Namibian Sun

More space must be created for Covid-19 patientsExtra healthcare workers to be recruited Cabinet has directed the ministry to increase the capacity of its medical gas generating system and to relieve the pressure on theatres, intensive care units and isolation units in order to accommodate more Covid-19 patients.

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

The cabinet has directed the health ministry to create additional space in health facilities to admit Covid-19 patients, and to recruit additional health workers to support with the national Covid-19 response.

This is according information minister Peya Mushelenga, who announced the latest cabinet decisions just days before Namibia recorded more than 1 000 new cases within 24 hours.

He said the cabinet had taken note of the current status of the pandemic in Namibia and approved several proposed measures to strengthen the national Covid- 19 response.

Cabinet has also directed the ministry to increase the capacity of its medical gas generating system and to relieve the pressure on theatres, intensive care units and isolation units in order to accommodate more Covid-19 patients.

The ministry must further allocate additional resources to strengthen Covid-19 testing capacity in the country.

Public relations

Meanwhile, with regard to oil and gas exploration in the Kavango Region, Mushelenga said the cabinet took note of the progress made by Recon Africa.

The cabinet directed the mines and energy ministry to develop a public relations strategy with a communication plan for stakeholder engagement on the project. This should include constituency councillors, traditional leaders and local communities in the Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi regions.

The cabinet has directed the ministries of mines and energy, environment and tourism and agriculture to jointly address concerns about the issuance of permits and lease agreements for the drilling project in the Kavango Basin and all other future drilling projects in communal areas with aquifers.

Cabinet has also directed the fisheries ministry to grant a hake quota of 2 400 tonnes to Hangana Seafood Products for the recruitment of 290 fishermen who lost their jobs as a result of industrial action.

Furthermore, the cabinet has taken note of the annual report of the Communal Land Board and authorised it to be tabled in the National Assembly.

Employers should come to the partyNational minimum wage discussions It is imperative that employers, employees, trade unions and employer organisations participate fully in the work of the Wages Commission.

RUNDU – The chairperson of the Wages Commission, Marius Kudumo, says the voices of employers and their organisations have not been satisfactory at its recently concluded public hearings on the national minimum wage in the Zambezi and Kavango East regions.

The commission held public hearings in the two regions from 07 to 11 June 2021.

To present an informed and balanced report to the minister of labour, industrial relations and employment creation, it is imperative that employers, employees, trade unions and employer organisations participate fully in the work of the commission through written and oral submissions, Kudumo said on Friday.

“[The] deadline for written representation concerning the national minimum wage is 30 June 2021,” he said.

The terms of reference of the commission are to investigate all relevant industries, report and make recommendations to the minister on a proposed national minimum wage which will apply to all employees except to related categories of employees specifically exempted by the minister.

‘NOT FORMALISED’

Kudumo said the objective of the national minimum wage is to improve the wages of especially the lowly paid employees, to improve individual and household income and to contribute to poverty alleviation.

The chairperson said in the two regions members of the public shared experiences related to working conditions, non-compliance to existing wage agreements as well as low wages.

“Worth noting is the minimum wages that were proposed for certain job categories that are either not formalised and or underpaid. Challenges relating to non-compliance with existing collective wage agreements especially in the security industry were also raised,” he said.

Kudumo said wages in the public service of some job categories, the retail sector and agriculture were also among those that were highlighted to be low and not contributing to sustainable livelihoods and improved conditions of life.

The commission so far has also held hearings in the Khomas, ||Kharas and Omaheke regions. - Nampa

A rare doctor in sportHamutumwa commits to professionalising sport A Namibian with a doctorate in sport management has embarked on a journey to help professionalise sport in Namibia.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

WINDHOEK

Ndeulipula Hamutumwa is adamant that Namibia would only reach its goal of professionalising sport if those in leadership structures gain the necessary education and skills.

Hamutumwa holds a bachelor degree in accounting, a master’s degree in business leadership, an executive master’s in sport organisational management and a doctorate of commerce in sport management.

His research identified a lack of funding and inter-governmental collaboration stakeholder alignment as key challenges.

“The sport stakeholder framework can serve as a guiding tool for improving inter-agency collaboration and alignment of stakeholders to ensure sport development benefit for resource sharing, policy and structural alignment for addressing national development priorities of Namibia,” Hamutumwa said.

For many years, he served in several sport structures, including the Namibia Sports Commission.

He chose to drop what he was doing as a sport commissioner to pursue other studies, which he felt could benefit Namibia in the future.

“I was tired of just being a commissioner and sitting in board meetings.

“It is for this reason I chose to invest in education in order for me to be able to be equipped with better knowledge,” Hamutumwa said.

During his studies, he realised that Namibia would not be able to build a functional sport industry without skills and educated human resources.

