Namibian Sun

Endjala concerned about rising crime

TUYEIMO HAIDULA

OSHAKATI

Omusati governor Erginus Endjala has expressed concern about an alarming increase in crime in his region.

Endjala, who said these crimes include but are not limited to assault, stock theft and burglary, attributed the worsening situation to alcohol and drug abuse.

He made the remarks during his recent state of the region address, where he also said the region experienced an unprecedented surge of drug-related and wildlife crimes.

Endjala said during the Covid-19 lockdown when the sale of alcohol was banned, common crimes were relatively rare.

“The most prevalent common cases are assault due to drug and alcohol abuse, housebreaking with intent to steal and theft (mostly committed by criminals in conjunction with syndicates from other regions), fraud, and contraventions of the Liquor Act. Possession of cannabis is also on the increase,” he said.

Gender violence

Touching on gender-based violence (GBV), Endjala said these crimes have been fluctuating due to the Covid-19 lockdown and stringent regulations on alcohol sales last year.

He said gender-based violence cases sharply increased during last year’s lockdown. In 2020, the region recorded 614 cases of GBV, compared to 183 since the beginning of 2021.

“These cases are attributed to either alcohol abuse or other social issues such botched marriages, broken family ties or failed relationships. Others include assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, assault by threat, common assault and rape,” Endjala said.

In 2020, the region recorded 3 679 criminal cases from all its police stations.

Of these cases, Outapi recorded the highest number of 1 085 cases, followed by Okahao with 801 and Onandjaba with 346 cases.

The region has recorded 1 639 cases between January and May this year, with Outapi and Okahao still in the lead with the highest number of cases recorded.

- tuyeimo@namibiansun.com

Consumers welcoming July with fuel hikes Price monster on the move The increase in economic activity and easing of Covid-19 related restrictions have contributed to rising demand for fuel in developed countries. We are encouraging fuel consumers to tighten their belts as we continue to manoeuvre through these tough but manageable economic headwinds. Andreas Simon, Spokesperson: Ministry of Mines and Energy

PHILLEPUS UUSIKU

Consumers will have to pay more for the same quantity for both petrol and diesel. This comes after the Ministry of Mines and Energy announced that fuel prices will increase by 40 cents per litre. This adjustment is effective 7 July 2021.

The transport category in the consumer price index (CPI) of the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) carries the third largest weight of 14.28. This implies that on average, for every N$100 that consumers have in the wallets, N$14.28 is likely to be spend to transport.

Transport inflation stood at 7.3% in May this year, an increase of 7.4% when compared to a deflation of 0.1% in May last year.

According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Andreas Simon, amid all the oil market uncertainties, the exchange rate has recorded yet another appreciation of the Namibian dollar (N$) against the United States dollar (USD) at roughly N$13.80 per USD during the month of June 2021 versus the average exchange rate for May 2021 at N$ 14.04 per USD.

A currency appreciation usually reduces the under-recovery level and increases the over-recovery level in the final Basic Fuel Price (BFP) calculations. During June 2021, the per barrel prices of petrol and diesel across the international product market have sharply increased from about USD 76.68 to about USD79.75 and from about USD73.1 4 to USD77.67, respectively, he pointed out.

An increase in international barrel prices usually increases the under-recovery level and reduces the over-recovery level in the final BFP calculations. When taken into full mathematical consideration, the exchange rate appreciation was strongly outweighed by the increase in barrel prices, resulting in under recoveries on the current level of the BFP for petrol and diesel, Simon added.

Outlook

Oil production discipline among the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members and other major oil producers on the supply side coupled with a positive outlook on the demand side have ensured an upward trajectory in the prices of crude oil. A case in point is that the Russian Federation has been insisting on raising output further to avoid an increase in prices, but key OPEC producers, such as Saudi Arabia, have not yet given any clear signals on the next steps to be taken., he said.

There is also a growing consensus in the oil market that the movements in oil prices are more inclined towards the upside as the global economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. Stricter global environmental regulations aimed at curbing carbon emissions are also putting more pressure on oil investors and pushing the oil prices upwards in the process, he added.

