Namibian Sun

Missing suspect delays army general’s court case

KENYA KAMBOWE

RUNDU

The stock theft case involving former Namibia Defence Force (NDF) Major-General Thomas Hamuyela has been postponed for a further two months because the police could not trace his co-accused.

Hamunyela (64) on Monday appeared before Magistrate Hellen Olaiya, who postponed the matter to 28 July for further police investigations and for the police docket to be brought to court.

Earlier this month, Namibian Sun reported that the second suspect in the stock theft case had vanished and the police were unable to find him.

At large

When contacted for comment yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Abner Agas of the Kavango West police confirmed that the suspect remained on the run.

The suspect, who is from the same vicinity as Hamunyela’s farm at Mutorwa village in the Kavango West Region, allegedly sold the cattle to the former army commander.

The suspect, who was out on bail in another stock theft case in the same area, absconded.

Hamunyela, who was arrested in January, is out on bail of N$5 000.

He is represented by Sisa Namandje.

Hamunyela was charged with one count of stock theft after he allegedly stole three oxen and two cows belonging to Sipipa Thadeus Naironga at Mutorwa village.

The cattle - valued at N$29 000 - were allegedly found in Hamunyela’s possession.

The State is also investigating why Hamunyela was in possession of an AK-47 assault rifle although the law prohibits civilians from owning automatic weapons.

kenya@namibiansun.com

More funding needed to fight locustsFAO launches aid appeal The government has spent N$30 million on locust control efforts and needs an additional N$28 million.

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

More funding is required to ensure that agricultural livelihoods are safeguarded by ensuring that the outbreak of locusts in Namibia is brought under control before the next planting season.

An estimated 300 subsistence farmers have been affected by the pest in the Omusati Region alone, with more than 5 000 farming households expected to be severely affected in all regions of the country.

“In all my 75 years of life I have never witnessed something as horrifying as this,” Elim communal farmer Wilhelm Asser told the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).

“We were expecting a plentiful harvest this year, but the locust outbreak is threatening to undo our hard work,” said Asser.

The locusts feed on grass, maize, millet, sorghum, wheat and other green vegetation.

The FAO said Elim is just one of the many villages joining a growing list of hundreds of locust-infested farming settlements in the north-central, north-eastern and southern parts of Namibia, where thousands of local inhabitants are facing a serious threat to their livelihoods.

Like Asser, many villagers’ crop fields are under threat from the locust swarms and families are worried about the prospects of attaining a good harvest this year, says the FAO.

Absalom Nembenge, a communal farmer in Ekamba, located a few kilometres east of Elim, says most farmers in his village feel helpless against the menacing locusts.

“They come in their thousands and quickly devour everything in their path that is green; we are very frightened by their viciousness.”

Farmers are trying everything from burning tyres to making noise to try to chase away the pests.

Fighting the good fight

The government locust-spraying teams are comprised of agricultural officers and members of the Namibia Defence Force (NDF), under the supervision of two committed women, Violet Simaata, chief agricultural scientific officer, and Paulina Shilunga, agricultural scientific officer, in the agriculture ministry.

They have been at the forefront of the locust control effort since it began last year and are reluctant to throw in the towel.

“We are the last line of defence for thousands of farmers across the country, which is no easy task but we remain committed to ensuring that livelihoods are not severely impacted,” says Shilunga.

The government has contributed N$30 million towards locust control efforts since the start of the outbreak.

The FAO says the government has indicated that an additional N$28 million is needed to contain the pests.

To complement government efforts, the FAO, through funding from the United Nations Central Emergency Fund (CERF), Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Assistance (SFERA) and the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) has so far provided both technical and financial support of N$7 million since last year.

FAO support ensured that over 130 government staff were trained on how to control the locust outbreak and equipped with spraying and camping equipment, personal protective equipment, bio-pesticides, transportation, and locust surveillance and monitoring tools. However more funding is needed to combat the locusts, says the FAO.

Locusts in Southern Africa

The African migratory locust swarms have been ravaging fields and grazing lands across four countries in the region: Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

However, the pest has now spread across to other countries such as Angola and South Africa.

In Namibia, two other locust species – the red locust and the brown locust – are known to have swarmed and damaged grazing in southern parts of the country.

SARB to probe digital currency feasibilityAssessing security and risk management Allowing businesses and individuals to make electronic payments directly backed by the federal bank. Investigate the feasibility, desirability and appropriateness of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) as an electronic legal tender: SARB

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is studying the benefits of issuing a digital currency for general retail purposes, it said on Tuesday, in line with several other central banks.

A central bank digital currency, or CBDC, is a form of electronic cash linked to the sovereign currency on a one-to-one basis, with its value protected by the central banks' monetary policy and inflation-targeting regime.

It would allow businesses and individuals to make electronic payments directly backed by the federal bank.

The SARB said it would “investigate the feasibility, desirability and appropriateness of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) as an electronic legal tender, for general-purpose retail use, complementary to cash.”

Objective

The objective of the study is to consider how the issuance of a general-purpose CBDC would feed into the SARB's policy position and mandate, it said.