He also felt that the only way the government and federations could achieve the goal of professionalising sport was by working together.

“I have realised that the government and federations operate in isolation and that does not do any justice to the goal of professionalising sport.

“That is why I am urging for the government and federations to work closely together,” Hamutumwa added.

In the past, Hamutumwa served as president of the Namibia Basketball Federation and as board member of the Namibia National Olympic Committee.

He matriculated at St Paul’s College in 1998, after which he attained an accounting degree from the University of Namibia in 2003 and a master’s in business leadership from the University of South Africa in 2008.

Hamutumwa then attained an executive master’s degree in organisational sport management from the University of Poitier in 2011.

“The most significant contribution of my study is that it acts as a baseline study for policymakers and national sport administrators in planning for the development of sport at national level.

“My wish is to help the sport industry by assisting to create policy development.

“As sport administrators we need to go back to school to do courses which are for the benefit of this nation and NDP 5.

“I would like to congratulate the Namibia University of Science and Technology for introducing a bachelor’s degree in sport management.

“It will be one of the few ways that can help educate those that are into sport.”

Namibians take second place

SPORTS REPORTER

Kenya trumped pre-tournament favourites Namibia on their way to the fourth Kwibuka T20 title thanks to a magnificent spell of spin bowling from Sarah Wetoto.

The Kenyan batters then made light work of the chase with some attacking display after Wetoto’s six-fer helped them bundle Namibia out for just 69.

Opting to bat, Namibia were off to a shocking start when they lost their in-form openers early with only 13 runs on the board. Adri van der Merwe was out in the second over for just five and then Lavendah Idambo had Sune Wittmann caught at long-on for six in the next over.

Despite the loss of two early wickets, Yasmeen Khan and Kayleen-Ann Green stuck to Namibia’s attacking game plan and added two boundaries each as they took on Melvin Idambo and Lavendah.

But Khan paid the price for going after the bowling too many times when she was caught at long-off by Queentor Abel off Melvin. Green followed the wicket-keeper when she was dismissed in similar fashion to Abel’s off-spin as Namibia were reduced to 42 for four in the ninth over.

Wetoto uses experience well

From there, Namibia’s untested middle-order needed to steady the ship to calm the waters and take them to a respectable total.

However, the introduction of Wetoto into the attack once again caused a mayhem as the slow off-spinner enticed Namibia’s batters into going after her loopy deliveries in pursuit of easy runs.

With her first delivery, Wetoto sent Didi Foerster back as she became yet another Namibian batter caught at long-off. With the fourth ball, Wetoto had Wilka Mwatile caught behind for a duck before trapping Irene Van Zyl in front with the final ball of the over to have her second three-wicket over of the tournament.

Once they were reduced to 47 for seven, all Namibia could hope was for the lower-order to play out the 20 overs.

Although Sylvia Shihepo and Edelle Van Zyl added another ten runs, Wetoto wasn’t finished as she had Edelle beaten in flight and was bowled.

In her final over, Wetoto completed her second five-wicket haul in the tournament when Mezerly Gorases was caught by Esther Wachira. She dismissed Victoria Hamunyela in the same over to bundle Namibia out for a paltry score of 69.

For Kenya, Wetoto returned with their best individual bowling figures in T20Is with the figures that read 3.5-0-16-6.

Teammates join the party

Chasing 70 for yet another title, Abel played out a maiden off Shihepo before Green followed it up with another maiden where she snared Veronica Abuga for a five-ball duck. In the third over, Abel and skipper Margaret Ngoche took on Shihepo as the right-arm pacer erred by bowling too full and was punished for three boundaries.

In the fifth over, Wilka Mwatile had Abel caught by Khan for 10 off 13 balls with the score reading 22 for two. Dismissal of Abel didn’t deter Ngoche and Sharon Juma from taking on the bowlers in pursuit of the moderate target.

Ngoche smashed Green for a couple of boundaries while Juma hit Mwatile for a four. With the score at 43 for two already from eight overs, Namibia needed to pick wickets in clusters.

Meanwhile, Juma continued her attacking ways and launched into Irene hitting the pacer for a couple of boundaries to take Kenya’s score past the 50-run mark. Off-spinner Hamunyela was eventually introduced into the attack but it was too much for her to do. She first had Ngoche dropped by Irene before trapping Juma for a quick fire 16 off 14.

However, Ngoche was in a hurry to finish the game off and did it in style with two fours and a huge six over long-off in the 11th over bowled by her opposite number Irene. Kenya never had beaten Namibia before in T20Is but on the crucial day they brought their A-game to register yet another title in the tournament.

