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Open letter to Honourable John Mutorwa, minister of transport

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Open letter to Honourable John Mutorwa, minister of transportOpen letter to Honourable John Mutorwa, minister of transport Dear Honourable Minister,

I have decided to write this letter in order to put forth the cries I daily hear in both Kavango West and Kavango East Regions respectively especially from young people. The cardinal complains is that it is difficult for people to get licences in Kavango and as a result some are driving without it or unaccompanied. This is a dangerous scenario which needs to be addressed urgently. A related concern is that those who wish to enter into a taxi or public transportation business to eke out a living are equally prevented by this circumstances. On the other hand, it is reported that some officials are enticing bribes as a way to get more from the desperate people in this region who need driving licences.

I am aware that this trend is said to be happening all over the country. It is easy for government officials to dismiss this as pure rumours because there is no evidence, but it happens and it is happening. I have heard of many young people talking about how they could expose this scam of corruptions, but they fear that might fire back by losing their licences they got by corruption.

This scam is too sophisticated to disclose, for it is an organised crime by either between some individual driving schools, friends, testing officers and others. Bribe are paid indirect to the testers in form of money or animals. Victims of this corruption mostly are youth, retired civil servants, foreigners and business persons.

There are many people who want to buy vehicles for various purposes, but the stumbling blocks are obtaining drivers licenses. Many young people who are wandering around could get employed. But the culprits are the unpatriotic testing officers of NaTis of Road Authority and the ministry itself who are not yet aware that transport industry in the rural areas could be a big employer for youth.

For example, the distance from Nkurenkuru to Rundu is 140 km and to Divundu 200 km from Rundu, taxi money plus other basic needs, for an unemployed, disadvantaged poor youth from outlying villages is not easy for them. If asking road authorities to take driving tests to those places, the answer would be that Nkurenkuru and Divundu have no good facilities yet for driving tests. What good facilities? I obtained my learner’s and driving licences in Rundu in 1976.

The testing officer was coming from Grootfontein once or twice a month. I was asked five questions and one of them was “Wat is die toegeeteken?” (what is the give way sign?), and for driving I was taken around to Mangarangandja route back to the office at the then Total Fuel Station, where now Pupkewitz Megabuild operating. I passed my driving license in Rundu where no bitumen or gravel road by then. There were no road signs in Rundu at that time, only few stop signs were there in white residents of then Blanke Dorp and now Tutungeni.

I can advise that Nkurenkuru and Divundu presently are better than the Rundu roads we knew by then. In an independent Namibia, our people should not suffer like in previous dispensation, where driving were denied to them. In the 1970s, I remember a driver came from Europe to drive a vehicle for church to transport hostel things, for blacks that time was not easy to obtain a driving license.

Honourable Minister, I am relating the above as a call for your intervention. The corruption is being alleged is real and needs to be addressed. The money being collected through this scam is not going in the national treasury but into the pockets of some corrupt individuals. There should be check and balance to see whether things are going well. I think the driving test officers are granted to much freedom which they are abusing. Some Kavango youth are fleeing to go to other regions to get driving licenses. These are facts. Where do you find, in this world a person who can fail seven times driving while monkeys can only learn a day to drive, why not a human being who is more intellectual than other creature?

I therefore appeal to the Ministry of Transport to consider the following:

To urgently open driving tests in both Nkurenkuru and Divundu without delay so that young people can be saved from long distance and poverty and to have our people who have money can buy vehicles without any corruption fears.

Reform structure, monitor, supervise the testing of driving at Natis, and find out why leaners and candidates of driving are failing so much seven times or more.

Not to leave the student drivers at the expense of the examiners without a check and balance.

Affordable public driving schools should be considered to rescue the young people from poor families.

Postgraduate learners of Grade 11-12, of 18 ages, should be considered for driving, because driving licences is one of required criteria for employment.

Permit for taxi and bus transportation be decentralised to the regions and facilitated as such.

I appeal to you Honourable Minister (kamentu zange) who, I know, as a competent and visionary leader to do something tangible so that corruption in this institution can be eliminated, and for our young people to be afforded the opportunity enjoyed by the rest of the country; so that our people can buy and drive their own vehicles; can get driving VIP vehicle outside and inside countries, especially in SADC countries.

HH Ausiku

Nkurenkuru
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Weekend gig guide

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Weekend gig guideWeekend gig guide MICHAEL KAYUNDE

WINDHOEK

The social calendar is packed with many avant-garde shows in the local entertainment scene this weekend. tjil put together a list of events you should definitely not miss out on.

Hunter’s tjil Sessions

Namibian Sun, in partnership with Hunter’s Namibia and The Brewers Market, will host the first instalment of the Hunter’s tjil Sessions tonight. The show, which will take place at The Brewers Market, will also be streamed live on Namibian Sun’s Facebook page at 18:30. Tickets are N$50 in advance and N$100 at the door.