The study, to be concluded in 2022, will include practical experimentation across different emerging technology platforms, taking into account a variety of factors, including policy, regulatory, security and risk management implications.

- Nampa/Reuters

Amupanda wants Red Line gone in 90 days

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

Windhoek mayor Job Amupanda has filed an application with the High Court in which he is asking that the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF) be declared unlawful, unconstitutional and not sanctioned by law.

The defendants in the matter are agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein, the government, attorney-general Festus Mbandeka and an official from the directorate of veterinary services, Hango Nambinga.

Amupanda further wants a court order directing and compelling the agriculture minister and the government to remove the VCF within 90 days.

He is also asking the court to declare that if the VCF is sanctioned by any law, such law violates the dignity of Namibians, is discriminatory and unconstitutional.

In the particulars of claim Amupanda describes the VCF, commonly known as the Red Line, as a brutal, shameful and draconian policy seeking to sustain discrimination of any person who resides north of the Red Line and their livestock.

According to him the Red Line was erected to act as a shield and to insulate people who reside south of the Red Line and their livestock from perceived or actual diseases which emanates from those north of the Red Line and their livestock.

‘Discrimination’

“This protection and insulation are not accorded to people who reside north of the Red Line and their livestock. This is discriminatory.”

Amupanda claims that the Red Line is also used to ensure black people are free from diseases and that such diseases are not carried over to the south of the country.

“Black people are constantly screened to ensure that they do not carry any diseases to the south of the Red Line.”

He says the Red Line was also erected to restrict black people from transporting animals and animal products for domestic or commercial consumption.

According to him the fence serves as a border between the South and the North in order to facilitate the implementation of laws specifically and exclusively enacted to deal with the affairs of black people who reside north of the Red Line.

Amupanda continues to say that he owns livestock north of the Red Line at Omaalala village and he relies on the agricultural products produced to feed his family.

Amupanda says while frequently travelling between his home village and Windhoek, he has been and continues to be subjected to “degrading and inhumane treatment” by agriculture and government officials.

This, he says, is through continuously being required to declare any animal product, which does not happen when he is travelling from south of the Red Line to north of the fence.

According to Amupanda he is also continuously subjected to compulsory and routine searches of his luggage and motor vehicle without a search warrant.

He adds that he is also required to disembark any vehicle to step on a disinfection mat to ensure that he does not carry diseases south of the Red Line.

He says these requirements are not necessary when travelling from south to north of the Red Line.

According to Amupanda animal products valued to the amount of N$1 000 was unlawfully confiscated from him on 17 May at the Oshivelo Checkpoint by Nambinga.

‘Controlling people’

“The fence continues to be used for purposes of controlling the movement of animals and black people from north to the south of Namibia.”

Amupanda says that the Red Line is unconstitutional because it was erected as a colonial structure, it is not sanctioned or made provision for by any law in Namibia and is not rationally connected to any purposes.

He says that the fence classifies people or enable the classification of people, including their animals, by officials of the agriculture ministry and the government who travel from north of the Red Line as inferior.

The court papers were filed yesterday and a combined summons have been served on the defendants. The defendants have 21 days file notice of intention to dispute the claim and defend the action. Schlettwein was not available for comment yesterday.

NBC, Napwu iron out pay modalities

OGONE TLHAGE and TUYEIMO HAIDULA

WINDHOEK/OSHAKATI

The Namibia Public Workers Union and the NBC are working on modalities to ensure that striking employees will be paid their May salaries.

Napwu secretary-general Petrus Nevonga yesterday announced the end of the strike, saying an agreement had been reached between the corporation and the union. NBC employees had been on strike for four weeks demanding a salary increase and backpay.

Napwu’s Daniel Nadunya confirmed that the two parties were meeting when called for comment yesterday.

“The union and employer agreed on how the employer can assist those affected by the ‘no work, no pay’ policy,” Nadunya said.

The strike was premised on the basis of ‘no work, no pay’, meaning that striking employees would forfeit their pay for the length of time the strike carried on.

According to Nadunya, the modalities being considered would either mean employees would sell their leave days or receive a salary advance.

No raise

NBC board chairperson Lazarus Jacobs confirmed that employees would receive no salary hikes or backpay, while Napwu secretary-general Nevonga said an agreement had been reached between the union and the corporation about the strike.

Nevonga added that Napwu would not be taking the corporation to court.

“Only qualifying contract workers will be considered for permanent employment,” Jacobs said of the operations at the NBC.

NBC workers demanded an 8% increase but the corporation has repeatedly said it is facing serious financial challenges this year due to the budget allocation of N$127.5 million, which represents a 62% reduction, compared to the previous financial year’s allocation of N$334.1 million.

Jacobs had insisted that the strike was unaffordable and risked the future of the NBC.

Broke government eyes reparation money: RukoroNama, Herero leaders reject deal Two traditional authorities say the genuine representatives of the Nama and Ovaherero communities were sidelined from the discussions between Namibia and Germany.

