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Oominista dhaSA dha pulwa dhi katuke oonkatu moshikumungu shaMaya naPaula JANA-MARI SMITH



OVENDUKA

Ongundu yoSouth African Democratic Alliance (DA) otayi pula pula uuministeli womatembu nomakwatathano gopaigwagwana moSouth Africa opo wu katuke oonkatu omolwa etindo lyaNamibia okupitika oohanana dhaakwana Maya naPaula Delgado Lühl dhi ye moNamibia.

Momukanda gwa pitithwa mEitano lya piti kuDarren Bergman, okwa pula uuministeli mboka wu katuke oonkatu wiikwatelela komilandu dhawo dhegameno lyuuthemba womuntu menenevi Africa.

Okwa popi kutya etindo lyaNamibia okugandja omikanda dhomalweendo koohanana dhoka mbali dhomukwashigwana gwaNamibia, Phillip Lühl oshowo omusamane gwe omukwashigwana gwaMexico Guillermo Delgado oshil li e yo pondje lyuuthemba womuntu.

Okwa tsikile kutya etindo lyaNamibia okugandja omikanda koohanana dhoka dha valelwa moSouth Africa, oshi li omulandu gwokatongo ngoka inagu taamba oondjokana dhaantu yuukashike kookantu wa faathana.

Okwa popi kutya oohanana dhoka odha pewa oonzapo dhomavalo dhaSouth Africa nevalo lyawo olya kolekwa kOmpangu yoPombanda yaSouth Africa ndjoka ya zimine aavali yaanona mboka kutya aalumentu mboka yaali.

Bergman okwa pula opo Naledi Pandor, ominista yomakwatathano gopaigwana oshowo ominista yiikwameni nomatembu, Aron Motsaelidi ya katuke oonkatu mokuyambidhidha ofamili ndjoka, opo ku hulithwepo okatongo taka ningwa neyopondje lyuuthemba womuntu.

Olugodhi lwopaveta lwaLühl okweeta oyana moshilongo hasho oshikando shotango mOmpangu yoPombanda yaVenduka. Natango oya tegelela etokolo moshipotha moka ta pula omonamati Yona a pewe uukwashigwana sho a valelwa moSouth Africa oomvula mbali dha piti natango.

Moshipotha shimwe, Delgado okwa yi kompangu omvula ya piti, konima sho a li a pulwa athigepo Namibia muule wethimbo efupi, konima sho sha monikamo kutya okwa hokanwa komulumentu.

Nonando okwa pitikwa a galuke, aahokanathani mboka yaali oya yi kompangu sho a tindilwa uuthemba wuukwashigwana waNamibia pandjokana. Ngashiingeyi okuli moNamibia papitiko lyomukanda gwiilonga.

Moshipotha sh ina sha noohanana dhawo, omupanguli Thomas Masuku otaka ninga etokolo momasiku 19 gaApilili.

Uuministeli womatembu owa pititha omukanda mEtitano tawu tindi kutya etindo lyokugandja omikanda dhoka oshi li okatongo.

Eviction of communities, unlawful land rights concern Schlettwein

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Eviction of communities, unlawful land rights concern SchlettweinCalls on land boards to tackle issues The hand-on ministerappealed to land boards to abide by policies and the law when making decisions, which should be in the interest of the future generation. Kenya Kambowe







RUNDU

Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein says reports on evictions of communities from communal land - where they have lived for many years – are worrisome.

This as well as the allocation of unreasonable sizes of land on commonages have been troubling the minister, who called on land boards to tackle these issues.

The hand-on minister also appealed to land boards to abide by policies and the law when making decisions, which should be in the interest of the future generation.

Schlettwein made these remarks virtually on Friday during the inauguration of the new land board members for the Kavango East, Kavango West, Ohangwena and Zambezi regions, which took place in Rundu.

He added that evictions of communities are especially prevalent in the two Kavango regions.

Namibian Sun recently reported that Kavango and Zambezi residents feel their ancestral land was taken from them by government to establish irrigation schemes and national parks, yet the land is not being used productively and they derive no benefits from it.

This is contained in an ancestral land report presented to President Hage Geingob by a committee commissioned to look into claims of ancestral land rights and restitution.

Unreasonable land sizes

Schlettwein also used the opportunity to urge land board members to refrain from approving land beyond what the law prescribes.