The Vintage Market

The first edition of the Vintage Market Namibia founded by Jossy Oskar will take place at the NUST Hotel School this weekend. Providing entertainment at the Vintage Market Namibia (VMN) will be Suzy Eises, Ronaldo the Violinist, Uncle and DJ Miguel.

Reptile Rage

The Brewers Market is the place to be this weekend as it will also be the venue for the RTE Records ‘Reptile Rage’ show this Saturday, 29 May. Headlining this show is RTE’s Kurzca and South Africa’s Costa Tich. The line-up also consists of DJ Preezy, Showtime, Mega, Florito, DJ Kiki and more.
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Keeping it real

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Keeping it realKeeping it real The showbusiness scene in Namibia is growing despite the universal hurdles in entertainment globally. This growth is validated by the number of shows being hosted, and many music videos and television shows being produced.

I always used to feel like we would never see another moment in Namibian music like the 061 Music heydays. But that perception has changed completely because the music space in Namibia now is even more exciting.

However, it is important that we give flowers to the people that laid the foundation. This can be done, for example, by giving these veteran artists roles as judges at singing competitions, as their music knowledge is vast. Another form of giving them flowers is by featuring them on the line-ups – new music is always exciting but booking artists who may not necessarily be putting out new music always adds the nostalgic element to the show.

michael@namibiansun.com
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MTF launches the Colours of Africa short film series

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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MTF launches the Colours of Africa short film seriesMTF launches the Colours of Africa short film series Indulge in a feast of curated short filmsThe MultiChoice Group and the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) are proud to celebrate the love of African cinema with the Colours of Africa film series.STAFF REPORTER

WINHOEKThe series features 16 films shot and directed by the MTF Academy’s Class of 2020, available on Showmax and M-Net Movies AfroCinema pop-up channel from 21 – 30 May 2021, including the Namibian short film ‘Kegumbo Okegumbo’, which premiered on Tuesday, 25 May.

Viewers will get to sink their teeth into a selection of films from East, West and Southern Africa, and marvel at the results of the talent honed by the MTF Academy’s distinctive curriculum. The films ‘The Painting and Savannah Skies’, which involved Namibia’s 2020 MTF alumni, are also included in the collection.

“The Colours of Africa film series is one of the many ways that MultiChoice celebrates young film talent in Africa. We are proud to honour Africa Day by celebrating the work of the MTF Academies’ Class of 2020 in this way. The film series also speaks to MultiChoice’s commitment to developing and nurturing the abundance of young talent who represent the future of our industry,” says Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group CEO of General Entertainment & Connected Video.

The M-Net AfroCinema pop-up will also feature films from the inaugural class of the MTF Academy, as well as public service announcements (PSAs) shot by the Class of 2020 for the United Nation’s #PledgeToPause campaign as part of their academic course. The Covid-19 pandemic set a precedent for the Class of 2020, but their resilience culminated in a successful second year of the MTF shared-value initiative.

“The theme of the collections of films is ‘Connecting generations through storytelling’ and what is particularly beautiful about the series is that the MTF students produced the short films in their home countries adding local context, voice and visuals to their cinematic expression in the Colours of Africa series,” says Cheryl Uys-Allie, director of the MultiChoice Talent Factory initiative.

This one-of-a-kind film series is also specially curated for those with a love for African film, and is in line with the MultiChoice Group’s support for the preservation and celebration of African history, culture, and traditions through film and TV.
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Economic empowerment opportunity

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Economic empowerment opportunityEconomic empowerment opportunity The Seth Mataba Boois Foundation paves the way for young Namibians. Hinauarue Rijatua

The Seth Mataba Boois Foundation was established in memory of the late Seth Mataba Boois, a Namibian legend and hero. Boois was the technical director and coach of the Namibia national football team, the Brave Warriors. He was also the author of five books. Being the historian and community activist that he was, Boois was passionate about the upliftment of young people and encouraged economic emancipation.

“It is in his remembrance that this Foundation actively strives to seek opportunities to grow Namibian businesses,” says Beatrix Bianca Boois, the eldest daughter of the late Boois.

The economic empowerment opportunity is aimed at bringing services closer to communities by offering office space as well as on-site accommodation to young professionals who are willing to set up an office. These include legal practitioners, doctors and dentists in need of consulting rooms, to name a few examples. The office space is located at Kalkrand, a small village between Rehoboth and Mariental in the Hardap Region.

Villagers have travel up to 90 kilometres to find a lawyer, doctor or dentist.

“Basic essential services such as filling prescriptions at a pharmacy are unavailable,” says Boois.

The office space and on-site accommodation is offered free of charge for 12 months. It will offer young professionals the opportunity to focus their time and energy on growing their business instead of worrying about paying the rent.