Aspiring to be like his father LIMBA MUPETAMI

Retired long-distance runner Luketz Swartbooi’s son Tevin says he wants to break his father’s long-standing 1992 (2:11:23) Rössing Marathon record.

Namibian Sun visited the Swartbooi household in Rehoboth on Saturday after the former athlete got a street named after him, on the same day he also received a plot.

He is the Namibian marathon record holder, with a time of 2:09:08. In the half-marathon, he set a time of 1:01:26, as well as a time of 47:47 in the 10 km.

He also set a personal best at the Boston Marathon in 1994 in a time of 2:09:08 to take bronze.

Swartbooi was in a great mood, spoke about his running days and said that his feats were not easy.

“It takes a lot of hard work; something which I keep telling my children,” he said.

The retired runner has two sons and two daughters.

One of his sons, Tevin (26), also wants to take up running.

“I think it’s up to me to carry the name forward. It’s up to me to break my father’s record,” said Tevin.

“I was supposed to take part in this year’s Rössing Marathon but it was called off due to Covid-19. My father has always been exemplary towards us, this is also who I want to be,” he added.

Swartbooi wished the Namibian Olympic team well.

“Remain disciplined, especially the young athletes, Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi,” he said.

Millions for drought control and water managementFrench donation kick-starts project France has pledged to support Namibia in carrying out groundwater studies, exploration and management in the Kunene and Omusati regions.

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

Namibia has received more than N$8 million in seed funding for a groundwater management and drought management project in the Omusati and Kunene regions.

The 50 000-euro (N$830 000) contribution was made towards the project by the French Geological Survey (BRGM).

The entire project implementation is estimated to cost about 8 million euro and mobilisation of the needed funds is under way through BGRM.

An agreement between the BRGM, the agriculture ministry and the environment ministry was signed in this regard on Friday.

Executive director in the tourism ministry Teofilus Nghitila said AFD and BGRM had pledged to support Namibia to carry out groundwater studies, exploration and management in the Kunene and Omusati regions.

The technical cooperation is a two-year project and it aims to strengthen the capacity of the Namibian government in water management and drought control.

Climate change

Executive director for agriculture Percy Misika said Namibia experiences frequent droughts that can lead to a water-supply crisis for human and animal consumption.

He said the project would include comprehensive training and capacity development adapted to the needs of Namibian operations.

It will furthermore focus on assessing the climate-change impact on aquifer recharge in Omusati and Kunene and the development of a planning map of groundwater abstraction for these regions.

“These regions have continuously experienced severe droughts and as we speak are still experiencing the effects of climate variations leading to lower-than-average rainfall,” said Misika.

Worse to come

Nghitila further pointed out that rainfall is unequally distributed in the country.

“Average annual precipitation varies from over 600 mm per year in the area of the Zambezi in the extreme north-east to less than 50 mm per year in the south and in the west of the country,” he said.

He added that Namibia regularly experiences droughts, and long-term forecasts indicate that the situation will worsen because of climate change.

Paradoxically, the risks of floods will increase during the wet season, he added.

EDITORIAL: President must address the nation The clarion calls for President Geingob to crawl from under his rock and provide leadership insofar as the deadly surge in Covid-19 infections is concerned are not misplaced.

It is often said that silence is golden, but this particular one by our president is, at best, extremely venomous. The office that Geingob holds gives him immense power and authority.

When he speaks, especially on the subject of Covid-19, the entire country goes so quiet you can hear a pin drop. That’s how much attention his tone on national issues can command.

But when you have over 1000 new infections daily and death in double digits, it defies any understanding why the head of state is nowhere in the discourse about what’s to be done.

We are cognisant and sympathetic to the fact that the president recently had Covid himself.

And we are not oblivious to the fact that for a man turning 80 in August, the virus might have slowed him down physically. If that is the case, we need transparency around that.

But if State House’s claims a fortnight ago that Geingob is back on his feet are anything to go by, then it’s time he spoke to the masses of our people and assure them of his government’s determination – if any – to defeat the virus.

Right now we are on our own. We don’t feel being led. We don’t feel the presence of the head of the Namibian House in the collapsing house.

SA govt sells majority stake in SAARetains a 49% stake in airline A R3-billion injection should be sufficient to operate the airline for 12 to 36 months. We're going to be competing with the greatest airlines in the world, and we need to be mindful of that. - Gidon Novick, CEO: Takatso

Nqobile Dludla - The South African government is selling a 51% stake in South African Airways (SAA) to Takatso consortium, which will initially commit more than R3 billion to give the struggling airline a new lease of life.

SAA has been under a form of bankruptcy protection since December 2019, but its fortunes worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic and all its operations were mothballed in September 2020 when funds ran low.

The airline is one of a handful of South African state companies that depend on government bailouts, placing the national budget under huge strain at a time of rapidly rising debt.