NAMPA

WINDHOEK

The Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) and Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA) have rejected the purported deal struck by the Namibian and German governments over reparation payments relating to the 1904-1908 genocide.

According to the two groups, the Namibian government’s chief concern in the reparation talks is to land its hands on the reparation monies to implement its developmental goals instead of genuinely addressing the plights of communities massacred by Germany between 1904 and 1908.

This was said by OTA Paramount Chief Vekuii Rukoro at a media conference in the capital yesterday.

He said from the onset, the genuine representatives of the Nama and Ovaherero communities were sidelined from the discussion table because they “are black and African”.

“It’s a racist policy that successive German governments have continued to implement for the past 100 years. The Namibian government has also refused to include us because they don’t want these resources to reach the rightful people,” he charged.

Through their traditional leaders, the Nama and Herero people have always advocated for a tripartite negotiation that would see the German government, affected communities and the Namibian government sit around the table to chart a way forward on the genocide matter.

“The German government is behaving like crooks… we have the full power of attorney to represent our people. Hage Geingob and Government have no mandate to represent us,” he said.

No deal

NTLA’s Johannes Isaaks echoed his sentiments, saying the German government would be naïve to believe that the genocide and reparation talks are complete.

“The agreement came as a surprise but anything without us is against us. We have to keep on fighting. Stand firm for the cause of justice,” Isaaks said.

Rukoro added that it was painful that the Namibian government was willing to settle for any deal presented to them by Germany.

“That is absolute nonsense,” fumed Rukoro.

“Land was taken away without compensation. We suffered cultural genocide. We cannot rejoice. We have been betrayed by our government,” he said.

The traditional authorities vowed to intensify their fight by internationalising it and fighting from all fronts possible.

The purported agreement comes one month after premier Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila told Parliament that Namibian authorities were looking to canvas for German-funded developmental projects as a way of moving forward as no reparation agreement was in place.

She maintained that Namibia was unrepentant in not giving up on getting an apology, atonement and reparations from Germany for the atrocities it meted out against the two communities.

Honeymoon over for the opposition It’s a half a year since the opposition drove Swapo out of many localities, including the capital Windhoek and economic hubs such as Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. Simply put, the honeymoon is over.

The excuse of being newly elected and still perusing documents to uncover Swapo’s rot can no longer hold. In America, for example, President Joe Biden’s first day in office was marked by immediately undoing Trump’s policies and beefing up the federal government’s response to the coronavirus through a slew of executive actions and orders.

Six months after the opposition chased Swapo into the rural areas, there isn’t anything that has particularly stood out in terms of service delivery, maybe with a thin exception of Windhoek which has settled some of its debts.

Trust matters in politics. Those who wrestled the tools of power from Swapo and placed it on the laps of the opposition did so with the hope that their lives would change for the better.

In order to maintain trust with voters, parties need to appear to keep their election pledges – something that Swapo failed to do as years passed.

It’s that failure that forced the masses into changing their voting habits, something they will be prepared to do again in 2025 if the opposition continues on this sleeping mode of doing things.

Four nabbed with pangolin skinsThree new wildlife crime cases Three Namibians and an Angolan have been arrested for wildlife crimes in the past two weeks.

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

Within a period of two weeks there have been three wildlife crime cases recorded and four suspects have been arrested and charged.

These cases were reported from 3 to 16 May, according to information provided by the intelligence and investigation unit within the environment ministry and the protected resources unit within the safety and security ministry.

In the first incident at Rundu, a Namibian was arrested on 6 May for possession of a pangolin skin. Mukunga Leonard Mwamba was charged with illegal possession of and dealing in controlled wildlife products.

At Kamanjab on 7 May, an Angolan national was arrested in possession of a pangolin skin. He was charged with contravening the Controlled Wildlife and Trade Act, illegal possession of and dealing in controlled wildlife products.

Lastly, two Namibians were arrested at Oshakati on 14 May for being in possession of a pangolin skin. Both Merchoir Hamutenya Kayova and Andreas Nsambe Mukisi were charged with illegal possession of and dealing in controlled wildlife products.

IMF staff reach agreement with Egypt US$5.2 billion loan approved The second performance review would release the last US$1.6 billion from the one-year aid plan approved in June 2020. Uncertainty remains against the backdrop of lingering pandemic-related risks. Celine Allard: IMF

IMF staff on Tuesday announced they had reached an agreement with Egypt over an economic program that would release the final tranche of a US$5.2 billion loan approved last year.

Once approved by the board of the International Monetary Fund, the second performance review would release the last US$1.6 billion from the one-year aid plan approved in June 2020.

Celine Allard, who led the IMF team, praised Cairo, saying the "strong performance and commitment helped achieve the program's objectives of maintaining macroeconomic stability during the pandemic while protecting necessary social and health spending and implementing key structural reforms."

She said the Egyptian economy has "shown resilience. “The IMF projects economic growth of 2.5% this year and 5.7% in 2022.

"However, uncertainty remains against the backdrop of lingering pandemic-related risks," Allard said.