“The outcome of the initiative will be twofold,” says Boois. Firstly, the fact that a young Namibian who may otherwise not have had the necessary financial backing will be enabled to set up a private practice. Secondly, the community of Kalkrand, which is made up of teachers, police officers, health workers and farmers, will have a professional service brought closer to them.

Boois said the recently established foundation aims to create scholarship opportunities in the future and other funding initiatives encouraging young Namibians to achieve not only their educational but professional goals too.

The main aim of the foundation is to encourage the spirit of economic emancipation and also to encourage the desire for growth through literacy, sports and educational programmes.

“We wish to pick up where he left off,” says Boois.
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The new age of social media marketing

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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The new age of social media marketingThe new age of social media marketing WILDLIFE RESORTS TO PARTNER WITH SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS TO HELP CREATE RELEVANT CONTENT OF LOCAL FACILITIES

The Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has invited social media influencers through a nationwide call-out to help create relevant content about NWR facilities.

Mufaro Nesongano, NWR Corporate Communications, Online Media and Sponsorships Manager in a statement said through this programme, an opportunity to showcase NWR’s lesser-known resorts will be presented.

The first-ever Social Media Influencer Programme will run from 1 July 2021 to 31 October 2021.

Nesongano said over the years, NWR has seen how social media has become an essential part of how travellers decide on their next destination.

“For instance, if one sees a social media influencer posting about a particular destination, as an individual, it’s normal to become curious about this place they are posting about,” he added.

According to the statistical website, Napoleoncat, in April 2021, Namibia had 782 000 Facebook users, which accounted for 28.3% of its entire population and 320 700 Instagram users, which accounted for 11.6% of its entire population. Individuals between the ages of 25 – 34 years formed the majority of these users. To create awareness of its facilities to this age group and others, Namibia Wildlife Resort (NWR) Limited is inviting Social Media Influencers to be part of its.

“By using #NWRMoments, individuals will find all the relevant posts from the different influencers. These posts will also be available on our website. We will offer each influencer free accommodation, an opportunity to undertake an activity at our resorts, and meals for them and a partner, excluding drinks and transportation. The duration of each visit will depend on the distance of each of the places they travel to,” Nesongano said.

Social Media Influencers interested in partnering with NWR have until 31 May 2021 to submit a two-page proposal highlighting why they should be chosen. They will need to email their proposals to PRO@nwr.com.na.

Each Social Media Influencer will have the opportunity to visit any NWR facility with the sole aim of generating travel content for their followers as well as NWR social media followers.
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Investigation launched into fuel tanker derailment

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Investigation launched into fuel tanker derailmentInvestigation launched into fuel tanker derailment ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

TransNamib has launched an investigation into the cause of the derailment of nine fuel tankers near Brakwater on Tuesday.

The company further confirmed that the railway line damaged during the derailment has been restored.

TransNamib spokesperson Abigail Raubenheimer said the railway line has been operational since 19:00 on Wednesday evening.

Residents on the northern outskirts of Windhoek were shocked by several explosions on Tuesday morning after the fuel tankers of a TransNamib train caught fire.

The incident took place at around 10:00 at the depot of WP Transport at Brakwater near the turn-off to Döbra when the fuel tankers derailed and caught fire. By 16:00, the fire had been extinguished, and no one was injured.

Clearing up

Raubenheimer said the railway operator is in the process of clearing the salvage at the site of the incident.

“We would again like to express our sincerest gratitude to the emergency services teams, the fire brigade, the police as well as the TransNamib teams who assisted in extinguishing the fire and their support towards getting the line operational again.”

She added that they are also in the process of determining the cost of the damage to the company’s rolling stock. “We sincerely apologise to all affected by this incident,” she said.
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Elderly targeted in Erongo robberies

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Elderly targeted in Erongo robberiesElderly targeted in Erongo robberies ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

The Erongo police say elderly people have recently become targets of robberies and attacks, especially in Swakopmund.

This follows the arrest of a suspect on Wednesday who last week robbed and assaulted an 82-year-old woman at her home in the coastal town.

Inspector Ileni Shapumba of the Erongo police said it is beyond comprehension that there are robbers who would attack, harm, kill and rob an old person.

According to him, the incident occurred last Thursday at about 17:15 at the Am Strand Apartments.

It is alleged that the suspect entered Herma Emmeriah’s yard where she was watering her lawn. He apparently grabbed her and dragged her inside the house and strangled her with a piece of clothing.

The suspect robbed her of five gold rings, a gold necklace and a mobile phone to the total value of N$33 500. The woman was found in a stable condition.

Shapumba said some of the stolen items have been recovered.
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Namib Mills launches new culinary concept space

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Namib Mills launches new culinary concept spaceNamib Mills launches new culinary concept spaceWhere foodies can learn and share Kitchen 82 hosts interactive dining experiences and cooking classes for foodies of all skill levels. YOCHANAAN COETZEE

WINDHOEK

Since 1982, Namib Mills’ premium locally produced products have helped families share the joy of food fabulously and affordably.