The partnership with Takatso will alleviate that financial burden, public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan told journalists on Friday as the state would no longer provide any funding to the airline, which exited administration in late April after receiving R7.8 billion from the government.

Gordhan added that the government will retain a 49% stake with the intention of eventually listing the airline to address future funding requirements.

CONSORTIUM

"The objective of bringing in an equity partner to SAA is to augment it with the required technical, financial and operational expertise to ensure a sustainable, agile and viable South African airline," he said.

The consortium includes pan-African investor group Harith Global Partners and aviation group Global Aviation, Gordhan said.

Following the announcement, co-founder and consortium chair Tshepo Mahloele told Reuters that R3 billion should be sufficient to operate the airline for 12 to 36 months.

The government could dispose of more of its ownership stake going forward, he added.

"They aren't married to this 49%," he said. "They won't be putting more money into this asset."

LISTING

An initial public offering for the airline is unlikely to happen within the next three years, and SAA would first need to become profitable, Takatso chief executive Gidon Novick said.

Novick said Takatso would seek to relaunch SAA as soon as possible, prioritising first domestic service followed by regional destinations.

International long-haul routes would follow but would be selected carefully, and SAA would also work to forge partnerships with major carriers.

"We're going to be competing with the greatest airlines in the world, and we need to be mindful of that," Novick said.

The airline's subsidiaries meanwhile will be evaluated, in particular Air Chefs, SAA Technical and low-cost airline Mango, Gordhan said, noting that "anything can happen" when asked if some could be shut down.

SAA will continue to be domiciled in South Africa and the government will have a "golden share" of 33% of the entity's voting rights and certain areas of national interest, Gordhan said. – Nampa/Reuters

Won’t do it - KanaleloBlack coaches underpaid in the PSL Fillemon ‘Ronnie’ Kanalelo has revealed that the lack of respect on black goalkeeper coaches in the PSL is the reason why he decided to quit that line of work and focus on business. KickOff

The former Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Fillemon ‘Ronnie’ Kanalelo worked at both Bloemfontein Celtic and Maritzburg United as a keeper trainer, and had his last coaching job with the Namibian senior national team at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nation’s finals.

"I left the game because I felt that, when it comes to contract agreements, there is always that issue of the financial part," Kananelo opens up to KickOff.com.

"I have my own standards and they still believe, especially in South Africa, that a black man is not capable to earn that kind of money that you are asking for as a goalkeeper coach, but they are able to give it to someone else of a lighter skin colour.

"I just thought if this is the case, I do not want to be in this kind of environment. All black goalkeeper coaches do not earn good money in the PSL.

"Pirates have had white keepers for a while now and Chiefs have Lee Baxter. Let us be blunt about this - Moeneeb [Josephs] and Wendell [Robinson] are coloured. Show me any black goalkeeper coach in the PSL who is earning good money.

"The black goalkeeper coaches are at Baroka, TTM, Black Leopards, Chippa United and [Bloemfontein] Celtic. I also blame a lot of this on the black guys failing to go out there to educate themselves in that department and therefore most of them are underpaid.

Know your worth

"This is because they just take whatever the club gives them. This is because the clubs also do not rate them [highly]. In my case, I have equipped myself well enough in goalkeeping over the years and so I have my standards and will not allow someone to think I am just a stop-gap type of guy who does not value himself. If someone has that kind of idea about me then we cannot work together."

The 50-year-old fitness freak now resides in Windhoek, Namibia, and considers himself lucky to be in the line of business that he is involved in.

In March, the Namibian newspaper reported that Kanalelo received a golden handshake of around n$360 000 from the Namibian Football Association.

Kanalelo only ever played for Sundowns through his time in South Africa from 1997-2005 and then went on to be involved as keeper trainer at Celtic and Maritzburg United.

Covid-19’s impact on sports Limba Mupetami

The effects of Covid-19 continue to flow through Namibia’s health, educational, financial, and commercial institutions and the sport sector is no different.

Matches and competitions have been cancelled or postponed for this month as the number of deaths continue to rise, disrupting sport’s governing bodies, organisers, teams and athletes — as well as the live sports content we have come to expect.

At this moment in time, broadcasters and sponsors are trying to navigate the impacts and implications of event cancellations.

I think this is a very confusing time for many. Football rugby, boxing, netball and horse racing pull large crowds and at this moment in time, many organisers are trying to manage fan expectations. Some don’t even haven’t the funds to hire companies to shoot events live for fans to watch online. There is simply no money left.

Covid has surely left many out of their comfort zones, pushing them into an era where they need to think of ways to minimise operational disruption, and plan for a future that, in both the short and long term, may not look anything like the past.