According to Simonis Storm (SS), the increase in economic activity and easing of Covid-19 related restrictions have contributed to rising demand for fuel in developed countries. Global inventories of brent crude oil continue to decline, though at a slower pace compared to the first four months of the year.

Meatco to shed jobsCompany working on leaner structure amid tough times The troubled meat exporter is hit by a scarcity of cattle and needs to lay off some workers to preserve itself.

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

One of the critical issues Meatco has highlighted to move the company forward is to reduce employees to have a structure that would respond to the lower numbers of cattle that they are expecting in the next financial year.

The company says throughput will definitely continue to be problematic.

“We need to make sure that we deal with this through serious investment in building up the national herd, and especially through the retention of weaners in the country and raising them.”

Meatco adds that they need a leaner structure within the organisation.

Lean time

“We have to right-size the business and cut down on inefficiencies. We will reduce the number of employees, so that we align the number of employees with throughput and have a structure that would respond to the lower numbers of cattle that we expect to get in the next financial year.”

This is according to the 2020/2021 Annual Report of Meatco.

The company adds that it will also continue enhancing its relationship with the government as a key stakeholder.

“Government regulates the legislation and should help us to make sure that we create a more conducive environment in the volatile, uncertain, chaotic and ambiguous world we are operating in.”

Furthermore, Meatco says it will keep on engaging with the world to open new markets, enabling it to diversify and remain resilient.

“We need to let the world know that Meatco has the best red meat cuts than any other country in Africa that we can offer the world,” the report reads.

The company says it will also make sure that it penetrates the African market through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, and bring the Northern Communal Areas into the mainstream of the economy.

In addition, Meatco says it needs to maximise producer returns to all the farmers in the country, whilst maximising the realisation from its markets.

“Those will be critical issues that we will have to drive, moving forward.”

Khomas spends N$2.2m on improving rural sanitationToilets to benefit 1 175 households The regional governor delivered her state of the region address yesterday in Windhoek, detailing progress made over the past 12 months.

NAMPA

WINDHOEK

Khomas governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua yesterday announced that the regional council has constructed 137 toilets in the Windhoek Rural Constituencies at the total value of N$2.2 million in order to improve rural sanitation.

McLeod-Katjirua made this announcement during the 2021 Khomas State of the region address (Sora) in the capital.

She said these toilets were constructed in areas like Farm Areb (25 toilets), Arovlei got (21 toilets), Dordabis (32 toilets), Welgemoe (four toilets), Farm Garib (20 toilets), Nauspot (22 toilets) and Verdruk (13 toilets). The toilets are expected to benefit close to 1 175 households, while 84 additional toilets are under construction at the total value of N$1.2 million.

“While the regional council continues to address rural sanitation, urban sanitation also remains a necessity in our region. Better urban sanitation contributes to better environmental protection through the reduction of pollution of soils and ground-water. Better sanitation also reduces the transmission of diseases such as Hepatitis E. Furthermore, improved sanitation promotes dignity and boosts safety, particularly among women and girls,” said McLeod-Katjirua.

City sanitation

She added that her office is also in consultation with the City of Windhoek to take measures in order to improve the current sanitation system in the city to ensure that it reaches its potential in terms of contributing to sustainable urban development, especially to the most vulnerable members of society.

“Pertaining to water infrastructure, as part of its efforts to provide basic services to its residents, the regional council has been instrumental in drilling boreholes and installing water infrastructure for its residents located in farms or localities of the Windhoek Rural constituencies. The regional council allocated a budget provision of N$1.7 million for water provision in rural constituencies,” McLeod-Katjirua said.

She added that all these projects were done through a thorough assessment that the regional council conducted in order to prioritise the neediest areas in various Windhoek rural areas such as Audabib Post 1, Hatsamas Post C, Kransneurs and Satanslocht.

Focus on protecting the living In yesterday’s edition we reported about how, in the month of June alone, government accrued expenditures of nearly N$500 000 in funding state and official funerals of prominent persons who had passed away in the past couple of days.