To celebrate nearly 40 years of feeding families with flair, Namib Mills has launched an exciting new culinary concept space - Kitchen 82 - where foodies of all ages and skill levels and can gather to learn and share tastes and techniques.

Innovation centre manager Karen Kirsten explained the concept of this new culinary hotspot.

“We host interactive dining experiences and cooking classes for people who are excited about what goes into creating a beautiful dish, all while showcasing the quality and versatility of the Namib Mills and Namib Poultry range of products.”

Sharpening your skills

Kitchen 82 offers the public a professional environment to expand their culinary skills, and to be trained in the intricacies of baking and professional cooking techniques, in a fun and engaging manner.

“As our tagline ‘for the love of food’ states, we want to give the public a space in which they can learn, socialise and even use to prep for catering engagements, or food-related content production, because our aim is really to empower everyone -- from kids, home cooks to small- and medium-sized enterprises [SMEs] and beyond,” Kirsten added.

This factor is highlighted by the great success of their Bakpro Vetkoek training and, more recently, their RealGood Kapana training initiatives that seek to uplift the livelihoods of bakers, braaiers and food service SMEs by enhancing their skills.

From foodies to fundis

Kitchen 82 will offer a wide range of classes and courses for beginners to master-chefs; both themed and standard. They also offer team building engagements, kids baking and birthday parties and weekly cooking courses for housekeepers, covering a range of topics from kitchen hygiene to cooking techniques, recipes and snack ideas.

Meanwhile, those interested in baking can learn skills and techniques that will turn them into a master baker.

This sophisticated and fully equipped culinary concept space is located at Namib Mills’ head office in Windhoek, and is also available to hire for your next pop-up event or function.

For more information on Kitchen 82, visit kitchen82.com, call Karen Kirsten at 061 290 1000 or email kitchen82@nm.na.
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Bridging the gap

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Bridging the gapBridging the gapThe information technology company run by a woman ONIX is a business solution company in the information technology and services industry with the prime focus on infrastructure design and maintenance, big data, managed services and support, cybersecurity, and compliance. Desiree Gases

ONIX was founded in 2001 with over 20 years of dedication to a one-partner strategy. The company is on a journey of significance; one that empowers people to embrace their customers and jointly create extraordinary solutions, resulting in a business that will infinitely benefit the community at large.

In enterprise infrastructure, this has meant a long and successful relationship with Hewlett Packard Enterprise for the company. ONIX is not just a partner of HPE, they are a platinum partner. The one-partner strategy they follow has brought many benefits with it. It strongly reflects upon the company’s core values of passion and focus. The company’s passion for the HPE brand, along with the sole focus on their products, has resulted in developing an unrivalled competence in the sectors they serve. ONIX partnership level with HPE is testament to the investment both parties have made in this relationship with their digital business solutions team being all about change.

ONIX’s enterprise infrastructure team is comprised of highly qualified and experienced individuals. The company’s staff consists of 11-50 employees. The company’s highly skilled team is at the forefront of designing, selling, implementing & maintaining enterprise storage, server and network (Aruba) environments. Their approach is focused on a client’s business strategy and aligns to business requirements, compliance, application and cybersecurity needs.

Their trademarked cybersecurity strategy, called Narrow the Threat Window, aims to make the easy become difficult.

They believe that organisations can never close the threat window, but they can narrow it to make life difficult for those looking to gain unauthorised access to company critical assets.

0NIX has successfully partnered with Snode Technologies, PFortner and Aruba to bring this vision to reality. PFortner firewall solutions provide the company with the invisible jacket they need for networks as well as highly secure communications channels; Aruba effectively segregates traffic on the network and Snode provides the “immune” system (threat detection and response) every organisation requires to fight off cyber threats. All these technologies ultimately culminate in a world-class security operations centre based in Namibia that constantly monitors and addresses cyber threats in our clients’ environments. Our African alliances also enable unique CSIRT capabilities that our clients can leverage off of.
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COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEFCOMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF Hammerson launches real estate sustainability

Mall operator Hammerson launched a real estate sustainability-linked bond of 700 million euros (US$853.30 million) and said it would use the proceeds to cut debt.

The offering follows Hammerson's exit from the UK retail parks sector with a US$459 million assets sale to Brookfield last month after reporting a 1.7-billion-pound loss for 2020. It had also issued a longer-term debt warning.

Last week, British shopping centres returned to full operations after months of lockdowns and pandemic-related curbs knocked the value of malls amid widespread retail rent deferrals and declines.

"The linking of the bond to our sustainability targets brings a stronger alignment between our financial and sustainability goals," Chief Financial Officer Himanshu Raja said in a statement.

