Namibian Sun

German sportswear company Puma reported a 26% jump in first-quarter sales despite ongoing coronavirus lockdowns, supply chain issues and consumer backlash facing Western brands in China over their comments on Xinjiang.

Puma said sales came in at 1.549 billion euros (US$1.87 billion), while net profit jumped to 109 million euros, both above average analyst estimates.

In March, Western brands including Puma and rivals Nike and Adidas faced online attacks in China over statements regarding their sourcing of cotton in Xinjiang after reports of the use of forced labour by Uighur Muslims.

Puma said that sales in the Asian region jumped 29% in the first quarter, led by Greater China. However, it did note that "recent political tensions in key markets" are leading to increased uncertainty in the industry.

Puma has previously said it has no direct or indirect business relationship with any manufacturer in Xinjiang.

Western governments and rights groups have accused authorities in the far western region of detaining and torturing Uighurs in camps. Beijing denies the accusations.

Puma noted that about 30% of stores selling its products in Europe and Latin America were still closed due to Covid-19, while it saw new restrictions in places such as India, Canada and Turkey so the pandemic will continue to curb its business throughout 2021.- Nampa/Reuters

Uganda to ask creditors for debt suspensionChina, IMF, World Bank main targets Uganda's total public debt surged to US$18 billion as at December 2020, a 35% rise from a year earlier. We cannot mortgage our oil, that is a very sensitive resource. Matia Kasaija, Finance Minister: Uganda

ELIAS BIRYABAREMA

Uganda said it may approach its major creditors including China and the World Bank to negotiate a possible suspension of loan repayments amid a growing default risk after its debt load ballooned 35% in a single year.

The east African country gobbled up large credit lines from the World Bank, the International Monetary (IMF) and other lenders in 2020 to meet funding pressures triggered by the economic crisis induced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The loans vastly swelled an already fast-rising debt pile for the country that had long worried some, including the central bank and the IMF.

Uganda's total public debt surged to US$18 billion as at December 2020, a 35% rise from a year earlier, fuelled by fresh borrowing to cover revenue shortfalls as measures taken to combat the coronavirus hit the economy hard and stifled tax collections.

External creditors hold two thirds of the country's debt, finance ministry data shows.

The country's debt load is seen surging past 50% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the end of the current financial year in June, according to Finance Minister Matia Kasaija.

"I will approach them," Kasaija told Reuters in an interview on Monday, referring to Uganda's biggest creditors such as China, World Bank, IMF and others.

Uganda is joining fellow African countries including Ethiopia, Zambia, Chad and others that are facing debt pressures either triggered or exacerbated by the effects of Covid-19.

Revenue

In the fiscal year beginning July, the country will use up 20% of all its planned domestic tax revenues to repay interest rates on public debt, Kasaija said.

Kasaija did not specify whether Uganda would seek relief under the G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) that some other nations have made use of, or under a different mechanism.

The country's economy, which contracted 1.1% last year, is forecast to expand at 3.1% in 2021 helped by robust agriculture sector production and recovery of industrial activity.

Uganda's external indebtedness was nearly wiped out in mid 2000s under the World Bank and IMF's debt cancellation programs for poor and highly indebted nations.

But over the last decade the government of President Yoweri Museveni has vastly expanded its borrowing, mostly from China, to fund costly infrastructure including roads, airports, power plants and other projects.

The country is currently negotiating with China for a US$2.2 billion loan to finance a much-delayed standard gauge railway project.

A deal for that credit has been delayed by a demand by China that Uganda commit to repaying the loan with revenues from sales of its crude oil, among other issues, according to government officials.

"That one we refused, that one we totally refused. We can not mortgage our oil, that is a very sensitive resource, we can't," Kasaija said. - Nampa/Reuters

Costly infertility treatment bankrupts families – GeingosCalls for improved access to services The First Lady said for too long infertility has been relatively invisible to policymakers and a great risk to those who suffer from it, particularly women. NAMPA

WINDHOEK

The lack of infertility treatment at public hospitals makes it costly for many families and often bankrupts those who opt to seek private treatment, First Lady Monica Geingos has said.

She said this on Tuesday during the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary virtual conference.

The three-day conference - inaugurated by the president of Zambia, Edgar Lungu - features 19 African First Ladies and over 3 000 other participants in different fields from over 25 African countries discussing healthcare and social issues that can be addressed to contribute to the social and economic development in Africa. It is also aimed at advancing healthcare, media and awareness capacities and capabilities in these countries.

Geingos in a 10-minute video keynote address availed to Nampa said for too long, infertility has been relatively invisible to policymakers and a great risk to those who suffer from it, particularly women.

Most healthcare systems, she said, do not treat infertility, which has made it difficult for low-income earners, specifically those in rural areas, to access information on the cause of infertility and treatment.

“The few who are able to access private healthcare are in urban areas and they do so by incurring significant financial costs which often bankrupt them and brings additional stress to already strained households,” she noted.