Ironically, we have also reported, still this week, about the acute shortage of gloves for medical doctors, many of whom have resorted to digging into their own pockets to acquire these amenities.

Defence minister Frans Kapofi, under whose portfolio heroes, state and official funerals are suggested to the head of state, thinly expressed the difficulty of treading in the space of honouring those who have sacrificed immensely for this country and reserving resources for the living.

We believe those who sacrificed for this country can still be honoured in a myriad of ways other than bequeathing expensive funerals and, in the process, sacrificing more lives at the altar of political expediency – especially in this moment when we should be penny wise.

Indeed, we are being pound foolish if we think splashing cash – some of it borrowed – on the funerals of the departed is a more sustainable approach than consolidating efforts to save the many lives that are now in danger.

We admit it’s a tight line to walk. But as they say, in order to make an omelette, one must unfortunately break some eggs. We must break the hearts of a few and appease the nation by saving lives.

Nedbank’s Tjipuka fighting illicit financial crimesProtecting the institution’s reputation Compliance and anti-money laundering involve many aspects and can make or break a brand.

In the financial services industry, reputation and credibility are important, especially in building lasting brands that customers and investors can trust. Excellent service and financial success are among the hallmarks that banks such as Nedbank Namibia strive toward. In a world where we are more connected than ever before to clients and global opportunities, financial crimes have become an important risk to mitigate and manage.

Because illicit financial crimes can put a financial institution’s reputation on the line, most organisations have dedicated teams who focus on managing risk, analysing data and staying abreast of the latest trends. Yolanda Tjipuka, leads this function in Nedbank Namibia. Her portfolio of duties includes the supervision of Anti-Money Laundering (AML), CFT (Combatting the Financing of Terrorism) investigations. She plays a major role to ensure that Nedbank Namibia and their clients are fully compliant with the laws and regulations on anti-money laundering and governance processes that are in place through the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA) and the Financial Intelligence Centre.

Tjipuka is a wife and proud mother of two. She has a great love for sports and feels that in some previous life, she may have considered Sports Psychology her dream career. However, for now, she is making an important impact at Nedbank Namibia in her role, as anti-money laundering efforts have become essential. Her work, knowledge of the regulatory environment and readiness to adapt to new regulations, keeps Nedbank Namibia at the forefront of creating competitive advantages for their clients and investors. With her eye for detail and an analytical mind, these aspects of banking are safe in the hands of Tjipuka and her team.

She shares that in the last five years, there has been an explosion of regulation-tech startups. “These are companies that address regulatory requirements using technology. In 2019 it was reported that over 60% of these are focused on solving know your customer (KYC) and AML issues”, she added.

During her time at the bank Yolanda has learnt a key lesson of “staying on the path you have carved out for yourself, being authentic and simply doing your best.” Her drive and vision to create an impact, position her well for her role in a strict regulatory environment, where efficiency and risk management are of tantamount importance.

Team

For her team, she embraces diversity and the valuable role each contributes to their efforts. An African Proverb rings true for Yolanda and her team: “If you want to go far, go together.” Their teamwork enables them to apply best practices in a constantly changing environment. Artificial intelligence and advanced analytics are driving extensive changes in the financial industry as criminals are using more sophisticated means to remain undetected. Therefore, compliance staff such as Yolanda and her team need to remain cutting-edge to enact regulations but also to create processes and policies which do not cause the loss of customers and investor business.

In a digital era where customers do not have time to complete lengthy documents, Tjipuka and her team have multiple touchpoints with customers to gather and verify their information. In compliance matters, efficiency is not an extra it makes or breaks business and requires constant innovation to stay ahead. Tjipuka and her team work to prioritise and focus on the most important tasks at hand and to carry out those tasks correctly to avoid wasting time and effort. Therefore, risk is managed actively and not seen as a mere tick-box exercise.

Working in an environment that leaves very little room for making mistakes, Tjipuka does not fold under pressure. She elevates her work in her capacity as a capable Namibian woman by recognising her unique ability to accomplish anything she sets her heart and mind to. She hopes to inspire young women and colleagues through being supportive and cheering each other on, she believes that in this way she can be an active change agent, empowering more women in her career field and beyond.