“The allocation of unreasonable sizes of land parcels on commonages is another concern. Some communal land boards have been approving land rights exceeding 50 hectares for customary land rights and exceeding 100 hectares in case of rights of leasehold. This is a contravention of the provisions of the Communal Land Reform Act. Many of those allocations have led to unnecessary disputes and litigation processes. I thus urge you all to refrain from this practice and be compliant to the provisions of the law,” Schlettwein warned.

Meanwhile, the minister also announced the establishment of the first communal land board for Kavango West.

Previously, land board issues for the region were administered by the Kavango East land board.

kenya@namibiansun.com

Keetmans municipality misses NamWater deadline

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Keetmans municipality misses NamWater deadline Elizabeth Joseph



KEETMANSHOOP

The Keetmanshoop municipality has confirmed that its municipal debt to NamWater has escalated to just over $14 million. This was made public during a community meeting chaired by Keetmanshoop mayor, Maree Smit.

The water utility recently threatened that it will shut off the water supply of anyone who owes it.

In an invoice, NamWater urged the municipality to cough up at least N$3.5 million by Friday, 19 March, or risk the water supply being cut.

Meanwhile, the council said the unavailability of funds made it impossible for them to make a payment.

Keetmanshoop municipality CEO Desmond Basson clarified that it was an ordinary invoice, not a threat.

"The ministry told us that we are not allowed to cut the water of the residents in case of an emergency. This is something that has been known to Keetmanshoop. The people were given time to sort out their payments due to the Covid-19 pandemic and that is what made the amount rise to such magnitude," the CEO said.

Apply pressure

"We take note of the challenges you are facing under the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, a huge number of our customers have been defaulting on their accounts," NamWater’s invoice read.

Since the invoice was issued, no services to the town have been cut.

Basson said they will have to apply more pressure on residents to pay their bills so that the situation is sorted out as soon as possible, but added that “nothing is guaranteed”.

The CEO last week sent out a memo to the municipality’s finance department, imploring them not to disconnect residents' services as some council members, including Smith, expressed dismay that they were not informed about the deadline for the suspension of services.

"The meeting agreed that the administration should continue to exert pressure on the residents to pay without disconnecting the services," the memo read.

The municipality will further target ministries and businesses with huge outstanding debt, he said.

Efforts to get comment from NamWater went unanswered.

Agribusdev ‘targeted’ probe to be finalised soon

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Agribusdev ‘targeted’ probe to be finalised soon Kenya Kambowe



RUNDU

Public enterprise minister Leon Jooste says the final report on the probe into the affairs of Agribusdev will be completed within the next two weeks.

Responding to a Namibian Sun enquiry yesterday, the minister said they’ve already received a draft report.

“The final document will be ready within two weeks and we will then consider the recommendations contained therein,” Jooste said.

The probe started last year after the suspension of former Agribusdev boss Petrus Uugwanga, who died after allegedly committing suicide.

The late Uugwanga and the board were involved in brutal fights since 2018, a situation which culminated in his suspension.

‘Targeted’ probe

Jooste gave an in-depth response in Parliament when asked about the probe, saying it was not only looking into the conduct of the late Uugwanga, adding that it was not a forensic audit but a targeted one.

“The investigation was not purely intended to look into the conduct of the managing director but rather to look into various potential governance, financial and operational deficiencies,” he said.

Jooste was also asked about the sustainability of Agribusdev, which has been surviving on government bailouts to pay it workers. To this, the minister said his ministry and its agriculture counterpart are in consultations to address the matter.

“…[We] are engaged in consultations to remodel the existing approach to the green scheme projects to enhance the effectiveness and to unlock the productive potential of these important opportunities,” Jooste said.

Salaries paid

When contacted for comment yesterday, Agribusdev acting managing director Berfine Antindi told Namibian Sun that all employees received their salaries for the month of March.

For the past two months, this publication has been reporting on how the organisation was unable to pay its employees on time.

Antindi further shared that there has been commitment from the line ministry to ensure that employee salaries are paid during the 2021/2022 financial year.