I’m not sure whether Namibia was ready for this push, but we are here now and with the pandemic looking likely to be with us for some time, the entire sports ecosystem will need new ways to deal with threats to financial and business continuity arising from disrupted cash flows.

Many questions have arisen from this, with no one sure as to whether some industries will even recover at all.

For sports fans across the country, the resumption of the regular sports calendar for a period of time signalled a step toward post-pandemic normality. But for the athletes participating, whether professionally or for recreational purposes, unanswered questions remain.

I for one want to know if there are any Covid complications which might arise from exercising during Covid infection as well as after infection. Is there a possibility that one may suffer heart failure?

Is the virus in any way capable of putting anyone at risk for lifelong complications and death? These are just some of the questions I have, however trivial they might be.

Many questions really at the moment for everyone. But you know what, despite the uncertainty created by Covid-19, I must really say that the last two weeks have been very good in Namibian sport.

A sure sign that with a bit of effort and hard work, athletes can excel.

It started off with Peter Shalulile winning two accolades at the PSL Awards in South Africa. Shalulile scored 15 goals in the league this campaign, won the coveted PSL Player of the Season award and also bagged the PSL Players' Player award. He also lifted the Premier League trophy with his club Mamelodi Sundowns.

Deon Hotto took the MTN8 Last Man standing award on the same night. Their efforts and wins certainly show that with a bit of hard work and luck, there are possibilities out there.

This truly had Namibians beating their chests with pride. President Hage Geingob even congratulated the two footballers.

Then young sprint sensation Christine Mboma broke a 200 m record in Prague, followed in third by her countrywoman Beatrice Masilingi.

Both these athletes surely have the Namibian nation talking, thus planting seeds of confidence that they have what it takes to cause an upset very soon at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Then the women’s national cricket team reached the final of the Kwibuka T20 tournament in Rwanda. A proud moment indeed for the country.

Also, the Rehoboth town council gave Luketz Swartbooi, a former distance runner, a plot and named a street after him. He joined the likes of Frank Fredericks, Berlin Augumeb, Mohammed Ouseb, Gerros Uri-Khob and Johanna Benson who all have streets and parks named after them. So, yes there is uncertainty, but let’s just try our best to protect ourselves and one another.

limba@namibiansun.com

Covid-19: Six SA tourists die after Namibian trip NEWS24

JOHANNESBURG

Six elderly tourists died from Covid-19 after 37 out of 40 travellers on a bus trip in Namibia tested positive for the coronavirus.

According to Netwerk24, the party left South Africa on 10 May and every tourist had to present a letter certifying that they had tested negative.

Four later died in Windhoek, while two died after their return to South Africa. One of the deceased was Danie Blom, owner of Savanna Tours, the company that arranged the trip.

He was airlifted to Johannesburg and died last Sunday.

One of the elderly tourists' children, Chris Zondacht, told Netwerk24 that most of the party were sick by day nine of the tour, after which it was confirmed that almost everyone had tested positive for Covid-19.

One of the tourists told Netwerk24 that it was unclear when the group contracted the virus.

Another touring company, Paarl Rock Tours, dispatched two buses to ferry 33 of the tourists back to the country.

They arrived back on 28 May.

President too quiet in crisis – KamwiFormer health minister says Geingob must address nation The former health minister and analysts have questioned President Geingob’s deafening silence as the nation buckles under an epic surge in coronavirus infections and deaths. STAFF REPORTER

WINDHOEK

Former health minister Dr Richard Kamwi is among those who believe that President Hage Geingob’s silence, as the country endures its worst wave of Covid-19 cases yet, is fodder for pandemonium and uncertainty.

Geingob, according to State House, has “fully recovered” from a recent bout of Covid-19 and Kamwi believes the head of state – having experienced the dreadful virus himself – should lead from the front.

Geingob has not addressed the nation on Covid-19 regulations since late last year, assigning this responsibility to the health minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula.

At the time, daily infection reports averaged about 300 cases and death from the virus was an infrequent occurrence.

Currently Namibia is recording over 1 000 cases daily, with deaths from the virus in the double digits every day.

On Saturday, for example, Namibia recorded 1 399 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 64 205. Shangula, in his daily updates, also confirmed recorded 12 Covid-19 related deaths, taking the country’s death toll to 993. Namibia was expected to surpass the 1 000-deaths mark in yesterday’s update, which was not available at the time of going to print.

Baffling silence

Kamwi, who left the health portfolio in 2015 when Geingob became president, says the new surge in infections is a huge concern and the head of state must address the nation to announce what measures are being rolled out and to allay fears.

“This should have happened long ago,” said Kamwi, who is currently a member of the African Union Taskforce on Covid-19.