Compliance and anti-money laundering involve many aspects and can make or break a brand, but a winning team like Yolanda’s are making an impact. Her advice on how businesses can stay ahead of the game is to create an innovative team concentrating on actively managing risk, strategically investing in technology and analytics that inform robust policies and practices, while prioritising areas where regulation-techs will have the greatest impact in the short term.

No phosphate mining without ECC

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

Namibian Marine Phosphate’s planned Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project was dealt another blow yesterday when the High Court ordered that no activities may proceed without an environmental clearance certificate (ECC).

Judge Harald Geier issued the court order in a case in which the legality of an earlier ECC issued to the company is questioned.

The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Association, the Namibian Hake Association, the Midwater Trawling Association and Omualu Fishing brought the legal action against the company in 2016.

They requested the court to order that NMP did not apply for an ECC within the period prescribed by the Environmental Management Act.

They argued, therefore, that the company’s mining licence, issued on 8 July 2011, expired on 5 February 2013 and is now invalid.

Judge Geier found that NMP did not apply in the prescribed manner for an ECC during the relevant time and is currently without an ECC.

He therefore declared that NMP may not undertake phosphate mining operations until it has obtained a valid ECC.

Back to square one

Environmental commissioner Timo Mufeti told Namibian Sun that if NMP wanted to apply for a new ECC, they would have to re-submit everything.

He said although most of their environmental studies were completed, the situation has changed and therefore they would need to update these.

New consultations would also need to be held, said Mufeti.

The project has been on hold since 2012, owing to environmental objections, with its environmental clearance certificate having been set aside after being awarded in 2016.

Grand ambitions

NMP management had previously claimed that establishing a phosphate industry could position Namibia to meet the future global demand for phosphate to fuel the electric vehicle battery market.

It also promised thousands of jobs.

“This new industry has the potential to contribute up to 9% to Namibia’s gross domestic product and create over 50 000 direct and indirect jobs,” the company said.

Shareholders claim they have invested more than N$780 million in NMP.

Valombola to hear fate in October MARC SPRINGER

WINDHOEK

Commissioner for refugees Likius Valombola will hear on 8 October whether it constituted murder when two shots he fired in Okuryangava three years ago hit a bystander, causing his death several days later.

The accused remains adamant that the fatal incident was an accident. State prosecutor Ethel Ndlovu is excluding that possibility.

In her closing arguments delivered on Tuesday, she insisted that Valombola acted with clear intent on 18 May 2018 when he fired two shots at student Helao Ndjaba, hitting him in the forehead.

In a plea explanation given at the start of his trial, Valombola (56) denied any intention of killing the deceased. Instead, he stated that Ndjaba (25) was struck by accident when he fired two warning shots in the air to disperse a "violent and aggressive" crowd that was hitting the stationary car in which he was a passenger.

Warning shots

According to his version, he was travelling with his wife and son on the evening of the incident when they encountered a vehicle with mechanical problems standing in the street and blocking their way. He further recounted that his son disembarked from the vehicle and approached several young men standing nearby trying to locate the driver of the broken-down car.

Instead of helping him to find the driver, however, the bystanders "started mocking us and using foul language" and eventually moved toward their car and started "violently knocking" on it.

This, according to Valombola, caused him to fire two warning shots in an effort to scare off the unruly crowd and enable his son to drive off.

Valombola insisted that he fired the second warning shot about ten seconds after the first while aiming the barrel of his gun at an angle of about 45 degrees into the air and did not realise anybody had been hit before his son drove away from the scene.

Forensic evidence

In her submission, Ndlovu characterised that version of events as "highly unlikely", saying it would have been impossible for Ndjaba to be struck in the forehead had the accused aimed his shots into the air.

She further stressed that there were no objects on the scene which could have deflected the bullets.