Global green bond issuance reached a record high of US$270 billion at the end of 2020 and could reach US$450 billion this year, according to Climate Bonds Initiative. Hammerson has set the target to get net positive for carbon, water, resource use and social impacts by 2030.-Nampa/Reuters

BHP to take contingency measures

BHP Group Ltd said on Wednesday it would take contingency measures regarding operations in Chile after a labour union at its Escondida and Spence copper mines rejected the global mining firm's contract offer and called for a strike.

The union, representing 205 workers who run BHP's Integrated Operations Centre, which remotely manages pits and cathode and concentrator plants from Santiago, has called on members to walk off the job.

The Escondida and Spence mines have given notice "they will adopt contingency measures within the framework established by law," BHP said in a statement, adding that workers who were not part of the union and contractors would keep working.

The impact of the strike on BHP's operations in Chile was not immediately clear, as the negotiations between the remote operations union and the firm are the first of their kind. Escondida is the world's largest copper mine and Chile is the world's top producer of the red metal.

The strike comes as global copper prices hover near record highs and amid rising political risk in the region, with potentially big political shifts under way in both No. 1 copper producer Chile and neighbouring Peru, the No. 2 producer. - Nampa/Reuters

Mali reversed decision on B2Gold permit

Mali's prime minister had reversed a decision to grant an exploration permit previously held by Canadian miner B2Gold to a little-known Malian company before he was arrested in a military takeover on Monday, a decree showed.

The West African country's interim president and prime minister resigned on Wednesday after their arrest, deepening a political crisis and drawing condemnation from international powers.

The prime minister's decision, if it is upheld, could give B2Gold another opportunity to renew the permit, avoiding a potential clash with government at a time of heightened political risk in the country.

In the decree, dated May 21, the now-ousted Prime Minister Moctar Ouane ordered the cancellation of a March 24 decision to give the Menankoto exploration permit to Malian company Little Big Mining SARL, without detailing the reasons behind the annulment.

The government had previously denied B2Gold's application for an extension of the Menankoto exploration permit it had obtained through a 2014 acquisition. B2Gold contested the decision. - Nampa/Reuters

Shell to deepen carbon emissions cuts

A Dutch court on Wednesday ordered Royal Dutch Shell to significantly deepen its planned greenhouse gas emission cuts, in a ruling that could pave the way for legal action against energy firms around the world.

At a court room in The Hague, judge Larisa Alwin read out a ruling which ordered Shell to reduce its planet warming carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 from 2019 levels.

Shell currently has a target to reduce the carbon intensity of its products by at least 6% by 2023, by 20% by 2030, by 45% by 2035 and by 100% by 2050 compared with 2016.

The lawsuit, which was filed by seven groups including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth Netherlands, marks a first in which environmentalists have turned to the courts to try to force a major energy firm to change strategy.

It was filed in April 2019 on behalf of more than 17 000 Dutch citizens who say Shell is threatening human rights as it continues to invest billions in the production of fossil fuels. - Nampa/Reuters

Sony to spend trillions on investments

Sony Group said on Wednesday it will spend 2 trillion yen (US$18.39 billion) over the next three years on strategic investments, including a push to expand subscribers to its gaming and entertainment services.

Sony said in a statement it would accelerate investments in mobile and online services with the aim of expanding the number of consumers directly connected to its services to 1 billion people from 160 million.

As it streamlines its consumer electronic business, Sony is focusing more on movies, games and other content it sells through platforms such as its PlayStation games console.

The company is benefiting from strong demand for its PlayStation 5 launched in core markets in November. A global shortage of chips, however, means Sony is unable to keep up with demand for the games console, which it wants to use to encourage online game downloads and sign-ups for subscription services.

In the business year that started April 1, Sony aims to ship 14.8 million PlayStation 5 consoles. -Nampa/Reuters
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Zim transport minister in town

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Zim transport minister in town Zim transport minister in town LEANDREA LOUW



WALVIS BAY

The Zimbabwean minister of transport and infrastructural development, Felix Mhona, arrived in Walvis Bay by air yesterday. He was welcomed to the Erongo Region by Namibian deputy minister of transport Veiko Nekundi.

Today, Mhona will call on the office of the governor and visit the Zimbabwe dry port facility in the harbour town. He will also meet with management before attending a bilateral meeting with the Namibian transport minister.

Mhona will also visit the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group before departing for Zimbabwe on Monday.
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Environmentalists rewarded for contributions

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Environmentalists rewarded for contributionsEnvironmentalists rewarded for contributions ELLANIE SMIT



WINDHOEK

Namibians were recognised last week at the third edition of the Sustainable Development Awards for their outstanding contributions made in the field of sustainable development in Namibia.

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

Greening the economy

The awards were hosted under the theme ‘Accelerating the Green Economy Transformation as We Recover from Covid-19’.

Speaking at the event, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said tourism in Namibia has declined by 87% since 2019.

“This overnight collapse has translated into a massive loss of over 1 000 jobs, with the closure of many tourism-related businesses.