“The silence of State House baffles me. Why can’t the president have briefings like he did so well last year? Those efforts were lauded even at international forums where I serve and, ironically, the situation was not as delicate as it is now.

“Namibians listen better when they are addressed from the first office,” the outspoken doctor said.

In just over 30 days, State House itself has lost five employees to Covid-19.

“Now that we have a crisis, the highest office in the land is stone-silent. A thousand cases daily for a country with a small population as ours is a huge infection ratio. State House ought to address the nation based on advice from the ministry of health.

“We have huge challenges with the availability of oxygen and hospital beds – but we are only hearing these things from the media and not from the officials themselves.”

Kamwi says he speaks to Shangula regularly, adding: “The minister himself is trying.”

Kamwi says while Geingob’s voice is missing at a time of crisis, it is the responsibility of more than just the president to speak to communities.

“It’s not first time we are faced with a pandemic crisis. HIV & Aids was killing more people than Covid-19 and it has no cure. How did we go about it? It was not only ministers but the entire national leadership - president, Cabinet, traditional leaders, the church and civil society. It’s not a one-man show.”

Looking for leadership

Businesswoman and media personality Hilda Basson-Namundjebo yesterday quipped on Facebook: “I am really interested to know whether we still have a government in this country. People are dying at record rates; we see one minister running around trying to address the Covid challenge and then for the rest, there is silence.”

The executive director of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), Graham Hopwood, said: “We are now clearly in the midst of a severe public health emergency. Many are looking for leadership in the form of actions to reduce the spread of the virus and a clear pro-vaccine message. I do get the sense that a lot of people are worried and frightened and there is a need for reassurance and leadership from the top.”

Presidential press secretary Dr Alfredo Hengari did not respond to questions on whether Geingob intended to address the nation any time soon.

Shangula also did not respond to questions on whether new regulations were being contemplated.

Plot prices in Keetmans nearly halveMunicipality subsidises Brukharos The Keetmanshoop municipality’s waiting list has at least 3 000 residents that need housing. To make the plots more affordable the municipality decided in June this year to remove the cost of constructing the sewer system from the sales price. – Dawn Kruger, PRO: Keetmanshoop municipality

The Keetmanshoop municipality has dropped the price per plot in the new Brukharos extension to N$16 900 per plot for low-income earners to afford housing.

The initial price per plot was N$31 797 and the municipality decided to remove the cost of constructing sewer systems from the selling price.

The public relations officer of the municipality, Dawn Kruger, told Nampa the municipality donated the land at no cost, adding that the N$16 900 the residents are paying include water connections and transfer of title.

“In order to make the plots more affordable the municipality decided in June this year to remove the cost of constructing the sewer system from the sales price,” she said.

She said the municipality will include the cost for the sewer system in the next annual budget, thus subsidising the development of the new extension to make it more affordable to low-income residents of Keetmanshoop.

FUNDS

“The municipality expects funds to be available in order to install the sewer system until end of 2022. The amount of the plot has to be paid off within a period of one year and two months, a deposit of N$4 900 needs to be paid within two months of registration and the remaining amount paid off in instalments of N$1 000 per month,” said Kruger.

Brukharos is a new extension at the southern town set to help decongest the Extension 7 informal settlement.

Kruger said the town council has gone into partnership with Development Workshop Namibia to service the 320 plots at the new extension.

TOO MANY HOUSEHOLDS

“When we were formalising Extension 7, we saw that the households in that extension were too many and if we have to formalise, we will only accommodate 300 households out of the 600 households that are currently there, for this reason we decided to have a new extension where we can accommodate the rest of the Extension 7 households,” she said.

Kruger urged residents of Extension 7 to visit the office of the fire brigade to register and sign the purchase agreement for the plots.

“Priority will be given to residents from Extension 7 for the month of June and as from July 2021 onwards those residents that are on the municipality’s waiting list can also register,” she said.

The Keetmanshoop municipality’s waiting list has at least 3 000 residents that need housing. - Nampa

Bronze for Du Plooy Namibia’s triathlon champion Divan du Plooy took bronze at the just-ended African continental championship in Egypt.

The Namibian was competing in the Under-23 category in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The race consisted of a 1 500-metre swim, 40-kilometre cycling and 10-kilometre running legs.

It was won by South Africa’s Jamie Riddle, with his countryman Christiaan Stroebel in second.

Just recently, Du Plooy took silver at the same competition, finishing just behind the winner, Christiaan Stroebel of South Africa, while Ismail Siefedine of Egypt came third.

Starlile wins Winter CupDe Waal promises more races The MTC NHRA Winter Cup at Rehoboth ended successfully, with Starlile stealing the show in the 2400-metre race.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Starlile from the Okahandja Racing Club beat the likes of You Touch My Heart (second place) and Newton Spark (third place) to the finish.