Understanding infertility

Geingos therefore called for improved access to services around infertility, development of data management systems, as well as conversation around the role and functions of religious and traditional leaders in the narrative, treatment and understanding of infertility.

She noted that most languages have dehumanising words for those without children, which speaks to the insensitivity and judgement that accompanies infertility and childlessness.

As such, discussions around infertility need to feature not just policymakers but men and traditional and religious leaders, and should capacitate and encourage media professionals to ensure informed and sensitive reporting.

Geingos also said there is a need to establish support groups in all countries on the continent and beyond.

EDITORIAL The Namibian justice system has been thrown into the spotlight in recent years because of the number of high-profile cases that keep emerging.

In fact, the controversial Kora case - which prompted the judiciary to consider several reforms around court secrecy - is back in court next week.

From the onset, the Kora case seemed like a straightforward one, but it has since been drawn out, mainly due to its political ramifications and the personalities involved.

The Fishrot case is another high-profile matter that continues to test the resolve of our justice system. Members of the public are keenly waiting to see how cases of such nature will play out, a situation which could make or break the public’s trust in the country’s judicial system.

The issue of judicial independence will be observed with an eagle eye, especially because the public has over the years felt that the justice system is lenient towards the wealthy and the politically-connected.

Those tasked to spearhead our justice system have the unenviable task of balancing public expectation and applying the law without prejudice.

Despite the pressure, it is our hope that the moral force in these proceedings is upheld.

As a nation, we must ensure that the judiciary is temper-proof as well as prevent political and economic hyenas from preying on a system that plays such a key role in upholding our democracy.

Manufacturing hurdles slowing Covid jabs rolloutIP waivers wrong way to go Industry players say a major challenge was a global shortage of more than 100 components and ingredients needed for vaccine manufacturing. We need to be careful who we are transferring technology to. - Bharat Biotech, President: DCVMN

Nina Larson - Removing intellectual property protections from Covid-19 vaccines or pressuring companies into technology sharing will not speed up production of the jabs, and could even slow it down, the industry has warned.

Proponents of doing away with IP rights say more companies in more countries could produce the vaccines, providing broader access in poorer nations that so far have seen few doses.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, whose country is co-leading a push at the World Trade Organisation (WHO) to exempt Covid-19 vaccines from IP rights, insisted Friday the jabs were "a public good and must be recognised as such".

"We call on the pharmaceutical industry to directly transfer this technology free of intellectual property barriers to low and middle-income countries," he told an event hosted by the WHO.

"Let us together challenge vaccine nationalism and show that protecting intellectual property rights does not come at the expense of human lives."

FORCED SHARING

Vaccine makers have voiced broad commitment to cooperating to boost production, but at a separate event on Friday, industry representatives insisted that IP waivers and forced technology sharing was the wrong way to go.

An IP waiver "wouldn't give us the tools to produce more doses of vaccines", Thomas Cueni, head of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), told reporters.

He pointed out that around 275 manufacturing deals, including on technology transfer among staunch competitors, had helped the industry go from zero to one billion Covid-19 vaccine doses already produced, with the goal of 10 billion doses by the end of the year.

Industry players said though that the target hinged not on IP restrictions or broader technology transfers, but on resolving serious challenges, linked to trade barriers and export restrictions, hindering the movement of vaccine components and the vaccines themselves.

"Vaccine manufacturing is not just about patents," said Sai Prasad, head of quality operations at Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech and president of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers' Network (DCVMN).

COMPLEX

Prasad pointed to the complexity of ensuring that manufacturers have the equipment and know-how to meet the stringent quality and safety standards required in vaccine production.

"This is a very complex space, very complicated science, manufacturing is very complicated .... We need to be careful who we are transferring technology to."

With vaccine scepticism already rampant, manufacturing difficulties could have dire consequences, warned Michelle McMurry-Heath, who heads the Biotechnology Innovation Organisation (BIO).

"We don't want to do anything to undermine vaccine confidence," she said.

"We need to recognise that there are only a handful of manufacturers across the globe who have that expertise at hand, and we need to focus on getting them the materials they need to produce as many doses as quickly as possible."

Industry players said a major challenge was a global shortage of more than 100 components and ingredients needed for vaccine manufacturing.

SHORTAGES

While much effort has gone into ensuring there are enough glass vials and syringes, today there are shortages in the lipids used to produce the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, as well as tubing and plastic bags used in the vaccine production process.

Faced with such shortages, Moderna chief Stephane Bancel told reporters that pushing for technology transfer to manufacturers less equipped to produce large quantities of vaccine could backfire.

"If we have more players coming into the space, [they will be] taking more of the raw materials away from people [positioned] to make vaccines for this year," he said.

McMurry-Heath agreed.

"Trying to diffuse the limited raw materials that we have right now across many more manufacturers that perhaps don't have experience manufacturing vaccines, could jeopardise the progress we are on track to make," she warned.

Moderna is aiming to produce one billion doses of its Covid-19 vaccine by the end of this year, and hopes to produce another 1.4 billion doses next year.