Referring to the post-mortem report, Ndlovu said the bullets struck the deceased at a horizontal angle, suggesting they were fired straight at him. From that trajectory it would appear that the accused had aimed his firearm directly at Ndjaba with the intent of killing him.

That scenario would further seem likely considering witness accounts according to which Valombola had got out of the car prior to the shooting and had instructed people blocking the way "in an aggressive tone" to disperse.

It would thus seem as if Valombola was upset with the people blocking their way and was "driven by anger" when he fired the two shots.

Ndlovu further excluded the possibility that Valombola was acting in self-defence, stressing that the crowd posed no danger to him and that the car had already started moving when he fired the shots. There was thus no reason for him to disperse a crowd blocking the street ahead.

Defence lawyer Sisa Namandje argued in his submission that the State had failed to prove that the shots were in fact fired by Valombola. According to him, only State witness Stephanie Svetlana claimed to have seen Valombola aim at the deceased when he fired the two shots. According to Namandje, that witness was unreliable because she changed her testimony several times and contradicted what other witnesses had said.

Valombola remains free on bail of N$15 000.

Kawana kicked out of Mutwa’s serviceCommunity unhappy with minister over border treaty State House had to make a quick change to yesterday’s memorial service for the late chief of defence after the community demanded the removal of home affairs minister Albert Kawana from the official programme. STAFF REPORTER

WINDHOEK

The community of Mahundu village in the Zambezi Region this week forced State House to remove home affairs minister Albert Kawana from delivering President Hage Geingob’s message yesterday at the memorial service of former chief of defence John Mutwa, citing the minister’s involvement in the contentious 2018 border treaty with Botswana.

Calling him “a sell-out who gave away the community’s crop fields to Botswana”, residents, including Mutwa’s family, demanded the removal of Kawana from the official programme, saying he could only attend as an ordinary community member without any official duties at the event.

Kawana co-chaired, from 2000 to 2002, the Namibian technical committee that reached consensus with Botswana over the Kwando-Linyanti-Chobe River boundary between the two countries.

State House eventually roped in defence minister Frans Kapofi to read Geingob’s message at the memorial service yesterday afternoon. Mutwa, who was accorded a state-funded funeral, will be buried today at Mahundu in the Katima Rural Constituency.

Prior to assigning Kapofi, former health minister Richard Kamwi was tasked to speak to Masubia chief Kisco Maiba Liswani III to convince the community to allow Kawana to officiate at the event, but the chief responded that he did not want to be involved in the matter.

The request was then taken to Mutwa’s family, who apparently made it very clear that they did not want Kawana to carry out any official duties at the event because the community was unhappy about the role he is perceived to have played in the border treaty.

Residents allegedly threatened to boo Kawana if he took to the podium to read the president’s message.

“Our fields are being taken away because of this treaty,” irate residents apparently told government officials.

Treaty rejected

While the Mafwe and Mayeyi traditional authorities have publicly stated that they do not recognise the treaty, discontent is also simmering within the Masubia tribe.

“Kawana betrayed the Masubia community. A piece of the royal family called Ibeza Land Parcel was annexed by Botswana,” a member of that community told Namibian Sun yesterday.

The border treaty was signed by Geingob and his Botswana counterpart at the time, Ian Khama, in 2018.

The Mafwe and Mayeyi traditional authorities have refused to recognise the legality of the treaty, saying no adequate consolations were conducted with them on the matter.

Kawana dismissed this claim, saying the process was transparent and in line with the letter and spirit of the Namibian Constitution.

“There is no such thing as a secret treaty that was entered into by the Namibian government with the government of Botswana,” Kawana said in a statement in May.

Kawana led, from the Namibian side, the joint commission of technical experts on the delimitation and demarcation of the boundary between Botswana and Namibia along the Kwando/Linyanti/Chobe River, originally signed by the contracting parties on 24 November 1999.

The harassment of Namibians in that area by members of the Botswana Defence Force had sometimes to do with contentions about whether Namibians encroached on Botswana soil.

The killing of three Namibian brothers and their Zambian cousin along Chobe River on November 5 2020 by the Botswana army ignited the debate around the 2018 treaty.