Starlile won N$6 500, Touch My Heart took N$3 600, whereas Newton Spark walked away with N$2 600.

The event consisted of 19 races, with Nambred and thoroughbred horses from all over Namibia as well as South Africa competing in the event.

The president of the Namibia Horse Racing Association (NHRA), Martinus de Waal, expressed satisfaction with the way the event played out.

“We tried to control the crowd very much. The vets were satisfied with the horses, emergency services also came and luckily no one got injured.

“It was a great competition because whenever it’s a MTC race, the horse owners know that there is money involved and prepare their horses very well.”

The next event will be at Tsaka, a few kilometres outside Gobabis, in November.

“We have decided to have five races for the year for MTC because they deserve it,” said De Waal.

He added that the July Derby will take place at Okondjatu, 173 km from Otjiwarongo. The derby is sponsored by FNB, which committed N$300 000 for three years.

Looser talks mental health LIMBA MUPETAMI

Namibian elite cyclist Vera Looser took to social media to announce that she has been taking time out to focus on her mental health.

Looser joins the likes of Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who recently spoke out about mental health and before the French Open, announced that she would not participate in any after-match news conferences because she wanted to safeguard her mental well-being.

Osaka said the reporters’ questions sometimes put doubts in her mind. Despite the different circumstances of the two athletes, the issue of mental health is at the forefront and athletes caring for themselves is of utmost importance.

You above anything else

“I have been very quiet on social media the past weeks. It was a hard time for me dealing with the pressure I put on myself for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

“My riding has improved a lot in the past year and a half, but it is not even merely enough to compete against the world’s best female cyclists on the road.

“Yes, I’m not a climber and the course in Tokyo is a climber’s course. But I still want to do my absolute best.

“Sometimes I think it’s not fair that I can go to the Olympics and so many other incredible riders don't get the chance, because they come from a strong nation and I have the African advantage. But I don't make the rules and I guess I should enjoy the privilege and make the best out of it,” she wrote.

She added that sport is brutal.

“I think it is harder in the mental aspect than in the physical aspect. The burn in the legs is gone after a while, but the head never stops,” said Looser.

It’s all about that printLiving your truth Michael Shagandjwa has started his very own printing shop whilst pursing his studies and he hopes to inspire other young people to follow suit.

Mariselle Stofberg – The vibrant and determined 23-year-old Michael Shagandjwa has shown that with the right mindset, the world truly is your oyster.

Shagandjwa was born in Ombalantu and raised in an informal settlement in Windhoek, after which he moved to the North to complete high school at Haudano Secondary School.

“I’ve always had the desire of becoming my own boss and opening a company was just the best start in achieving my goal. Since I grew up in an informal settlement, I believed that where I come from doesn’t define who I am. I believed in my ability to build a better future my myself and my country.”

Currently he is in his fourth year at the University of Namibia (Unam), where he is pursuing a degree in education.

“A year ago, I opened a company called YDM Investments which specialises in T-shirt printing, vinyl machinery supplies, graphic design and is also a clothing brand. It all started off as a clothing brand and later expanded,” Shagandjwa says.

Persevering

As a young entrepreneur, Shagandjwa has often experienced that people criticise his work and have very different opinions on some of the decisions he has made. “It’s very hard to earn the trust of older people, making it hard for them to believe in your business and work with you. Finding customers is also one of the daily struggles you face as an entrepreneur.”

He has experienced some trouble in finding customers to support his business, because the company doesn’t have that much experience. “What makes my day, however, is receiving orders and hearing that my clients are happy and satisfied,” Shagandjwa says.

“The message I have to other young entrepreneurs is that people will always have something to say regardless of how good you think your ideas are. It’s all up to you to analyse and take up opinions that will positively impact your business.”

Shagandjwa urges young people to seek opportunities and to never sit back and wait for them to come to you.

“I live by a proverb said by the famous Nelson Mandela that what counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead,” he says.

“Let your business make an impact in the lives of the less fortunate, create opportunities for others and just be a motivation in the community. It is my desire to be among the helping hands in our country.”

Shagandjwa enjoys gaming, designing, and hanging out with his friends. What keeps him going daily is a prayer in the morning and self-motivation.

Power of the youth

“I believe as youths we should strive for success and taking up space in the world out there. When you have the ability to develop transparent innovative ideas, you have the power to impact nations by creating SMEs in communities to help create job opportunities or start charity work,” he says.

“We should develop the spirit of unity and humility to change lives. We should not only plan for now but for the future, for we are the future. The world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where is going, therefore it is important to be true to ourselves to create a diverse and developing future.”

Five fun facts about Shagandjwa

- I’m a very vibrant person.

- I’m a good cook.