DELAYS

But Bancel warned broadening its efforts to share technology to help others manufacture its jabs could actually delay production.

Since transferring the technology and expertise takes months, he said new partners added now would "have almost no impact" on global vaccine production this year.

However, "it will slow down our ability to scale up in 2021", Bancel said, pointing out that it would require moving staff involved in production over to the technology transfer process.

"If we distract the small team of engineers we have to do those tech transfers now," he warned, "the impact on lives and the spread of the virus in 2021 will be very large."– Nampa/AFP

Kora dirty laundry to be aired next weekTrial starts in controversial N$30m loss The controversial continental music awards which never came to pass – and through which the taxpayer lost N$30 million – is set to go to trial next week.

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

A controversial legal battle involving millions of dollars lost in an aborted music awards show is finally set to go to trial next week.

The Windhoek High Court case between the Namibian Tourism Board (NTB) and Mundial Telecom Sarl regarding the Kora Music Awards, which has been on the cards since 2016, has been set for Monday, 3 May, to Friday, 7 May.

According to the latest court order - issued on 12 April following a pre-trial status hearing, parties confirmed that the matter is “ripe for hearing”, and NTB will commence with the proceedings.

The assigned judge is Herman Oosthuizen.

NTB CEO Digu //Naobeb told Namibian Sun yesterday that they are in the process of preparing for the trial.

NTB sued Mundial Telecom Sarl, Kora awards founder Ernest Adjovi and Tonata Shiimi in September 2016 for N$23.5 million - plus 20% interest - which it paid for the purchase of a ‘Platinum Tourism Package’ it never received.

The package was meant to ensure promotional content about Namibia being aired across Africa during the awards show.

Mundial owns the rights to host the Kora Awards, while Adjovi acted as the president of the company and Shiimi was the awards’ national director.

Shiimi has previously said he was removed from the lawsuit; however, according to the latest court order, he is still listed as a respondent.

Suspicious

In 2019, the matter was also set for trial, but was postponed until NTB’s representing lawyer Kaijata Kangueehi’s term as an acting judge ended.

The case was then suddenly marked as ‘in-camera’ on the justice system.

Generally, in-camera describes court cases where the public and press are not allowed to observe the process.

All documentation and information regarding the court case - which stretches back to 2016 - was also removed from the justice system at the time.

Among the documents, which were later restored to the e-justice portal after legal threats, was an explosive affidavit penned by Adjovi, which placed President Hage Geingob at the centre of the signing of agreements to the bring the awards show to Namibia.

Adjovi had also lifted the veil on his intense friendship with Geingob, which had resulted in the agreements being signed.

The president, however, rejected the claims made in the court papers.

Sacky again

Meanwhile, it was revealed that former attorney-general Sacky Shanghala was involved in the removal of conditions in the Kora awards deal that would have protected government from losing N$23 million in the scandal.

Documents showed that Shanghala removed suspensive conditions from the agreement between NTB and Mundial regarding the hosting of the awards in Namibia.

Suspensive conditions are criteria that must be met for a contract to come into force.

The removed conditions meant the agreement would have been subject to the fulfilment of these conditions.

The Kora Awards was initially scheduled to take place on 13 December 2015, but was then postponed.

As per a contract signed on 4 December 2015, the NTB had to pay N$23.5 million on or before 10 December 2015.

However, court documents show that the first payment of N$5 million was made on 22 December 2015 and the second – of another N$5 million - was made on 23 December 2015.

On 7 January 2016, a further N$5 million was transferred and on 17 February 2016, N$8.5 million paid.

The money was paid into Mundial’s bank account in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

The last payment was made about a month before the awards show was set to take place, while the promised promotional package was meant to air on all participating African television stations by 20 January 2016.

Swapo comrades kicked out of party school

Kenya Kambowe

RUNDU

Following complaints raised to the Swapo Kavango East regional leadership, the entire group of Swapo members from the Rundu Rural district - who were admitted to the party’s school - have been recalled.

This after they were found to apparently be misbehaving and were described as ill-disciplined.

This is according to a letter dated 19 April from Swapo’s Kavango East regional coordinator, Ottilie Shinduvi, to the region’s Swapo school coordinator, Sebastian Kantema, in which she indicated that the students from the Rundu Rural district would no longer be allowed to take part in training.

“The affected students will not be allowed to continue taking part with the training for [the] Swapo party school,” she wrote.

Namibian Sun understands five Swapo members have been affected by this decision.

When asked why the decision was taken, Shinduvi yesterday said they are still seized with the matter, but hinted that it was related to the students’ behaviour.

“It’s still in the office, we are still dealing with it, we can’t publish it. If somebody brought it to you then it is that person to explain. It’s discipline in the party,” Shinduvi said.

Disagreements

Namibian Sun has been reliably informed that the decision to chuck the members from the party school follows disagreements between the regional leadership and the Rundu Rural district members over the outcome of last year’s regional elections.

The results saw Paulus Mbangu, a former Swapo member who stood as an independent candidate, defeating the ruling party’s candidate, Micheal Sikongo.