“At the broader level, government has been affected by a sharp decline in foreign exchange and tax revenues, which has further curbed public spending capacity and our ability to deploy the measures necessary to support livelihoods through this crisis.”

He said the transition to a greener economy, based on the most efficient and sustainable use of natural resources, offers the opportunity to move out of this crisis and towards a nation that is food, water and energy secure.

“This will have the knock-on benefits of enhancing climate change resilience, creating decent employment opportunities and reducing income inequality. It is for this reason that accelerating the green economy transition is key to our development as a nation.”

Leading with conviction

The chairperson of the Sustainable Development Advisory Council, Gloria Simubali, said the awards seek to reach out to all sectors of society active in promoting sustainable development across the country, including organs of state, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, the private sector and funding agencies.

The CEO of the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) of Namibia, Benedict Libanda, said the awards have grown since the first event in 2015.

He said the organising committee had received 74 nominations this year and encouraged all the winners and nominees to continue to lead with deep conviction in the race against the developmental challenges faced today.

Ten men and women received awards.

The Sustainable Development Awards was first held in 2015 and was based on a joint idea of the EIF and Sustainable Development Advisory Council.

It was planned to be hosted every two years and a subsequent second edition of the awards was held in 2017.

The third edition of the awards was delayed for a number of reasons, but was finally held on 21 May.
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Walvis Bay ranks above SA harbours

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Walvis Bay ranks above SA harboursWalvis Bay ranks above SA harboursPandemic underlines critical role ports play in global economy The top-ranked container ports are Japan’s Yokohama Port in first place, followed by King Abdullah Port in Saudi Arabia. ELLANIE SMIT







WINDHOEK

The Port of Walvis Bay has been ranked above South African harbours in a World Bank report ranking the efficiency of competent container handling facilities.

The report ranked Walvis Bay at 307th among the world’s 351 container handling facilities.

Durban harbour was ranked in the bottom three of the rankings (349), according to a statistical approach.

Other South African harbours battling low rankings in the report were Ngqura, located northeast of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

The inaugural edition of the ‘Container Port Performance Index 2020: A Comparable Assessment of Container Port Performance’ (CPPI) was produced by the World Bank with external assistance from IHS Markit research enterprise.

The report was based on two different methodological approaches. In terms of the administrative approach, which considered the knowledge of experts, Walvis Bay was ranked at number 336.

Durban was ranked lowest at 351, with Marseille in France at 350, then Ngqura (349), Port Elizabeth (348) and Cape Town (347).

The top-ranked container ports in the CPPI 2020 are Yokohama Port (Japan) in first place, followed by King Abdullah Port (Saudi Arabia) in second place. These two ports occupy the same two positions irrespective of the methodology.

Critical role

According to the report, the Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the critical role that ports, and their associated logistical chains, play in the global economy.

It has also highlighted the need for ensuring business continuity and improving the resilience of maritime gateways, as ports act as crucial nodes in the global logistics system, keeping supply chains moving, economies functioning, and people employed.

Namibian Sun recently reported that the coronavirus-inspired lockdown in South Africa was credited in part with increased cargo at the port of Walvis Bay, which has become preferred to the ports of Durban.

The other factor is the recent expansion of the port, officials confirmed.

Landlocked countries like Zambia, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe now prefer shipping through Walvis Bay rather than South Africa.
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All the way from the ghost town, Lüderitz

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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All the way from the ghost town, LüderitzAll the way from the ghost town, Lüderitz Glynis Harrison is the newly appointed secretary-general at the Namibia Red Cross. Pull Quote - “Balance the task and the people focus, but do your work without fear or favour.” Monique Adams

Born and raised in Lüderitz, Harrison attended Lüderitz primary school, completed grade 10-12 at Lüderitz junior secondary school and completed high school at Concordia College in the year 1988.

The years following that from 1989-1992 she completed her tertiary education at the University of the Western Cape by completing a B Com Honours with specialisation in strategic management and marketing.

Harrison completed an 18-month internship with the former Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft in Germany, including taking German language lessons while working at Kempinski Hotels (in Frankfurt and München) as well as Volkswagen in Wolfsburg.

With outstanding work experience she worked as an investment advisor with the British High Commission in South Africa, working in programmes and project management for SME, technical skills development, worked as a technical advisor at GIZ doing programme management of informal business development projects and development cooperation projects with the private sector on water and sanitation management projects.

She also provided private training for companies such as Festo, SAP, MTN by implementing partners including University of Pretoria and Tshwane University of Technology.

As secretary-general of the Namibia Red Cross Society, she is responsible for formulating plans and policies and providing the overall direction of the NRCS within the guidelines set by the board of directors.

“I need to plan, direct or coordinate operational activities towards the achievement of the organisation’s philosophy, mission, strategy and its annual goals and objectives at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff members,” she says.

Harrison’s day-to-day workload covers the everyday operations, particularly financial controls as well as keeping up to date on project progress and important issues reported to her by the programme manager.