According to Jooste, they have applied for budget support for the agency.

kenya@namibiansun.com

COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF Kenya's Equity Group pre-tax profit drops

Kenya's Equity Group Holdings said that full-year 2020 pre-tax profit fell 30% to 22.17 billion shillings (US$202 million), as its loan loss provisions rose due to effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The group, which also operates in South Sudan, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, said its provisions for bad loans climbed to 26.63 billion shillings from 5.3 billion shillings in 2019.

Central banks in Kenya and other countries where Equity operates allowed lenders to offer relief to distressed customers in mid-March 2020 after the first Covid-19 case was reported.

"That has provided relief to our customers. This helped to keep the lights of the economy running," Chief Executive James Mwangi told a virtual investor briefing.

Mwangi said that, by the end of December, 40 billion shillings of those restructured loans had resumed repayment, while another 9 billion shillings had been classified as non-performing loans. - Nampa/Reuters

Chevron eyes deal for Shell oil refinery

Chevron Corp has emerged as a leading contender to buy a Royal Dutch Shell Plc refinery in the US Pacific Northwest, three people familiar with the matter said.

Shell has been trying to sell its 145 000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Puget Sound refinery in Anacortes, Washington, for at least a year. Reuters reported in January 2020 that the refinery was for sale.

"As a matter of policy, we don't comment on market rumours or speculation," said Chevron spokesman Braden Reddall, Shell spokesman Curtis Smith declined to comment.

The Puget Sound plant supplies fuel markets in the northwest and competes with plants owned by BP, Marathon Petroleum and Phillips 66. Shell last month settled a seven-year-old dispute with the US Environmental Protection Agency over past air pollution violations from the facility.

Chevron has been an active acquirer. It paid US$4.1 billion for oil and gas producer Noble Energy last year and three years ago bought a 112 229-bpd Texas refinery for about US$350 million. - Nampa/Reuters

Nomura flags US$2 billion loss

Nomura Holdings Inc flagged a possible US$2 billion loss at a US subsidiary, prompting Japan’s biggest brokerage and investment bank to shelve a hefty bond issuance and sending its stock tumbling by the most in over a decade.

Nomura’s stock was greeted by a deluge of sell orders at market open, pushing its price down as much 16% in early trade.

The firm in a statement said the US$2 billion hit derived from transactions with a US client. It based the estimate on market prices as of March 26 and said it could change depending on the unwinding of the transactions and market fluctuation.

The announcement came after a series of block trades in the United States on Friday that investors said caused drops in the stock prices of numerous companies. The trades were linked to sales of holdings by Archegos Capital Management, a person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Nomura’s loss was related to Archegos’ trades, Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with the matter, one of whom said Archegos was a prime brokerage customer of Nomura. – Nampa/Reuters

Athletic and Axios in merger talks

News website Axios and sports media firm the Athletic are in talks to merge and could go public through a blank-check company, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The discussions are at an early stage and could fall apart, the report said, adding that the financial terms could not be learned. Axios and the Athletic did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

The combined company may seek to raise money for expansion and acquisitions, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the investor presentation.

SPACs, or black-check companies, have been behind some of the most high-profile public listings in the past year, including electric-vehicle start-up Nikola Corp and luxury electric-car maker Lucid Motors.

A blank-check firm is a shell company that raises money through an initial public offering to buy an operating entity, typically within two years. - Nampa/Reuters

Aviva sells Polish business to Allianz

Aviva has sold its Polish operations to Germany's Allianz for 2.5 billion euros (US$2.94 billion) in cash, completing a programme to sell European and Asian assets begun last year, the British insurer said on Friday.

Allianz beat rival bids from Italy's Generali and Dutch insurer NN, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

Aviva boss Amanda Blanc, who joined the firm as CEO in July 2020, has been selling assets at pace to focus on the life and general insurer's core businesses of Britain, Canada and Ireland. Aviva also has joint ventures in China and India.

"The sale of our Polish business is an excellent conclusion to the refocusing of our portfolio announced just eight months ago," Blanc said, adding that the sale of the eight businesses would generate 7.5 billion pounds (US$10.31 billion) in cash.

Allianz, which first entered the Polish market in 1997, is Europe's biggest insurer. Allianz said the deal would make it the number two in central and eastern Europe in terms of operating profit. It has several other businesses in the region, including Russia and Ukraine. - Nampa/Reuters

Judgment on phosphate licence next month

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Judgment on phosphate licence next month ELLANIE SMIT



WINDHOEK

Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) will have to wait until 12 April find out what the court ruling is with regard to the validity of its mining licence for the Sandpiper marine phosphate project near Walvis Bay.