Kavango East is known to be a Swapo stronghold where a clean sweep at regional elections was commonplace, and with Mbangu’s win, it appears this tide has turned.

Mbangu won because the electorate protested against the regional leadership’s decision to endorse Sikongo, despite fellow Swapo members from the constituency being against it.

However, when asked whether the elections had anything to do with the members being recalled, Shinduvi said it was related to discipline issues.

“It is just how some of them were acting. It [has] nothing to do with the elections,” she said.

Real reason

Meanwhile, one of the ousted members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, refuted Shinduvi’s version of events.

“It’s not about discipline. They must tell you the real reason. We simply complained about issues and that does not mean it’s ill-discipline. We are all adults,” the member said.

The source also questioned why Swapo rules and procedure guidelines exist yet decisions are taken without allowing the other party a chance to defend themselves.

To this, Shinduvi said there was no need for a regional executive committee to deliberate on the matter as it involves a district which should address its own issues.

kenya@namibiansun.com

Govt to dish out N$160m to church schools

KENYA KAMBOWE

RUNDU

Government will avail subsidies to the tune of N$161 million towards private schools owned by churches as a means to help them meet their needs during the 2021/2022 financial year.

This is according to education ministry executive director Sanet Steenkamp, who yesterday confirmed the figure, saying only church schools the state has an arrangement with will benefit.

This arrangement emanates from a memorandum of understanding (MoU) dating back to 1990.

Steenkamp was responding to a media enquiry on whether government has made budgetary provisions to the over 200 private schools in the country which have been negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as far as enrolling and maintaining learners is concerned.

Some private school principals - who spoke to Namibian Sun on condition of anonymity - shared their dissatisfaction regarding the fact that some private schools continue to be subsidised by the state at the expense of taxpayers while others are left out.

“We are just relying on the monthly fees from parents and you know the state of the economy, it’s tough. Teachers have to get paid and sometimes parents are not able to pay on time or they skip a month. If you decide to send kids home, it does not solve the problem,” a source said.

“If government can just see what role the private schools are playing and assist us a bit. We don’t need all expenses paid; we are really struggling.”

Nothing for others

Steenkamp, however, explained that government will remain committed to the church schools, adding that there is no budgetary provision for non-qualifying private schools.

“The church schools are those whom we have relationships with and invested heavily in before independence. So, what government did was go into an agreement with them and we are paying teachers’ salaries and - in many cases - support staff,” she said.

“So, for the year 2021/2022, we are budgeting an amount of N$161 million for all salaries. That is inclusive of two schools which are not church schools, which the government took over from the South African government in Walvis Bay. We also pay them.”

Steenkamp said the moratorium following last year’s assistance to schools is still in force, as it was explained that the once-off grant payment to all schools has not been budgeted for, and therefore no funds will be rolled out this year.

“The grant which we gave them last year, we indicated that it was a once-off grant. This year, regrettably, we do not have a budget for that,” she said.

kenya@namibiansun.com

Operation drives urban, rural development budgetReduced development budget Out of the N$1.6 billion allocated to the ministry of urban and rural development, over a billion is going to operation, while N$580 million goes to development. Despite resources and capacity challenges, the government remains committed to the decentralisation of decision-making and service delivery. Erastus Uutoni, Ministrer of Urban and Rural Development

The N$1.6 billion budget for the financial year 2021/22 allocated to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has been split among four programmes to cover operational and development costs.

Minister Erastus Uutoni while submitting his ministry’s budget for approval in the National Assembly on Monday stated that this year’s allocation represents a 3% reduction from last year’s budget allocation of N$1.7 billion, adding that the ministry has however allocated more than N$1 billion for operations while the developmental part received N$ 580 million.

Uutoni said more than N$894 million as subsidy will go towards supporting and enhancing the operational and service delivery capacity of regional councils and local authorities as well as recognised traditional authorities and will be used to carry out the development of an urban land reform programme.

Another programme is decentralisation, meant for enhancement of public participation in development planning and decision-making to which N$12.1 million was allocated.

“Despite resources and capacity challenges at various levels, the government remains committed to the decentralisation of decision-making and service delivery to the local and grassroots levels,” added Uutoni.

Housing

Furthermore, the ministry allocated N$510 million towards support to habitat and housing development, a programme which consists of various interventions aimed at ensuring the availability of basic municipal infrastructure and services as well as the provision of housing in the country.

Uutoni further noted that the rural development programme has been allocated an amount of N$78.8 million for the ongoing rural development initiatives, of which N$10 million is earmarked to support rural sanitation initiatives.

Some N$8 million will support self-help income and employment generating initiatives by rural communities. Another N$8 million will support appropriate technology development for rural communities through the operational rural development centres while N$28 million will go towards the financing of ongoing work at six rural development centres under construction, namely at Rupara in Kavango West, Masokotwane in the Zambezi Region, Eembaxu in Ohangwena, Ogongo in Omusati, Snyfontein in ||Kharas and Gibeon in the Hardap Region, he outlined.- Nampa

Inmates produce food worth millions

Inmates at various correctional facilities countrywide, produced food worth N$19 million, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Daniel Kashikola has said.