She engages with members of various subcommittees of the board and, most importantly, with the chairperson of the board, to whom she reports. Her working relationship with the chairperson is important as they work together with making presentations for the NRCS to various stakeholders, donors and private-sector funders.

“How I prepared myself for this new appointment was to familiarise myself with the constitution of the NRCS and with the workings of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement internationally. Furthermore, I ensured that I can transfer knowledge and experiences from work experience in relation to general and programmes management,” she says.

In her free time, she enjoys arts and crafts, reading, jogging and one piece of advice she will never forget is that respect goes a long way.
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A long lasting broker

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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A long lasting broker A long lasting broker Willem van Vuuren joined Alexander Forbes in 2001 and is the current broker. Wetumwene Shikage

He was born in Windhoek and attended Eros Primary School before matriculating from Windhoek High School. He worked at Sanlam for 11 years before joining Alexander Forbes in 2001.

On 1 October 2021, Van Vuuren will have been with Alexander Forbes for 20 years. As a broker, he believes that client relationships are important.

“Alexander Forbes helped me to build relationships with my clients through the support they gave me. Clients want to build a relationship with the broker, because I handle their hard earned money. Clients also want to trust the company I work for and the Alexander Forbes brand helped a lot to achieve this,” he says.

A broker’s main job of assisting clients with their financial planning, he says. “The main part of my job is to assist clients with investing their money after leaving employment through resignation, retremchment or retirement. I also assist with clients looking to take out risk benefits like life, disability and dread disease cover as well as assisting people to plan for retirement,” he said.

His day-to-day workload includes drawing up proposals for clients and thereafter meeting clients to discuss the proposals he prepared. He added that he has a great support team at Alexander Forbes who assists him with follow-ups and making sure that client instructions are handled.

Achievements

“I cannot highlight one specific achievement, but I am blessed to have worked with such a great company for almost 20 years. I am truly blessed with the amazing clients that supported me over the 20 years; my clients are my best asset.”

Van Vuuren says he loves his job because he feels that he can add value to his clients’ needs. “Many people work very hard to earn an income, so it is important that they trust me to do what is the best for them. For many clients it is a scary time when they retire. Helping them through the process is very rewarding.”

On van Vuuren’s bucket list is to one day visit Alaska. “It looks like a great place and surely seems like a great place to visit,” he said . He enjoys travelling and has been to Portugal, Bali, Dubai and Argentina.

One dream Van Vuuren has is to buy a small farm where he can spend time on weekends and maybe for a few years after retirement. “My wife and I grew up on a farm; we would love to one day own our own piece of land,” he said.
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The technical side of things

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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The technical side of things The technical side of things Jacqueline Van Zijl is the newly appointed production coordinator at Namibia Media Holdings (NMH). Wetumwene Shikage

She was born and raised in Hartbeespoort in South Africa and matriculated in 2002. She further pursued her studies at Open Window Art Academy and got married in 2006.

“I married into the broadcasting and film industry and since my husband and I are cut from the same artistic/creative cloth, we complemented each other’s trades and still do,” she says.

Van Zijl’s job includes being part of studio and outdoor events, bringing print engagements to digital platforms, and teaching other employees about photography and videography.

Her day-to-day workload includes capturing studio-quality photos and video editing, technical and creative assistance in and out of the studio, assisting all projects relating to the studio and events involving studio input, and ensuring that project deadlines are strictly adhered to.

She says after only three weeks on the job it is too early to assess her impact. “Even measuring basic progress takes about a month or two,” she adds.

Accomplishments

Van Zijl says in media production things are forever changing, so additional to being flexible, a strong knowledge and understanding of the overall production is key. “My greatest professional achievement was starting my own business and watching it grow into one of the top debt counselling companies in South Africa,” she says.

Challenges

She says effective communication can be a great challenge in this industry when disregarded. “Good teamwork starts with a shared understanding of its importance. Communication bridges teams together and needs to be practised to ensure a team is working smoothly and efficiently. The more collaboration your projects require, the more assertive and intentional your communication should be,” she says.

Van Zijl believes that when a team is not actively communicating, their work is at stake. “It’s important for everyone to learn how to communicate effectively to improve teamwork, thus communication needs to be central to their values.”

For her, success means understanding employee career motivations and aspirations as key to creating a high-performance culture that motivates individuals to do their best work. When individuals experience effective career development through ongoing career conversations with their peers, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated and ready to take on new challenges. She says she has found all these successes at NMH.

Van Zijl says she is open to whatever opportunities the future may hold, especially within this company. “I pride myself in being flexible and adaptable. I think the best way of planning for the future is to make the most of the present.”
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Salary increment for Rössing employees

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Salary increment for Rössing employeesSalary increment for Rössing employeesRössing Uranium, MUN concludes negotiations For employees in the Grade 1 to 11, their basic salaries will be increased by 3.5%. STAFF REPORTER

Rössing Uranium and the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) Rössing branch executive committee (BEC) met on Friday, 21 May 2021, and concluded negotiations on salary increments for the year 2021.