The Washington-based crisis lender also provided a US$2.8 billion emergency loan for Cairo in May 2020 specifically to deal with the impact of the pandemic. - Nampa/Reuters

TCTA raises R15 bln for Lesotho water project

South Africa's Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) has raised just over R15 billion in capital markets to continue construction of the Lesotho Highlands water project, the minister of water and sanitation said on Tuesday.

The state-owned TCTA needed guarantees from the National Treasury before it could raise the private funding for the project which is designed to improve water access for millions of people in South Africa's economic heartland in Gauteng province.

"So, we have the resources, we have the guarantees and now we can assure you that we will be hard at work to provide water security," minister Lindiwe Sisulu told lawmakers.

In March the TCTA said delays by the treasury, which were due to tightening conditions for support for state-owned entities, were putting pressure on the TCTA as it looked to raise R33 billion in 2021.

Years of hot weather in water-scarce South Africa, coupled with a lack of investment and inadequate maintenance of infrastructure has led to increasing dependence on the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho to augment water supplies to Africa's most industrialised country.

The US$1 billion raised with allow for the completion of phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands water project, which involves the construction of a series of dams, Sisulu said.

She added that the TCTA has projects worth 68 billion rand designed to increase water delivery across the country's major cities. - Nampa/Reuters

Limkokwing University accreditation ongoing

OGONE TLHAGE

WINDHOEK

Limkokwing University has denied that it is not accredited by the Namibia Qualifications Authority. This follows allegations that the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund had been forced to fund the institution’s students.

University spokesperson Anderson Nlisana said it was in the final stages of getting accredited by the Namibia Qualifications Authority and that the Covid-19 pandemic had delayed its accreditation.

According to Nlisana, the Covid-19 pandemic meant that the NQA could not carry out the whole accreditation process because in-person learning could not proceed during stages one and two of the state of the emergency.

“It is on record that Limkokwing University of Creative Technology is legitimately registered as Limkokwing University of Creative Technology since 29 June 2016 in Namibia,” Nlisana said.

“As a point of reference, Limkokwing University has been operational since 2020, at Erf 6005, Kornalyn Street, Khomasdal, Windhoek, and is undergoing accreditation with the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA),” he added.

The initial submission stages of the application for accreditation are complete, he said.

Currently, Limkokwing University is at an advanced stage of the accreditation process, which requires the university to have classes running for NQA to conduct a site visit upon an invitation by the university, Nlisana explained.

He said Limkokwing University was committed to following the NQA’s accreditation process.

“In addition, there have to be students enrolled in these programmes and staff hired by the university. Therefore, the NQA accreditation process flow is detailed, and the university is committed to ensuring it complies with all processes,” Nlisana said.

Being assessed

NQA spokesperson Catherine Shipushu confirmed the university’s status upon enquiry.

“The Limkokwing University of Creative Technology applied for accreditation by the NQA in August 2019. In terms of the accreditation process, only the site visit to the university site of operation is outstanding.

“The site visit is scheduled for July 2021 and depended on the institution commencing with its first cohort,” Shipushu said.

Officials of the NSFAF were unhappy with ‘bullying’ by the ministry of higher education, which had directed the fund to grant student loans for Limkokwing University, Namibian Sun reported last week.

The NSFAF policy is not to grant funding to students of unaccredited study courses and universities. The ministry’s directive was thus viewed as irregular in the NSFAF corridors and unsettled officials who felt they were being forced to break their own laws.

Chiefs fight over N$24m fishing quota bonanza§ President roped into traditional leaders’ money fights

Traditional leaders are at the verge of dragging each other to court over millions generated from the sale of fishing quotas meant to benefit traditional authorities and their respective communities.JEMIMA BEUKES

WNDHOEKSeveral traditional leaders are up in arms over the spending of about N$24 million from fishing quota sales that was paid to a company of owned by a trust controlled by traditional authorities.

Hompa Investments sold its horse mackerel quota to a fishing entity called Nombili Fishing last year.

Hompa Investments was created in 2014 while the Namibia Traditional Authorities Trust(NTAT) was registered in 2018.

The beneficiaries of the trust are the 52-government recognized traditional authorities.

Hompa Investments’ proceeds from the sale, according to sources, was supposed to be transferred to NTAT. This did not happen.

Namibian Sun understands the money was not transferred because the trust does not have a bank account, this is despite resolutions having been taken at past meetings to open a bank account for the trust.

At least three chiefs are now alleging that the funds “are being appropriated without lawfully constituted meetings and lawfully passed resolutions and to the detriment of some of the beneficiaries/traditional leaders”.

According to the trust certificate of NTAT, the trustees are Immanuel Gaseb, Sam Kambazembi, Herman Iipumbu Iipumbu, Eduard Afrikaner, Kisco Moraliswani, Zacharias Seibeb, Frederik Langman, Hubert Ditshabue and Eugene Siwombe Kudumo.

The directors of Hompa Investment are Immanuel Gaseb, Kambazembi, Jacobina Lungameni and Fillemon Nangolo.

Nangolo serves as the chairperson of the trust.