Kashikola while tabling the ministry’s N$5.7 billion budget for the 2021/22 financial year in the National Assembly on Monday said this has saved the government millions of dollars on food expenses for inmates and trial awaiting offenders.

He said the most significant produce came from Divundu Correctional Facility where prisoners produced N$15 million worth of maize, followed by Hardap and Oluno Correctional Facilities, where N$2.9 worth of pork was produced, and beef worth N$190 766 was produced from Evaristus Shikongo Correctional Facility.

The expenditure to produce the food was N$8.1 million most of which was spent on fertilisers.

“As at 31 December 2020, the Department had a stock of cattle, goats, sheep, pigs including maize and wheat to the value of N$7.1 million,” the deputy minister said.

NCS spokesperson, Commissioner Sam Shaalulange, said the main aim of the food production projects at various correctional facilities is to transfer skills and rehabilitate offenders so that they are self-sustainable and disciplined when they are released after serving the terms.

He said they strive to get to a stage where correctional facilities across the country are self-sustainable when it comes to food and can meet all dietary requirements through these projects.

“If we can get more land, we will do wonder just for this country. We want to get to a point where we do not buy food to feed offenders and we want to be able to provide for schools and other government institutions, but the land is a problem. We have been in talks to acquire more land for us to extend the projects but it is taking time,” he said. - Nampa

Project to turn netball professional

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

WINDHOEK

The launch of the MTC Namibia Netball Premier League (NNPL) will not only provide a platform to many players, but also increase Namibia's chances of reaching its first Netball World Cup, says former netball player-turned-administrator, Rebekka Goagoses-Nekundi.

The next world cup will take place in 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa and Goagoses-Nekundi has high hopes that the NNPL will be turned professional and provide the national team with quality players. The league, which commences this weekend, was officially launched yesterday following MTC's N$4.5 million sponsorship for a period of three years.

Twelve teams from different regions are set to compete in the topflight netball league.

Goagoses-Nekundi expressed excitement over the sponsorship and is confident that it will change the lives of many netball players. They are adamant that the formation of the league will help Namibia's efforts to qualify for the Netball World Cup.

“I would like to thank MTC for the support they gave us, which made it possible for us to launch this premier league.

We want our MTC Netball League to produce the best players who we can export to countries such as Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. “Netball being a famous sport in Namibia, we are inspired by the recent achievements of our women's hockey team which won the Africa Cup and qualified to the world cup,” Goagoses-Nekundi said. She added that they draw inspiration from athletes Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma's qualification for the Olympic Games. “We aspire to do the same with netball, which is to elevate the status of women sports in Namibia and give us a chance to participate at the highest level possible.”

Turn professional

MTC executive Tim Ekandjo said his biggest wish is to see the MTC Namibia Netball Premier League turning professional.

He advised those in charge to work towards a professional setup where players are well remunerated. Ekandjo also urged fellow corporate companies to come on board and support netball. “For the next three years, we want you to make sure that every netball player in this county that plays in the MTC netball league gets paid just like our footballers,” Ekandjo said.

Prizes

Each team will receive N$60 000 for logistics and administrative purposes, while the winner of the league will take home N$40 000. The runners-up will get N$35 000, and the team in third place N$25 000.

Nujoma's legacy a mess• Mayor leads substandard stadium fix The mayor of Windhoek, Job Amupanda, says some things should just be fixed because it makes sense and shouldn't be done just because of instructions from Fifa, the governing body of football.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK

Windhoek mayor Job Amupanda conducted an inspection yesterday morning at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, which recently caught flak for being substandard, resulting in a N$85 800 fine imposed on Namibia Football Association (NFA) by the Confederation of Africa Football (Caf).

The stadium, which was built in 2005, was named after the founding president of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, and has a seating capacity of 10 300. But it cannot host international matches anymore, according to the Caf.

The roof above the VIP seating needs to be extended, the dressing rooms are in poor condition and outdated, but despite this, the area was cleaned up perfectly for the visit.

Bums in seats

Individual seats are a requirement in the whole stadium, not only in the VIP area. The stadium also requires sufficient sanitary facilities for spectators.

The artificial turf should be replaced as a matter of urgency and the overall pitch condition improved and the surface must be levelled, green and marked clearly in white. Issues with the drainage system should also be attended to. While the mayor was followed around by a large group of City of Windhoek staff who listened closely and scribbled notes, as if readying for immediate action, a group of footballers were training on the pitch. “We must find a balance. You guys are always having fights and then Fifa tells us that politicians must not get involved. But now politicians must get involved to fix the stadium. So how do we strike a balance?” asked Amupanda as he looked around. He added that football is an important national activity. “From that strategic engagement we must do this. Not because Fifa says so. We must be able to intervene because we believe in the importance of football and the public good that football brings,” Amupanda added.