The High Court on 8 March postponed the delivery of the judgment in the application launched by the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Association and three other parties, challenging the legitimacy of NMP’s limited mining licence.

In a statement, NMP management said with one of the world’s largest underdeveloped phosphate resources, establishing a phosphate-based industry could position Namibia to meet the future global demand for phosphate to fuel the electric vehicle (EV) battery market.

“NMP would be only one company within a new phosphate-based industry and this new industry has the potential to contribute up to 9% to Namibia’s gross domestic product and create over 50 000 direct and indirect jobs,” it claimed.

NMP said, according to the Chamber of Mines, the size of Namibia’s phosphate resource can support sustainable mining and related industries for more than 100 years.

Shift

NMP said the shift from coal and gas power to wind and solar power, in combination with the shift from combustion vehicles to EVs, is driving the new demand for minerals.

“Phosphate is a key component in LFP batteries, which are required for electronic vehicles. The use of phosphates is also expected to lessen the use of cobalt and, therefore, reduce both the cost and environmental concerns of LFP batteries.”

Estimates indicate that EVs are expected to make up over half of all passenger vehicle sales by 2040, with many governments committing to support the production of EVs in a bid to decrease their dependency on oil and gas.

Protect the ocean

According to NMP, the environmental work it carried out has been described as “some of the best in the Benguela current system”, which has been put together by internationally reputable consultants independent from NMP.

“Supporting Namibia’s mandate to protect the ocean, NMP enlisted internationally renowned scientists to conduct 28 studies, costing over N$28.7 million, and ensured all the experts have worked in some capacity on the Benguela coastal system.”

Shareholders claim they have invested more than N$780 million in NMP and the Sandpiper project, while an annual revenue of N$4.2 billion is expected from it.

NMP is majority-owned by Al Barwani, who has an 85% stake through his company Mawarid Mining LLC, while Namibian middleman Knowledge Katti owns 15% through Havana Investment. The Sandpiper project is located about 120 kilometres southwest of Walvis Bay.

Following widespread controversy, the environmental clearance certificate for the project was set aside in 2018 by the environment ministry.

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Farmers still have opportunities for growth

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Farmers still have opportunities for growthHorticulture production accounted for N$240.2m Namibia imports an estimated 85% of its fruit and vegetables from South Africa. As local farmers are unable to consistently supply the needed quantities of produce, retailers view them as a risk, Muranda said. ELLANIE SMIT







WINDHOEK

Namibian farmers still have an abundance of opportunities they can exploit to upscale production and substitute imports.

Namibia Agronomic Board statistics indicate that production in the local horticulture industry accounted for N$240.2 million, with total imports being valued at about N$417.6 million and local consumption of horticulture commodities being about N$657 million during the 2018/2019 financial year.

During the 2019/2020 financial year, about 28 887 tonnes of white maize were produced locally, whereas 171 031 tonnes were imported from other countries. The total local consumption of white maize as a staple food stood at about 199 918 tonnes.

“These statistics indicate an opportunity for local producers to upscale production, substitute imports and contribute to the local economy,” said Rino Muranda, Agribank’s manager of marketing and commutations.

Muranda said Namibia imports an estimated 85% of its fruit and vegetables from South Africa.

He said one aspect that should be understood is that because local farmers are unable to consistently supply the needed quantities of produce, retailers view them as a risk.

“If farmers are organised into production groups that supply the right amounts of the demanded commodities in a consistent manner, retailers may be in a position to reduce the costs they incur to import and transport these commodities from South Africa.”

High-demand crops

He added that farmers can focus their production on crops that are in high demand.

“Good examples would be producing potatoes, peppers, cucumbers and crops such as garlic and ginger that have seen increased consumption rates due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.”

Muranda said as more people become involved in primary production, many farmers struggle with obtaining the necessary inputs. Fertiliser, seed, herbicides, pesticides and irrigation systems are some of the basic inputs needed by those involved in primary crop production.

“In some instances, farmers travel long distances to purchase these inputs. It would be of vital importance to bring this critical service to the proximity of farmers.”

Another opportunity farmers can grab is fodder production.