Gaseb, Seibeb and Afrikaner, through their lawyer Dirk Conradie, have since written to the Master of the High Court, Elsie Beukes, asking her to compel all trustees to provide security because they are “experiencing difficulties with the manner in which the trust is being managed”.

The Master of the High Court is by law empowered to compel trustees to present security in the form of money or property which can be seized if trustees fail to protect the financial interests of the trust.

The trio also informed Beukes that they were denied information by the directors of Hompa Investments, despite being trustees of the trust that owns the company.

“The purpose of this letter is to seek your intervention to ensure that the Trust is transparently managed as required by the Act and in the interest of the beneficiaries,” reads Conradie’s letter dated 17 March 2021.

The money fights have since escalated to State House after the concerned parties approached President Hage Geingob to help find a solution.

Geingob referred the chiefs to Vice-president Nangolo Mbumba.

However, some of the chiefs claim that this meeting has not produced any fruits and they are readying themselves to return to Geingob for a solution.

The Ondonga chief confirmed meeting with Gaseb about the impasse and pointed out that the proceeds from fishing quotas is to sustain the various traditional authorities.

“This money is coming from the fish quotas because government felt chiefs must be able to create their own companies and do things for themselves and their communities,” he said.

Nangolo referred questions about the status of the money to Kambazembi, who is the chairperson of Hompa Investments.

Those close to him said his decision to resign was prompted by alleged woeful expenditure and the lack of implementation of resolutions.

Gaseb, who has since resigned as a director of Hompa Investments, declined to comment earlier this week when asked about his resignation as a trustee.

“I am only the chairperson of the trust; you must speak to Sam Kambazembi he is the chair. I don’t have jurisdiction to talk about this matter. We don’t have an account,” he said.

Kambazembi yesterday said the management of Hompa and the NTAT have extensively consulted with various stakeholders in terms of finding a workable and viable solution and urged aggrieved trustees to follow the relevant channels.

Power fights

Another director of Hompa Investments, Taswald July, said there are clear processes that should be followed by the chiefs, such as requesting for financials during a trustee meeting.

According to July, the chiefs reportedly failed to follow this particular process and has never requested for documents during a trustee’s meetings.

“At trustee meetings they are entitled to ask for this information. Some of them are invited to trustees’ meetings and workshops and they failed to attend. Why do they have to go to a lawyer to ask that very same question which they can ask in a trustees meeting? They have not asked for any of that in a formal trustees meeting. We will not give it to a lawyer, they must come and ask for it in a trustees meeting,” he insisted.

July added that they have nothing to hide and that in fact they can account for every single cent.

Despite July’s assertion that there were no requests for financials and other related information, Namibian Sun has been made aware that on 16 February 2021, during a trustee meeting, the Daures Daman Traditional Authority requested for the Trust Deeds and founding statements of Hompa Investments.

At the same occasion, a request was also submitted for several documents including an annual budget and also that an external auditor be appointed by the board to ensure that the finances of the company are prudently managed.

jemima@namibiansun.com

Von Wielligh leads Nedbank’s vehicle teamFavourable interest rates environment The low repo rate coupled with the rollout of the Covid-19 national vaccination plan delivers positive indicators for economic recovery. We offer vehicle financing, tech loans, lifestyle loans, Cymot loans and bicycle loans, excellent products in high demand.Amanda Von Wielligh, Head of Vehicle and Asset Finance: Nedbank

STAFF REPORTER

Namibians favourably received the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Namibia’s decision during April, when the committee decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 3.75% to support domestic economic activity. The country’s low repo rate coupled with the rollout of the Covid-19 national vaccination plan already delivers positive indicators for an economy in recovery.

This positive sentiment is exactly what Amanda Von Wielligh, Head of Vehicle and Asset Finance at Nedbank Namibia and her team were expecting. She recalls how the motor industry has been under severe pressure over the past few years. Despite this, she and her team managed to grow Nedbank’s asset book during a challenging time in history.

Indeed, domestic economic activity contracted severely, by 8.0%, in 2020 and in key sectors, mainly due to the devastating effects of the pandemic. However, according to the Bank of Namibia, despite the subdued economic activity during the first two months of 2021, going forward the domestic economy is expected to grow by 2.7% in 2021. This spells potential in the domestic economy which she and her dynamic team intend to capitalise on. “We offer vehicle financing, tech loans, lifestyle loans, Cymot loans and bicycle loans, excellent products in high demand,” Von Wielligh says.

As a result of the pandemic and lockdowns, clients have been prompted to change their habits and home-working spaces, and Nedbank's creative loan products will assist them in making these changes, whether it's beginning a healthier lifestyle by cycling or purchasing a new tech gadget to pursue a new career or hobby. Many people have been motivated to take out a lifestyle loan to fund furniture, renovate houses, or pay for a long-overdue holiday.

Von Wielligh has worked for Nedbank for nearly two decades, the last seven as the head of the Vehicle and Asset Financing department. Her success can be attributed to the positive workplace culture she has cultivated and continues to nurture. In addition, her forward-thinking leadership and unifying values among her team have been a contributing factor to their working seamlessly toward their goals.