For the purpose of the 2021 wages agreement, the effective date is 1 June 2021 and applicable to all employees in the bargaining unit from Grade 1 to 11, and B and L.

For employees in the Grade 1 to 11, their basic salaries will be increased by 3.5%. In addition, the parties also agreed to an increase of 2% on the housing allowances. For employees in the B and L, the Individual Package (TGP) will increase by 3.5%.

The parties agreed to a once off lump sum payment in lieu of payment for the period of January to May 2021 which will be equally split amongst all Bargaining Unit employees in Grades 1- 11 and L band.
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EDITORIAL: Get well soon, Mr President

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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EDITORIAL: Get well soon, Mr PresidentEDITORIAL: Get well soon, Mr President Today, we pause to wish President Hage Geingob and his wife, First Lady Monica Geingos, a speedy and full recovery after testing positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.

For the president in particular, who turns 80 in two months’ time, the risk of complications is higher, but we find solace in State House’s assurances that the first couple remains in good spirits.

Their infection is a sobering reminder of our vulnerability to this virus – irrespective of our status in society. This calls for heightened awareness by all and sundry.

It was also pleasing to see Geingob’s political rivals shelving their daggers to wish the president and his wife well. Indeed, it’s not part of the true Namibian DNA to kick someone when they are down.

We need a healthier Geingob because only then can we demand - without an ounce of guilt - full accountability from him and the fulfilment of his many promises.

When a president is out of action – even just for hours – it throws the entire country into a leadership vacuum. Given the contagious nature of Covid-19, the president cannot perform much duties, even if he only had mild symptoms, as he must remain in isolation – far away from those who help him carry out his duties.

Those who wish Geingob away for whatever reason must follow the established democratic channels to do so and not put that duty on Covid-19.

Get well soon Mr President, for your own sake and that of the nation!
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Review officer with a love for reading

May 27, 2021, 3:00 pm
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Review officer with a love for reading Review officer with a love for reading A love for reading may well have placed Josephine Shailemo in her current position as a review officer, which requires scrutiny of reports at the Employment Equity Commission (EEC). Pull Quote - “Personally, I am a bookworm. I love reading”. A review officer is responsible for reviewing companies’ Affirmative Action (AA) reports, which requires determining whether a specific employer (someone who employs more than 25 employees) complies with the Affirmative Action (Employment) Act.

The witty and bubbly Shailemo joined the EEC in 2014 where, in addition to her role of reviewing and scrutinising AA reports from employers, she trains employers on how to compile such reports and updates, maintains, monitors and recommends corrective action measures required for statistics research and reporting.

As one of six review officers at the Commission, Shailemo says seeing most of the relevant employers complying with the Act after they have been trained is one of her accomplishments worth noting.

She also visits employers at their work premises where she does verification and conducts investigations in instances where an employer may have violated the Act and submits reports to the commission.

“I am not really office-bound. When I am not in the office, I would be giving training to relevant employers or conducting investigations or doing verifications at the work premises,” she said.

Additionally, she enjoys mentoring and coaching others, meeting deadline targets and goals.

“A review officer must have negotiation skills, investigative skills which is a must because you have to be able to read the mind of that relevant employer and be an analytical thinker,” she said.

The EEC is an office under the ministry of labour, industrial relations and employment creation. It oversees the implementation of affirmative action in the workplace in accordance with the Affirmative Action (Employment) Act 29 of 1998.

The objective of the Act is to achieve equity through the elimination of employment barriers against persons in designated groups, and achieve a diverse workforce that reflects the demographics of Namibia by ensuring that no person is denied an employment opportunity for reasons unrelated to ability.

Shailemo serves on a number of committees including the Affirmative Action Amendment Committee; Understudy Committee; Health and Safety Committee at the Ministry of Labour.

She has worked as a human resource (HR) and employee relations consultant at a private accounting firm; administrative officer at the ministry of fisheries and marine resources; a part-time lecturer at the Institute of Management Science; and HR and programme administrator for a rural reduction programme under the ministry of land reform in collaboration with the National Planning Commission before joining the EEC as a review officer.

Academically acclaimed, Shailemo is currently pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management at the Texila American University, she holds a Bachelor of Technology Degree in HR from the Polytechnic of Namibia (now Namibia University of Science and Technology); an Associate Degree in HR from The Atlantic International University; and Master of Business Administration majoring in HR from the International University of Management.

She describes herself as an outgoing, loving, outspoken lady who loves gardening and enjoys reading and researching any type of literature.

“Personally, I am a bookworm. I love reading”.

She is fuelled by aspirations to someday become a research academic guide and a career strategist - “someone who guides people on what career options they can pursue, by just mentoring them at an early age”.
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