According to Muranda, many livestock farmers in Namibia rely heavily on feed supplements imported from South Africa.

He said during the dry season, livestock farmers spend about N$367.95 per 50 kg bag on lick supplements.

Lucerne and grass

“This presents an opportunity for farmers to grow lucerne and grass during this period, as a lot of livestock farmers would be willing to spend about N$147.95 per 22 kg bale of green grass or lucerne.”

Furthermore, Muranda said mechanised agriculture is still a major problem in Namibia’s most remote and rural areas.

On average, one tractor can serve about 3 000 farmers or more in each constituency. He said this is an opportunity that would offer income to someone who focuses on rendering ploughing services.

“One can be financed by Agribank to purchase tractors and their implements to render ploughing services to many small-scale farmers,” he advised.

Agribank supports poultry producers

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Agribank supports poultry producers STAFF REPORTER



WINDHOEK

Agribank provided financial support to the Poultry Producers Association of Namibia (PPA) to host a one-day annual meeting and information day for its members recently.

According to a press statement issued by Agribank’s acting manager for marketing and communication, Margareth /Keis, the event was aimed at bringing key industry role players together to review the performance of the sector, and the challenges faced in the previous year.

PPA’s information day organiser, Petrina Sakaria, said the intention of the event was to connect all industry producers with a focus on how to collectively create a strong, competitive industry and to present opportunities for all industry players - both small- and large-scale producers, including input suppliers.

“The event was well attended, mostly by our upcoming producers, and Agribank as a loyal partner of our poultry information day through its sponsorship made the event possible.

“The sponsorship was utilised for paying for the venue, materials, gifts for our main speakers and meals for the day, and other logistics,” Sakaria said. Other sponsors included Feedmaster and Afrivet.

Informative presentations

According to her, during the meeting, various speakers from different institutions gave informative presentations on production of broilers both on a small and larger scale, vaccinations and biosecurity as well as on the benefits of joining the PPA.

Further in-depth discussions on industry matters including the recently advertised countrywide training also took place.

Meanwhile, the Agribank marketing team also provided information to the attendees about the bank’s poultry loan facility and the recently launched women and youth loan scheme.

Asked what future holds for events of this nature, Sakaria said the future looks bright, and as an association, they hope to reach a stage where they have more producers participating in the commercial set up, to be able to host more of these informative events and to bring in experts from other countries to exchange skills and knowledge.

The importance of early childhood development

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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The importance of early childhood development The first years of a child’s life set the tone for future growth. Rivaldo Kavanga





Early childhood development (ECD) is the physical, psychological, logical and social development a child experiences between birth to school-going age. From birth to the age of seven is considered a child’s most vital years for their future. Developmental areas include language, cognitive, motor and social and emotional skills. By identifying the progress in these areas, we equip our children with the correct tools to achieve certain milestones, giving them an optimal chance at independence and inclusion.

A child's early years are the foundation for his or her future development, providing a strong base for lifelong learning and learning abilities, including cognitive and social development.

Huipie van Wyk from the Side by Side Early Intervention Centre said ECD is by no means a standard by which children should be compared to one another.

“Understanding ECD and the reason why it is important will help us in identify any area where a child might need help to develop,” she said.

By understanding the different areas of development and equipping yourself with the information will support you regarding the identification of these areas and empower parents to take the necessary steps to find help.

This prepares the child and parent for the challenges they might face, but also supports parents in understanding their child’s struggles and strengths. Van Wyk advised parents to continuously read up about the different developmental stages, support their community by advocating for ECD and help distribute charts that are available to all Namibians through the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) platform and the health ministry.

Nutrition, protection and stimulation from talk, play and responsive attention from caregivers encourage healthy brain development. The nutrition, protection and stimulation a child receives at a young age all contribute to their future growth. Robust development in the early years provides the building blocks for educational achievement, economic productivity, lifetime health and great parenting of the next generation.

However, there are also setbacks that can hinder ECD. Poverty is the biggest cause of stunted ECD. In Namibia where inequality remains at staggering proportions, a large number of children are at risk of stunted ECD. The most disadvantaged children are least likely to have access to the essential ingredients for healthy development. Frequent exposure to stress, neglect or abuse can stimulate response systems that can interfere with brain development. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic also negatively contributes to poor ECD as children are kept in isolation from peers, meaning play time is reduced and the stress caused by the pandemic on parents may rub off on children.