Team

She defines her team as being the most resilient and supportive individuals she has encountered, “We always find a way to bounce back and overcome challenges. I can honestly say that my department is the best to work in; there is always happiness, we work together, we support each other and we care greatly for one another,” she adds.

Amanda is renowned for excelling in her work, having been awarded Nedbank Top Team for three consecutive years and achieving high volumes of sales during a Nedbank motor show. Her career is one of her many passions in which she strives to make a difference. “It is the small things that drive me, the joy of a client getting his own set of wheels, a client in awe of our great service, my staff feeling proud of their achievements. It makes me happy,” Von Wielligh explains.

She is a self-driven leader who takes pride in being a successful career woman, wife and mother. She thinks of herself to be an adventurous individual who enjoys spending time with her family, whom she considers her ‘greatest supporters.’

Despite the feeling of ‘the writing being on the wall’, with the socio-economic status of the country last year, she and her team managed to deliver unparalleled service. Her ability to lead a team through trying times is one of her great achievements; her dynamic leadership involves being invested in others and being visible through the daily choices she makes to uplift others, show kindness and demonstrate respect and empathy.

Her motto epitomises how she lives, whether at work or home: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

ICC must investigate Geingob – LPM

JEMIMA BEUKES

WINDHOEK

The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi has lodged a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) demanding a fast-tracked investigation against President Hage Geingob for targeting the party as well as for the “heinous war crimes” of Lubango.

Swartbooi informed the ICC that LPM was unable to access fair trials in the Namibian courts as justice in Namibia is reserved for Swapo, who with its functionaries allegedly controls the court system in the country.

According to Swartbooi it is important that the ICC deal with Geingob’s investigation swiftly so that “further damage to the constitutional values, the sanctity of peace and development of society can be facilitated without delay or hindrance”.

In a letter to the chief prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda, Swartbooi claimed that LPM members have been inflicted emotional, physical and emotional trauma as a result of LPM being targeted as a political opposition party, as a direct instruction from Geingob or at least under his knowledge.

According to Swartbooi, the crimes committed against LPM are deliberate with the purpose to injure and curtail, if not fundamentally destroy, their right to free political activity.

“I also rush to remind your offices that the Swapo Party now headed by Geingob is known as having killed over five thousand Namibians in Angola at a place known as Lubango, by placing these citizens in a dungeon, during the liberation struggle.

“For these heinous war crimes against humanity Swapo has never taken remedial action, nor shown contrition to the families who wish to hear of the fate of their loved ones.

“This aforementioned political culture and tradition sets Swapo and its leaders apart as ready and prepared to eliminate citizens en masse to achieve political outcomes,” Swartbooi wrote.

Swartbooi emphasised that these crimes were of grave international concern and must be registered by the ICC as a matter of urgency.

Presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari said they had not seen this letter, and dismissed the claims as “outrageous”.

Abuse in National Assembly

The LPM also beseeched the ICC to investigate the Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, for crimes against humanity, claiming that he had made the NA “a nefarious space” for members of parliament to work in.

“The Speaker has withdrawn Hon. Henny Seibeb, the deputy leader and chief whip in National Assembly and me, the leader of the Landless People's Movement, from the National Assembly for an unlimited time-frame illegally and unconstitutionally. As part of the suppressive politics of Swapo and the Swapo Speaker, two of our elected National Council members have again been withdrawn without just cause and in contradiction of the principle of legality,” said Swartbooi.

He added that launching an investigation into Katjavivi would be in the interest of justice, as a great number of Namibians' lives were threatened and their constitutional rights were being violated at in intensifying pace as the Speaker acted as a law unto himself.

Simon Uirab in the Speaker’s office said they had not yet seen these complaints and were waiting to be notified.

Mark Dillon, head of the Information and Evidence Unit in the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICC, acknowledged having received the letter.

“This communication has been duly entered in the communications register of the office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,” he said.

jemima@namibiansun.com

Kautondokwa leaves SunshineAnother boxer exits Walter ‘The Executioner’ Kautondokwa has left MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Promotions. LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK

Namibia's former African WBO Africa middleweight champion, Water Kautondokwa, was seen training with AC Promotions recently and is currently in Mexico training for what could be a possible fight.

There had been no formal announcement regarding the boxer’s exit, but local trainer and owner of AC Promotions Immanuel ‘AC’ Moses confirmed the move, saying that Kautondokwa had left the Sunshine camp.

“This is Tobias’s year to terminate contracts, if he has any with the boxers. The Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board asked Kautondokwa to write a letter saying that he is no longer with Tobias. He has done that and is in Mexico training,” added Moses.

The 38-year-old Kautondokwa, who has 20 fights in total, 18 of them wins (17 knockouts) and two losses, last fought and lost against Kazakhstan’s Kanat Islam in 2019.

Leaving in haste

He is the second boxer in the space of two months to leave Tobias’s camp, after rising boxing star Harry Simon Jr left in April, citing dissatisfaction with the training regime. Tobias responded with a statement saying that the boxer was undisciplined.