Mbumba helps Tokyo athletesTelecom Namibia sponsors running shoes The Office of the Vice-President, in conjunction with Telecom Namibia, on Wednesday announced a sponsorship of N$36 000 for athletes who have qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

NAMPA

Each of the 12 Namibian athletes who have qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games so far is expected to receive N$3 000.

The money will be used to pay for the athletes' shoes for the games. This donation will go through the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) directly from Telecom Namibia, which supported the initiative at the request of Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba.

Speaking at the event, Mbumba said he decided to source funds for athletes Beatrice Masilingi, Helalia Johannes, Thomas Reinhold and Christine Mboma, who recently broke various records in the process of qualifying for the Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan, from 23 July to 8 August.

Mbumba said it is important for athletes to be recognised by their community, hence his decision to meet with them and their coaches as a way of encouraging them to work hard in order to realise their dreams.

“We decided to help these athletes by approaching Telecom Namibia to assist and they have agreed to come on board with money to buy running shoes to help the athletes achieve their dreams,” he added.

How can China eliminate extreme poverty?

H.E. Zhang Yiming

In February this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping solemnly declared that China's victory in the battle against poverty was completed: the 98.99 million people in rural areas who were living below the current poverty threshold had all shook off poverty; all the 128 000 impoverished villages and 832 designated poor counties got rid of poverty, which meant China completed the arduous task of eliminating extreme poverty and accomplished the first target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule.

Since 1978, China's population that has been lifted out of poverty accounts for more than 70 percent of the global total over the same period according to the World Bank's international poverty standard. Poverty is a long-term and common problem facing all mankind.

How can China make poverty alleviation achievements acknowledged throughout the world and unprecedented pioneering efforts in the history of human poverty reduction?

China's State Council Information Office recently issued a white paper titled 'Poverty Alleviation: China's Experience and Contribution', which elaborated on China's practice and experience in poverty reduction. Here I would like to share it with friends in Namibia.

The first is sticking to people-centred philosophy. The problem of poverty, in essence, is how the people should be treated: the people-centred philosophy is the fundamental driving force behind this cause.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In the face of all the changes in the international landscape and the domestic situation over the past century, the Party has always followed a people-centred philosophy.

It has borne in mind its founding mission to seek happiness for the Chinese people and national rejuvenation, and unite and lead the people in fighting poverty armed with firm convictions and a strong will.

Especially since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the CPC has adopted a series of bold policies and measures to advance the cause and concentrated its efforts on guaranteeing the basic needs of the poor.

It would rather cut down on the number of major projects, penalise short-term, partial or local interests, or slow the pace of economic growth to ensure the task of poverty alleviation is accomplished on schedule. In the fight against poverty, officials and Party members have worked with diligence to fulfil the happiness of the poor.

More than 1 800 Party members and officials have lost their lives in the cause of poverty alleviation. China's poverty elimination effort is a full and vivid expression of its people-centred philosophy and the CPC's mission of serving the people wholeheartedly.

The second is insisting on state leadership. Poverty alleviation is a pioneering and arduous trek, which determines that poverty cannot be eliminated by relying solely on the efforts of individuals, local governments, or non-governmental forces.

Poverty elimination requires will and action at national level, and it must be elevated to a national strategy. The CPC has always regarded poverty alleviation as an important task for ensuring national peace and stability. It has highlighted poverty alleviation at national level when setting its guidelines, principles and policies, and when formulating national plans for medium and long-term development. The Party has pooled national resources to advance this cause and motivated generations of its members to devote themselves to this cause, and work together towards the same goal.

Visual artists imitate life with masterpiecesExhibition running until 31 July The NAGN and Bank Windhoek collaboration is the fifth consecutive sponsorship, and to date, the bank has ploughed over N$1.1 million into the project as part of its continued commitment to Namibian art. STAFF REPORTER

WINDHOEK

There are many ways of telling stories. One of the most compelling ways is through visual arts.

On Thursday, 22 April, the National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN) in Windhoek was filled with artists from all walks of life for the launch of the Bank Windhoek Triennial 2020, an exhibition that showcases the diversity of art produced by Namibian artists.

A total of 491 submissions was received, of which 233 are from outside of Windhoek, and during the judging process, 152 entries in eight categories made it to the finals.

Saima Iita's 'Women Feelings in the 20th Century', a metal sculpture illustrating a woman breaking free from chains, earned him the overall winner spot.

Iita shared that the objective of his artwork is to raise awareness on the dictatorial powers that have kept women in bondage for a long time.

Iita’s ‘A Heart Sense’ also won the three-dimensional category. The metal work portrays a human torso with a large golden heart protruding from it.

"These are my first awards. I am now confident that I can do more," Iita, who dreams of owning an arts foundation to inspire the Namibian youth, said.

Environmental impact

Meanwhile, Ismael Shivute's '3 000 Divided By 24' creation won the two-dimensional category. The artwork consists of 3 000 aerosol can tops flattened and stitched together into a wall installation, and draws attention to the environmental impact of aerosols on the ozone layer.