Diyeve Rositha from the Mutjiku Early Childhood Development Centre in the Kavango East Region said the importance of ECD is that it develops children holistically.

“ECD aids children to develop more rapidly than any other time in their life before they start formal school,” she said.

Problem areas are important to identify during ECD, not to highlight your child’s weakness, but to teach your child and yourself endurance. We all need help in some areas of our lives. Identifying this early just gives our children a fair start in life.

What the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) does:

Child protection and inclusion: Every child has the right to grow up in a safe and inclusive environment. Unicef works with partners around the world to promote policies and expand access to services that protect all children.

Child survival: Every child has the right to survive and thrive. Unicef has helped reduce child mortality all over the world by working to reach the most vulnerable children everywhere.

Education: Every child has the right to learn. Unicef works around the world to support quality learning for every girl and boy, especially those in greatest danger of being left behind.

Social policy: Every child has the right to an equitable chance in life. Unicef works around the world to reduce child poverty and shield girls and boys from its lifelong consequences.

Unicef in emergencies: Reaching every child in emergencies. Unicef is on the ground before, during and after emergencies, working to reach children and families with life-saving aid and long-term assistance.

Gender: Every girl has the right to fulfil her potential. Unicef works all over the world to empower girls and women, and to ensure their full participation in political, social and economic systems.

Innovation for children: Innovating to drive results for every child. Unicef works with partners in every sector to co-create innovative solutions that accelerate progress for children and young people.

Supply and logistics: Delivering solutions to reach every child at risk. Unicef delivers sustainable access to life-saving supplies where they are most needed, accelerating results for the most vulnerable children.

Research and analysis: Using data to drive results. Unicef’s global programmes and initiatives are grounded in rigorous research and thoughtful analysis about the situation of children.

Actively involved in ECD and IECD

Throughout their early childhood, it is vital that children are given quality healthcare and nutrition, early stimulation, ample opportunities to learn and play, and a safe and nurturing home environment, so that they are better able to fulfil their potential later in life.

Those who lack these vital foundational inputs are at risk of not reaching their development potential.

To help ensure that no child in Namibia lacks any of these vital inputs, the government offers a combination of services referred to as Integrated Early Childhood Development (IECD) services.

These encompass healthcare, nutrition, early stimulation and learning, early care, civil registration, childcare and protection, and education. In Namibia, IECD falls under the mandate of four ministries. Strengthened coordination is required to enhance their service delivery.

IECD

Ministries involved:

Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture

Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare

Ministry of Health and Social Services

Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration

Spheres:

Early learning

Parenting and nutrition

Child grants

Access to services

Further breakdown:

Education for ages five to eight

Play, stimulation and early learning Welfare and grants for ages zero to eight

Birth registration and identification documents for all children and parents

Health and nutrition for all mothers and children and early identification of disabilities

Unicef and education ministry

Unicef has been supporting the education ministry in its efforts to ensure that children in Namibia have access to quality education.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) defines inclusive education as: A process of addressing and responding to the diversity of needs of all children through increasing participation in learning, cultures and communities, and reducing exclusion within and from education. It involves changes and modifications in content, approaches, structures and strategies, with a common vision which covers all children of appropriate age range and a conviction that it is the responsibility of the regular system to educate all children.

Infographic

90% of a child’s brain develops before age five.

Up to 75% of each meal goes to build your baby’s brain.

15 minutes of play can spark thousands of brain connections in your baby’s brain.

Lack of nutrition in early childhood leads to stunting, which globally affects nearly one in four children younger than five.

Correcting altered brain circuit could tackle coinciding obesity and depression

March 29, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Correcting altered brain circuit could tackle coinciding obesity and depression Research has found that obesity and mental disorders such as depression and anxiety seem to often go hand in hand. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions are providing new insights into this association by identifying and characterizing a novel neural circuit that mediates the reciprocal control of feeding and psychological states in mouse models.

Similar to human patients, mice that consumed a high-fat diet not only became obese, but also anxious and depressed, a condition mediated by a defective brain circuit. When the researchers genetically or pharmacologically corrected specific disruptions they had observed within this circuit, the mice became less anxious and depressed and later lost excess body weight.