Other boxers who have left the Tobias camp are Paulus ‘El Jesus’ Ambunda and Julius ‘Blue Machine’ Indongo, who left in 2017, and Paulus ‘Hitman’ Moses, who left a year later.

Despite achieving world champion status with Tobias as promoter, the boxers left because of squabbles over purse money.

When asked last week to confirm Kautondokwa’s status, Tobias said: “Let’s focus on positive news for now. Will give attention to that in due course.”

NFPL, rugby and netball leagues continue JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA WINDHOEK

Football and rugby will take centre stage this weekend with the return of the Namibia Premier Football League (NFPL) and the continuation of the Namibia Rugby Union league as well as the MTC Netball Namibia Premier League.

Namibia Media Holdings will broadcast the match between FNB Reho Falcons and FNB Wanderers live from Rehoboth on the Republikein and Sport Wrap Facebook pages.

The match kicks off at 15:45 .

The Falcons will be hoping to redeem themselves following a defeat at the hands of Kudus last weekend, while Wanderers are eager to pick up where they left off following their away triumph over Grootfontein last weekend.

NFFPL

The Namibia Premier Football League (NFPL) will also return following a two-week break with action in Windhoek and Keetmanshoop this weekend.

After having broadcast the first matches live, Namibia Media Holdings will not air this weekend’s action but plans are afoot to broadcast more matches during the later stages of the transitional season.

The teams that will be in action are those that progressed to the gold and silver phases.

Mighty Gunners, Young Brazilians, Tigers and Orlando Pirates will be stationed in Keetmanshoop this weekend, While Blue Waters, Tura, Magic, Civics and Black Africa will be in Windhoek at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.

MTC Netball Namibia Premier League

Golden Girls, United -12, Mighty Gunners, Rebels, Young Stars, Eleven Arrows, Nam Correctional Services, Dollar Stars, Grootfontein and Rundu Chiefs will all be in action this weekend.

Golf Day offers networking opportunityCricket Namibia CN is excited to host its second annual corporate golf day at the Windhoek Country Club today. SPORTS REPORTER

WINDHOEK

Cricket Namibia’s (CN) second annual golf day will bring the business community together in a time of immense challenges, but also a great opportunity to network.

The participation at the event is by invitation only and the aim is to host the senior and executive management of corporate entities.

More collaboration on the cards

“This will be a day where 88 players from different entities enjoy the game of golf and explore opportunities to collaborate and identify ideas of mutual benefit.

“CN has given an opportunity to entities to activate at specific holes where businesses can showcase and advertise their products to the participants at the golf event,” the statement reads.

“The CN corporate golf day is aimed to be one of the events that business owners and management personnel look forward to every year, and we are proud to host new companies and players participating in our golf day this year.

“The event will be filled with excitement, having new companies sponsoring even more prizes such as Fuel Ex, IXU, Pupkewitz Megabuild, Atlantic Villa Boutique, Remington, Varta, and Caremarque Pharma.”

NOVA Fm and Ubuntu Events will be taking charge of the music. CN’s partner, Castle Lite, will sponsor drinks for their famous Beer Friday at the golf course.

CN thanked the establishments that made the golf day possible.

“Entities such as The Grove Mall of Namibia, Pupkewitz Toyota, Richelieu, Castle Lite, Namib Mills, Future Media, Torga Optical, NeoLife, XCO, and APS have been supportive of our corporate golf day since 2020, and it is a privilege to have them on board for sponsorship of prizes at the CN 2021 Golf Day,” it said.

Biden orders more intel investigation of Covid-19 origin

AP

WASHINGTON

President Joe Biden ordered US intelligence officials to “redouble” their efforts to investigate the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, including any possibility the trail might lead to a Chinese laboratory.

After months of minimising that possibility as a fringe theory, the Biden administration is joining worldwide pressure for China to be more open about the outbreak, aiming to head off GOP complaints the president has not been tough enough as well as to use the opportunity to press China on alleged obstruction.

Biden on Wednesday asked US intelligence agencies to report back within 90 days. He directed US national laboratories to assist with the investigation and the intelligence community to prepare a list of specific queries for the Chinese government. He called on China to cooperate with international probes into the origins of the pandemic.

Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have promoted the theory that the virus emerged from a laboratory accident rather than naturally through human contact with an infected animal in Wuhan, China.

Biden in a statement said the majority of the intelligence community had “coalesced” around those two scenarios but “do not believe there is sufficient information to assess one to be more likely than the other.” He revealed that two agencies lean toward the animal link and “one leans more toward” the lab theory, “each with low or moderate confidence.”

“The United States will also keep working with like-minded partners around the world to press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation and to provide access to all relevant data and evidence,” said Biden.

His statement came after weeks of the administration endeavouring to avoid public discussion of the lab leak theory and privately suggesting it was farfetched.

In another sign of shifting attitudes, the Senate approved two Wuhan lab-related amendments without opposition, attaching them to a largely unrelated bill to increase US investments in innovation.