Soon after the signing of the treaty, the African Union Commission – which facilitated a draft treaty review meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 15 to 17 June 2016 - congratulated the two countries.

“This milestone not only strengthens the relations between the Republic of Botswana and the Republic of Namibia but also demonstrates the commitment of the two countries to facilitate the free movement of people and to transform their common border into a pole of development,” it said.

Nictus Holdings weathers the storm‘Defeat simply no option’ Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, locally-listed Nictus Holdings’ posted its best full-year results since 2017. The employees of the group turned the crisis into an opportunity. - Philippus Tromp, MD: Nictus Holdings

Jo-Maré Duddy – Following a few tough years characterised by an economic recession and strained consumers, Nictus Holdings Ltd bounced back and reported a profit of nearly N$18.2 million for the 12 months ended 31 March 2021, an increase of around 147% or N$10.8 million compared to its previous financial year.

The locally-listed group’s performance in its past financial year was nearly back to its 2017 levels.

Dedicating the latest financial results to the late Nico Tromp - a non-executive director, as well as a former managing director and former chairman of group - Philippus Tromp, current group managing director, said Nictus last year faced the Covid-19 crisis “head-on, and plough through the worst parts of it with unprecedented grit”.

“We did not let one of the biggest crises in the history of mankind go to waste,” Tromp said in the results released on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX).

Business veteran Nico Tromp (72), also a former chairman of the NSX, passed away on Sunday after contracting Covid-19.

“He has been instrumental in the success and growth of the group, providing invaluable guidance and remarkable leadership both to the board of directors of the company and to the company during his tenure. Mr Tromp was the embodiment of integrity and hard work,” the group paid homage to the leader in an announcement on the NSX.

PERFORMANCE

Nictus Holdings reported revenue of about N$617.2 million in 2021, nearly N$44 million or 7.7% more than its previous book-year.

Operating and administrative expenses were slashed by some 20% year-on-year (y/y) to nearly N$175.96 million. Operating profit came in at nearly N$29.99 million, up about N$10.7 million or 56% y/y.

Nictus Holdings’ retail segments – Nictus Furnishers, TrenTyre Namibia and Auas Motors – reported a total net profit after taxation of just above N$10 million in its past financial year. In 2020, Nictus retail interests suffered a net loss after profit of about N$12.7 million in total.

The group’s property companies also reported a net profit after taxation of nearly N$4.1 million compared to a net loss after taxation of nearly N$1.3 million in its 2020 financial year.

Nictus Holdings’ insurance and finance segments made a net profit after taxation of around N$26.9 million, down about 14% y/y.

Headline earnings per share (HEPS), a profitability gauge, increased by nearly 121% y/y to 29.98c, the highest since 2017.

‘REINVENTION’

Commenting on the past financial year, Nictus Holdings’ chairman Gerard Tromp said: “Fighting through and surviving one of the deepest recessions in history was for certain not an easy task.” Namibia’s overall economy last year grew by -8% on an annual basis.

The chairman added: “The retail segment had a very good recovery from the past years and was profitable for the year under review. Long term strategies set in the past three to five years started realising and we are confident that these will work through in future.”

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit Namibia, Nictus Holdings’ “had to reinvent ourselves within a very short period”, MD Tromp said.

“When the crisis hit we regathered our forces and, since May last year, significant focus was centred on all management levels throughout the group to take ownership of the situation.

“Defeat was simply not an option and, although salary cuts were introduced, it did not stop us to go all-out to reach, and in many cases exceed, our pre-Covid estimates,” he said.

“The employees of the group turned the crisis into an opportunity,” according to the managing director.

“Proactivity was greatly amplified, which helped us to increase our market share in all segments we compete in, with excellent customer service enshrined throughout, and operating more efficiently in our ways and decision-making.”

The darling of NamibiaRecord-breaking Mboma When the president of Namibia asked locals to social distance in the name of Covid-19, Christine Mboma heeded the call and ran with it, as if the wind was pushing her.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK

Namibia’s sensational 18-year-old sprinter, Christine Mboma, put some serious distance between herself and the other competitors at the Irena Szewinska Memorial event in the Polish city of Bydgoszcz on Wednesday night.