"If one person uses two spray cans in a month, that equates to 24 in a year. This work is the result of 125 people's empty spray cans," he said.

The contemporary customary art category went to Anastacia Karenga with her piece 'Heart Shape, Trust, Sharing', while Ina-Maria Shikongo scooped the textile art category with her submission 'George Floyd'.

“I wove this creation in the colours of the United States flag. It highlights the continuing injustice that young African Americans are experiencing in the States," she said.

Veteran visual artist Ndasuunje ‘Papa’ Shikongeni won second place with his work named 'Fishrot Greediness.'

“I challenged myself to explore other mediums. And the result is a tripod installation showcasing the plight for the exploitation of Namibia's resources by its leaders," he said.

Committed to the arts

An NAGN initiative in collaboration with Bank Windhoek, the event marks the fifth consecutive sponsorship, and to date, the bank has ploughed over N$1.1 million into the project.

"In our continued commitment to the support of the arts in Namibia, we place great value on this partnership," Bank Windhoek's head of corporate social investments, sponsorship and events, Bronwyn Moody, said.

Iita said the recognition and platform motivated his artistic development.

“With this win, I now know that I can enthuse others to achieve their best,” he said.

“We can market our country and create jobs because of this initiative. Arts is the solution to creating something new; changing lives.”

Hosted at the NAGN gallery in Windhoek, the exhibition will be open free of charge until Saturday, 31 July. All artwork sales are for the artist’s benefit.

SYMLAFA adds new categories

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Simply You Magazine (SYM), a lifestyle, fashion and entertainment magazine, has been celebrating and recognising Namibian influencers and personalities in various categories for the past five years at its annual awards ceremony, the Simply You Magazine Lifestyle and Fashion Awards (SYMLAFA). This year, the event will take place on 4 September.

As SYM celebrates five years in the industry, it is introducing two new categories to the awards, namely ‘Foodie of the Year’ and ‘Stylist of the Year’.

Over 65 personalities will parade the red carpet and the stage in style this time around.

In addition to the new categories, the ceremony celebrates photographers, make-up artists, radio personalities, models, comedians, emerging fashion designers, bloggers, accessory designers, TV personalities, fitness personalities, fashion designers and hairstylists.

The nominees are selected through an online entry process, and special rights are given to fans to enter on behalf of their favourite personalities.

“This year, we are bringing an international special guest to celebrate our fifth annual awards with us,” the SYM team said in a statement.

Applications are open and available via symnam.com. For more information, call 081 580 6290.

Fashion with heartEmpowering garment manufacturers through skills development Charity Fashions specialises in garment and textiles manufacturing.

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WINDHOEK

About 15 years ago, Beverly Kaposiao graduated from fashion school in Cape Town, returned home to Namibia and started her business with a small sewing machine set up in her aunt’s sitting room.

Passionate about developing human resources, Kaposiao has rooted Charity Fashions in a culture of empowerment through employment creation and skills development.

For her, making an impact in the lives of those employed in the garment manufacturing sector has been a priority. Through consultancy work with organisations like the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), Kaposiao works as an assessor, visiting vocational centres across the country with the aim of closing the gap between training centres and the industry. On top of that, she uses her extensive experience in the manufacturing sector to plough back into the industry by training others.

Since opening the doors to her first factory in Ovitoto, she has employed 48 employees who have either gained basic sewing skills or business administration skills during their time of employment in her company.

Fashion for a cause

The work she does in training and development is nothing new to this fashion designer with a cause, who in the early years of her career was already training seamstresses while volunteering at the Khomas Women in Development Centre in Windhoek’s Wanaheda.

“I did not only sharpen my skills at the centre; I also built relationships which have turned into good business connections,” she said.

According to Kaposiao, Charity Fashion is a brand that is synonymous with comfort and durability in texture and quality, and she said she understands that this wouldn’t be possible if her employees are not continuously trained and uplifted.

The same, she added, can be said about the industry at large.

“I see a lot of potential in the Namibian garment industry, but a lack of skills is slowing our progress. So there remains a need to close the gap and we have a lot of work to do in the skills development area in order to be fully equipped.”

Uplifting employees

As Namibia joins the world in commemorating Workers Day tomorrow, 1 May, Kaposiao urged industry leaders to do more to uplift their employees with the right skills.

As someone who has been fortunate enough to receive extensive training throughout her career, Kaposiao has reaped the benefits of a solid foundation, she said. She added that she has achieved numerous achievements, which include a third runner-up position at the 2003 JCC awards, being selected as a member of the technical working group of the NTA in 2010 and - her biggest achievement yet - receiving the 2019 ‘outstanding woman in Africa’ honour at the Ghana Outstanding Woman Awards (Gowa).

Her message to employers in the garment manufacturing and fashion sectors is to equip employees with the skills necessary to execute their work properly.

“The company not only benefits from the trained employees, but the employees also benefit as they are fully empowered to start their own businesses should they decide to venture off on their own.”