Africa’s Covid-19 corruption outweighs pandemic

Rampant corruption and theft of Covid funds.A number of countries have reported rampant corruption and theft of money meant for the Covid-19 response.AFRICA NEWS

NAIROBIEven as the pandemic continues to ravage the world, some countries have reported continued theft of Covid-19 response funds.

In Africa, a number of countries have reported rampant corruption and theft of cash and other incentives meant to caution against the impacts of the disease.

Below are countries that have reported cases of corruption on Covid-19 funds.

Malawi

Malawi police arrested 64 people in April in connection with the misuse of Covid funds.

An audit report ordered by President Lazarus Chakwera revealed that government officers and the private sector had misspent about $1.3 million of the funds through procurement and allowance irregularities.

President Chakwera had initially warned he will crack the whip on looters linked to the theft of Covid-19 funds. He later sacked the labour minister in connection to the mismanagement.

It is reported that the former minister borrowed about US$760 from the Covid-19 funds to use as his allowance when he accompanied Chakwera on his first official visit to South Africa in November last year.

Kenya

An investigation done by a Kenyan journalist revealed in 2020 gross misconduct and abuse of funds meant for Covid-19.

T the state-run Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA), at the centre of a growing scandal that has prompted strikes at ill-equipped hospitals and street protests.

KEMSA is under fire over allegations government officials and businessmen pilfered $400 million in public money earmarked for medical equipment needed in the fight against coronavirus.

Investigations are currently under way but no one is taking the blame as all fingers point into a well-orchestrated deal set up by government officials.

Preliminary reports indicate that tenders were allocated to individuals who had no history or connection to medical tenders. One witness confessed she won the tender when it accidentally happened that she was passing by the KEMSA offices.

Nigeria

In April 2020, Nigeria received US$3.4 billion in emergency financial assistance from the IMF to support its Covid-19 response. Two months later, Nigeria’s federal government announced a US$6 billion stimulus.

A survey by Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) found that by July 16, just 12.5 percent of the poorest quintile of respondents had received some form of food assistance since the pandemic began.

Another NGO known as CivicHive revealed through the Bureau of Public Procurement that the federal health ministry had spent $96 000) on 1 808 ordinary face masks.

Uganda

Four top Ugandan government officials were arrested in 2020 after being accused of inflating Covid-19 relief food prices. It is alleged they were arrested for causing the Ugandan government to run at a loss of $528 000.

Leaked audio obtained by a local media was published in August last year where Uganda’s Ambassador to Copenhagen, Nimisha Madhvani, her deputy and other staff members coercing a plan to share funds meant for Covid-19 response.

South Africa

Nothing changed in South Africa. Theft, over-pricing and potential fraud are just but a few scandals relating to the Covid-19 funds.

Public anger over suspect government contracts worth nearly $900 million for the purchase of supplies to fight Covid-19 may finally bring the South African government to take more decisive steps against corruption, say experts.

In one instance, personal protective equipment (PPE) was bought five times more than the normal price according to the auditor general.

The government had earlier allocated 350 rand per month for those who are unemployed.

The country’s auditor general revealed that out of 4 million people in the database who directly benefited from the Covid funds, 30 000 of them needed to be investigated.

Some of the alleged corruption was grand and complex, involving front companies moving millions of dollars through a web of bank accounts.

Other schemes were shamelessly simple, like overcharging for blankets to be given to the poor as winter set in. One, a $670 000 order to buy motorcycles with sidecars to use as ambulances for Covid -19 patients, was just absurd.

The impact of Covid-19 on cybercrime and insurance claims

NELSON MATHEUS

The confinement and restriction of movement to curb the spread of Covid-19 by means of lockdowns, curfews and quarantines have had people house-bound close to a year. The demand for online services has increased due to the limited physical interactions and group gatherings. The rapid increase of remote applications, networks, and systems by companies and employees portrays the vulnerabilities of remote work to cybercriminal attacks.

The exploitation of individuals and organisations by cybercriminals as way to make easy money has caused major disruptions to business operations. They use sophisticated tactics to target personal and corporate data, causing significant financial losses and or reputational damage to organisations and individuals.

On 7 February 2021, the server at Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) in Windhoek was attacked by this malware. As a result, its booking system – Innkeeper - and its email server became unresponsive, according to the managing director, Dr Matthias Ngwangwama.

The same risk may potentially affect insurance companies. It may especially impact clients with cyber cover policy. Claims of this nature can have a significant impact and long-term effect on the re/insurer’s balance sheet. According to NTT Security (2020), cybercrime costs the global economy more than US$600 billion each year, with no sign of slowing down.

All is not lost, there are steps that individuals and big corporates can take to mitigate and protect themselves against cyber risks.

Companies can take out cybercrime insurance cover to cover business liability for data breach that involves sensitive customer information, such as credit card numbers, account numbers and health record etc. Maintaining an updated hardware and software protection regularly and invest in the latest tech-equipment. In the case of staff working remotely, there should be robust guidelines set for data access to ensure that data is accessed from secured internet connection.

Employees should receive security awareness and responsive processes training s in case of cyber-attack. “If we don’t adapt, we go burst”.

* Nelson Matheus is a chief claims officer at NamibRe.