She ran most of the 400-metre race a startling 25 metres ahead of the competition to claim gold.

The young sprinter couldn’t believe that she ran so fast. In March this year she set a personal best of 50.97 seconds. She trimmed that down to 49.24 on 11 April, and then went ahead to break the under-20 world record set in 1991 by Germany’s Gritt Breuer.

Then, within a week, she lowered that time to 49.22. As it stands, her only competition is Bahamian athlete Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who has a personal best of 49.08, which she set in April.

Africa’s darling

With Wednesday night’s performance, Mboma set a new African record, a Namibian record, a personal best, the seventh fastest time in history as well as a new under-20 world record.

In second place was Justyna Swiety-Ersetic of Poland in a time of 51.91 seconds, and in third Portugal’s Catia Azevedo in a time of 52.03 seconds.

World shocker

At one point in the race, a shocked television commentator could be heard saying: “You just don’t do this; you are not supposed to do this to world-class athletes.”

Not concerned at all, Mboma ran her phenomenal race and asked the Namibian nation to keep supporting her.

“I enjoyed the race. I didn’t expect to run like that; it was too much for me,” the shy athlete said.

I fear no one

This was just one of Mboma’s phenomenal races as she gets closer and closer to the Tokyo Olympic Games, at which she is most likely to face the likes of 32-year-old Jamaican athlete Stephanie McPherson, America’s Allison Felix and the Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers.

Another rival, Bahraini 400-metre world champion Salwa Eid Naser, will miss the Games after the Court of Arbitration for Sport found her guilty of breaking an anti-doping rule.

So, at this moment, the first spot is anyone’s game.

Namibian Sun has been trying unsuccessfully to get comment from Frank Fredericks on the exploits of Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi. So far, Fredericks is Namibia’s only able-bodied Olympic medallist, having won four silver medals at the Games - two in 1992 and two in 1996.

Key to the Business Ignition Angel Network to the rescue

Jeanette Diergaardt

Namibia Business Angel Network (NABAN) in partnership with Start Up Namibia have send out a call to the Nation. 10 Businesses from the 14 regions in Namibia gave their pitch and is receiving a lot more than the opportunity to pitch to investors.

The organisers has received 108 applications from all the 14 regions in Namibia. According to Jesaya Hano Oshike the head of business development.

“The difference in regional applications highlight the need for greater entrepreneurial development in the regions outside the Khomas region,” says Oshike. He further went on to explain that the majority of the applications was received from regions such as, Khomas, Otjizondupa and Omaheke regions . The coastal towns and the western regions however sent in the least applications.

One of the successful businesses that was chosen to pitch at the event was, Mindsinaction. They are a afterschool Science, Technology and Engineering (STEM) centre in Windhoek, where children receives the opportunity to get to learn coding and robotics, to name a few. Co-founder Ndaudika Mundudileni says that the experience has given him the opportunity to expose his business to investors as well as more opportunity to be known by the public.

A part of the 10 businesses that was chosen to pitch their ideas were, EBIKES4AFRICA, Beek Investment Group, Ohanga Energy, Tololi, Ngata Vocational Training Centre, Exclusive VIP shuttle Services, Fritz Da Investment, and Balistic Investments.

The requirements for companies to enter was, they had to be registered with BIPA. They must have generated revenue in access of N$250 000. The businesses must have a dedicated management team and must be needing an investment of up to 1 million. Lastly but one of the most important parts to starting a successful business, is having a scalable business model.

NABAN is an investors network in Namibia. The investors are from European and African countries that not only invests time, but money as well in young business ventures.

Involved with Start Up Namibia besides GIZ is, the City of Windhoek, Ministry of Higher education, and Technology Innovation (MHETI).

The pitching event took place virtually on 26 June 2021.

Kuisebmond shack fire survivors receive donations from well-wishers

Staff reporter

Three families who were left displaced after a fire ripped through their shacks in Kuisebmond recently received relief parcels.