Keeping it real The music industry in Namibia keeps growing – growth that now compels musicians to have clearly defined rollout plans for their projects, be they albums or EPs.

Having a strategy in place for any project is crucial because, as an artist, you put out what you believe is a masterful body of work. I better see you promoting it with singles and performances all year long. Make us know all about it, love it and never forget it. A phenomenon that is worth applauding in the current music climate is how much musicians are investing in their music videos. It’s impressive and this should be something becomes part and parcel of any album rollout plan.

michael@namibiansun.com

Women in media striving for balance• PART 1 Women working in the Namibian media sector are getting together to support one another.

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WINDHOEK

The inaugural edition of the Women in Media Conference will take place on Saturday at Vinyl’s restaurant in Windhoek under the theme ‘The Power of Coverage: Our Journey in Time’.

The conference looks to establish a strong network of Namibian women working in the media industry.

The purpose of the conference is to help positively impact the way the media function in relation to women, with the aim of assisting women in media to have more access to representation, content and opportunities within the industry.

Sharing ideas

Sports journalist and event organiser Limba Mupetami says the idea came about during a meeting with a fellow media practitioner, which led to a realisation that women working in media need more opportunities to network and share ideas.

“We see the efforts and strides that women in media are making in the industry; however, we need to network more and build on each other’s expertise,” she says.

The key points to be discussed at the conference will emphasise the fostering of a positive work environment for women in media.

“Young women getting into the industry should be able to feel comfortable in reaching out. If they need help or guidance on how to approach sources, they should be able to ask experts in the same line of work without any feeling of rejection,” Mupetami says.

Speakers

A senior lecturer at the Namibia University of Science and Technology and CNN Journalist of the Year 2000, Dr Wandja Njuguna, will be the main speaker at the conference. Njuguna has over 25 years’ experience in the local and international media industry.

Other speakers include renowned local community reporter Nomhle Kangootui; the founder of UnWrap online magazine, June Shimuoshili; radio personality Che Ulenga; business reporter Sharon Kavhu; multimedia specialist Kawela M’ule; and senior political reporter Jemima Beukes.

Nedbank Namibia is the main sponsor of the event. Nedbank Namibia’s communications and PR manager, Selma Kaulinge, reiterated the importance of building expertise in female journalists.

“The media is a key stakeholder of Nedbank Namibia, therefore sponsoring the Women in Media conference presents an opportunity for us to help foster expertise in this field, and because we still find that women journalists are the minority in beats such as business, economics, politics and sports, this event will assist in changing this narrative,” said Kaulinge.

Other sponsors include Old Mutual and Interpack.

Namib Mills Kitchen inauguratedWomen at Work now boast a professional standard training kitchen Kudos for Namib Mills and Namibia Construction

Yochanaan Coetzee

“I know this training will change my life,” relates a radiant Sophia Utsi. She and her fellow trainees are buzzing as they tidy up, glowing from achievement and gracefully accepting compliments for the delicious savoury snacks and deserts they prepared for their guests at the inauguration of the Women at Work’s new training kitchen, last week.

The new professional training kitchen, dubbed the “Namib Mills Kitchen”, now allows trainees to learn in a professional NQA-standard kitchen in the fundamental of various aspects of the culinary arts and home economics.

“This was a only a dream for 8 years, but quickly became a reality when Namib Mills and Namibia Construction generously agreed to assist us in setting up this vocational-standard training kitchen, after just one phone call to each,” said Elize Fahl, the chairperson of the Women at Work Training Centre.

“We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors for assisting to reach this tremendous milestone. Bank Windhoek has been a key stakeholder since our inception, and so too have Namib Mills and Namibia Construction been eager to assist over the years. However, we must highlight and celebrate this latest contribution, as this will allow us to do more, and that at a higher standard which will impact lives and improve livelihoods.”

“Namibia Mills generously provided funding for this project and Namibia Construction, without a moment’s hesitation, came on board with all the design work, labour and a large portion of the materials needed,” said Fahl.

Skills incubators

Besides cookery and baking, the Women at Work Training Centre offers a range of other courses including Home Management, Au Pairing and Beginners/Advanced Dressmaking Courses, which have empowered over 1598 men and women in their 12 years in operation.

“Before I came here I was unemployed and fearful of what my future would hold, but now I am confident and equipped to go into the work market, or maybe even start a business myself,” Utsi added.

“We all hope to live happy and productive lives and to be able to assist people in improving their skillsets and enhancing their livelihoods has been at the core of Namib Mills’ business ethos,” said Koos Ferreira, Trade Liaison Specialist for Namib Mills.

Women at Work Training Centre, established in 2009, is an association not for gain, incorporated under section 21 of the Companies Act, and a registered welfare organization in terms of the National Welfare Act, 1965 (Act 79 of 1965).

The mission of Women at Work is to be the catalyst for change in the lives of unemployed Namibian women by providing high quality basic skills training and to facilitate suitable, stable employment through it's Employment Bureau.

Women at Work has trained 1063 students between 2009 and 2016 and in 2016 alone placed 74 students with employers.