Interestingly, weight loss was not the result of lack of appetite, but of the animals' change of food preference. Before the treatment, the mice naturally preferred to eat a high-fat diet, but after the treatment they turned their preference toward a healthier diet with reduced fat and abundant protein and carbohydrates. The findings, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, for the first time, not only reveal a key regulatory mechanism for coinciding obesity and mental disorders, but also suggest the possibility of a pharmacological treatment.

"Reports indicate that 43% of adults with depression are obese and that adults with mental illness are more likely to develop obesity than those who are mentally healthy," said corresponding author Dr. Qi Wu, a Pew Scholar for Biomedical Sciences, Kavli Scholar and assistant professor in pediatrics-nutrition at Baylor's Children's Nutrition Research Center. "Factors such as hormonal dysregulation, genetic deficiency and inflammation have been proposed to be involved in the connection between obesity and mental disorders. Here we provide evidence that supports the involvement of a neural component."To investigate the neuronal circuits that could be involved in reciprocally regulating weight gain and depression or anxiety, the researchers provided mice with a high-fat diet. As expected, the animals became obese. They also developed anxiety and depression. In these mice, the team studied the function of neuronal circuits.

"We discovered in normal mice that two groups of brain cells, dBNST and AgRP neurons located in separate brain areas, form a circuit or connection to each other by extending cellular projections," said co-first author Dr. Guobin Xia, postdoctoral associate in the Wu lab. "This newly discovered circuit was malfunctioning in mice that were both obese and depressed."

"Using genetic approaches, we identified specific genes and other mediators that were altered and mediated the circuit's malfunction in the obese and depressed mice," said co-first author Dr. Yong Han, postdoctoral associate in the Wu lab.

"Importantly, genetically restoring the neural defects to normal eliminated the high fat diet-induced anxiety and depression and also reduced body weight," Xia said. "We were surprised to see that the animals lost weight, not because they lost their appetite, but because genetically-aided readjustment of the mental states changed their feeding preference from high-fat to low-fat food."

"Keeping in mind translational applications of our findings to the clinic, we investigated the possibility of restoring the novel circuit pharmacologically," Wu said. "We discovered that the combination of two clinically-approved drugs, zonisamide and granisetron, profoundly reduced anxiety and depression in mice and promoted weight loss by synergistically acting upon two different molecular targets within our newly identified brain circuit. We consider that our results provide convincing support for further studies and future clinical trials testing the value of a cocktail therapy combining zonisamide and granisetron (or a selection of their derivatives) to treat metabolic-psychiatric diseases."

Source: Baylor College of Medicine

New faces and a jam-packed year at Riverside

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New faces and a jam-packed year at RiversideThree teachers join the family Riverside Private School in Swakopmund welcomes three new teachers to their community as they ready themselves for an adventurous year ahead. PULL QUOTE: Ernest Olivier, Riverside Private School principal: “…We hope to have some stalls so people don’t just disappear after finishing the [Neon Night Fun] run.” Iréne-Mari van der Walt







The Riverside Private School family is expanding as they welcome three capable teachers to their school community. Vera Hirle, John-Michael Richter and Alet Schrader all hail from different schools but according to principal Ernest Olivier, they fit in seamlessly at Riverside.

Hirle was previously the principal of Windhoek High School and Schrader once worked alongside Olivier at Namib High School in Swakopmund.

These three teachers will take part in all the exciting events Riverside hopes to offer during the course of 2021.

Schrader’s line of expertise will be the first as Riverside hosts its science fair on 28 June this year.

It’s not all science at Riverside as the annual English Day and Spelling Bee prove that those who prefer words to experiments will also have their time to shine.

All learners from grades two to 10 will have their chance to take part in the Riverside spelling bee on 15 July this year.

It is tradition in many schools across the country to wait with bated breath for the wonderful ideas that the entrepreneurial minds of the school can come up with and Riverside is no exception. Learners can expect to enjoy the best Riverside’s entrepreneurs have to offer on 9 September, roughly a week after schools reopen for the third term.

Riverside rings in the month of October in style this year as their ever-popular Neon Night Fun Run will be hosted on 1 October. “We have changed the route a little and we hope to have some stalls so people don’t just disappear after finishing the run,” Olivier said.