- I’m good at drawing.

- I’m a family-oriented person.

- I’m good dancer.

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Nust moves from face-to-face to online modeAiming to reduce crowding on campus Only three categories of students will be allowed to participate in face-to-face tests at Nust.

Michelline Nawatises

The Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) released a statement on 10 June 2021 which made arrangements to move assessments to online mode.

A meeting with the online implementation committee, deans, associate deans teaching and learning SRC was organised to discuss the possibility of moving the current assessments to online mode with immediate effect.

Dr Andrew Niikondo, the deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs, said the discussion was premised on the principle of categorising students taking assessments and recommend arrangements of how these categories will be managed to reduce the overcrowding of students on campus.

Meeting recommendations:

Only three categories of students should be allowed on campus to participate in face-to-face tests and practical work as follows:

· Students registered for courses that need to adhere to professional bodies;

· Students registered for courses where specialised software, which is only available in campus labs, is used during assessment ; and

· Students who need to be on campus for practical work as part of the course requirements.

The following decisions were made for students who do not fall into the above-mentioned categories:

· All face-to-face tests scheduled from 17:00 on 10 June will be taking place online.

· Tests scheduled for 17:00 on 10 June 2021 can still be scheduled online starting from Saturday 10 June 2021. The institutional core courses also reside under this category and should be written online.

Strict Covid19 regulations put in place

The gathering of more than 100 students who do not fall in the above-mentioned categories per venue should not be permitted. More than 1 000 students on campus are not allowed and the students who fall within the three categories are to be allowed on campus only 30 minutes before the test is to commence and 15 minutes after the test was concluded.

The lecturers were requested to convert their face-to-face tests to online and to ensure that students are made aware of the new arrangements well in advance.

An initiative by students, for students Burning issues of students can be solved by calling the centre

Michelline Nawatises

Pull Quote: “Students should make use of the platform provided to them” - Esther Shakela, acting secretary of information and communication technology

The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) launched an assistance centre for students, trainees and learners on 10 June.

The centre will attend to students’ enquiries physically and telephonically.

This is solely Nanso’s initiative and has received immense support from the student representative councils of Nust, Unam, IUM and Triumphant College.

These are the following services to be offered at the centre:

· General academic enquiries for students, learners and trainees.

· NSFAF enquiries.

· Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) enquiries.

· Grade 11 and 12 national examinations enquiries.

· Registration.

· Accommodation enquiries.

· Psychosocial support.

· Tutorship.

Esther Shakela, Nanso’s acting secretary of information and communication technology, says students who want to volunteer at the centre are more than welcome. They can contact the secretary of education, training and research.

Shakela invites students to make use of the centre. “You should maximise the platform that has been offered to you and … there is telephonic support available too,” she says.

For more information, contact Malcolm Kambanzera on +264 81 685 2424 or edudesk@nanso.org

On your own, but not alone

Staff reporter

Despite the challenges students are facing with the rising Covid-19 cases, 22-year-old Ruth Harases has found one reason to put a smile on her face during the start of her academic journey with Unam. Ruth Harases, from Swakopmund, never imagined she would one day be the lucky winner of a competition.

“One wonderful outcome of the virtual orientation was that I won a laptop. I have never in my life won anything, not even a simple pen or T-shirt. So, winning a laptop makes me truly happy and grateful,” said Harases.

“I just thought – you know what, let me just try this.”

Unam’s assistant dean for professional services, Tangeni Velikoshi, says the competition was to solicit participation during the university’s first-ever virtual orientation, but also to reduce the financial burden of at least one student.

“A laptop is an important gadget aiding in successful online learning and it is our sincere hope that the winner uses this opportunity to maximise their academic journey,” said Velikoshi.

With the advent of online learning, most students found themselves between a rock and a hard place, trying to find solutions to the digital gap.

Harases counts herself extremely fortunate because she, like many other students, didn’t have a laptop to participate in online learning.

“Winning the laptop enables me to attend classes, complete my assignments and study,” she says.

Although the University of Namibia could only assist one student, Velikoshi implores other institutions to help with what they have, where they can.

“We would like to take this opportunity to encourage and reach out to the public and private sector to seek sponsorships/donations that will aid in assisting our students in any way possible.

“Alternatively, students faced with academic challenges should not suffer in silence, they need to contact the office of the dean of students and together we will explore the best way to assist you in attaining/maintaining academic progress and success,” emphasises Velikoshi.

Other students walked away with Unam promotional goodies and a good sense of what the University of Namibia is all about. First-year law student Paulus Nangolo remarked that the orientation was an eye-opener.

“The programme was informative and helpful, especially to those of us who didn’t know much about the university. I was also lucky enough to walk away with a Unam branded diary and T-shirt,” he said.