The office of the mayor of Walvis Bay, in collaboration with Miss Namibia, Tunacor and the Namibian Red Cross, donated parcels containing sanitary pads, toiletries, baby nappies, maize meal, flour, sugar, pasta, cooking oil, fish and mattresses to the families.

Mayor Trevino Forbes said the municipality would assist residents affected by shack fires to the best of its ability.

He also used the opportunity to educate residents about the importance of wearing a mask and practising social distancing amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Forbes said the fire brigade would clear the land where the shacks were, so that people can be resettled in accordance with the Covid-19 regulations.

The mayor was accompanied by Miss Namibia, Chelsi Shikongo, and Walvis Bay fire chief Efraim Kathindi.

How (not) to deal with genocide HENNING MELBER

In mid-2015, a spokesperson for Germany’s foreign ministry acknowledged that the warfare by colonial troops in South West Africa — modern-day Namibia — between 1904 and 1908 resulted in genocide.

It was an overdue but unique admission.

Called the German-Namibian War by the descendants of the Ovaherero and Nama, the peoples killed for resisting German rule, the extermination strategy (which also affected the Damara and San) had lasting demographic and socioeconomic impacts, and left festering wounds.

Namibian independence in 1990 did not close the colonial chapter. Its legacy remains part of the present, not least in the ownership of land by white (often German-speaking) farmers, and a privileged German-speaking minority determined to protect its wealth.

Reconciliation was misunderstood as a transfer of political power to the former liberation movement Swapo while maintaining the socioeconomic status quo, under which a new black elite joined the old white elite in one of the world’s most unequal societies.

Following Germany’s official acknowledgement, government-appointed special envoys began negotiations in late 2015. But major agencies of the Ovaherero and Nama tribes were denied the degree of participation they had expected. Their reference to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly in 2007 with the vote of both states, bore no fruit. This framework entitles indigenous people to full participation in any affairs affecting them.

Without adequate representation, relevant agencies of the Ovaherero and Nama from Namibia and in the diaspora took the German government to a New York court. Their case was rejected in 2019, and the appeal finally dismissed in May this year —just days before the special envoys paraphrased an agreement in Berlin after nine rounds of negotiations.

While the German admission was a significant first step by a former colonial power, it carefully avoided any far-reaching precedents. The term “genocide” was accepted only in moral and political terms, designed to avoid legal implications. Reparations were categorically dismissed.

As a “gesture of recognition”, Germany agreed to pay €1.1-billion over 30 years to existing aid programmes.

German foreign aid in the 31 years since Namibian independence amounts to roughly the same figure.

The fund will go to development projects — land reform, water supply, and so on — in seven of the 14 Namibian regions where Ovaherero and Nama residents form ethnic minorities.

But there is considerable opposition to the size of the fund and how it is to be disbursed. As Ian Khama, the former president of Botswana, stressed, descendants in the diaspora, including the thousands in neighbouring countries, are excluded from the fund.

For many, the fixed amount, declared as the non-negotiable final sum, adds insult to injury. To put it into perspective: German private donations and official humanitarian aid in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami come to an equivalent figure.

And while some €50-million has been earmarked for a foundation to promote German-Namibian reconciliation, including cultural projects and youth exchange programmes, it is painfully insufficient.

Germany has spent more money when it wanted to. The Central Berlin Holocaust memorial was constructed for €28-million on a property worth €40-million; another €60-million was set aside as annual maintenance costs for the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Castle. The museum, which displays many cultural artefacts looted during Germany’s colonial days, is a €700-million monument to imperialism.

While seeking to justify the agreement, Namibian Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba and Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila were clearly frustrated over the limitations of the deal. A first debate in the National Assembly erupted in turmoil.

The ratification of the agreement between the two foreign ministers, planned for June in Windhoek, has been postponed. The Covid-19 pandemic spiralling locally out of control has added to the disruption of the schedule.

Once signed, the German president is supposed to ask for an apology to be accepted in the Namibian parliament. But the majority of the descendants are not represented there.

Among the victims have been the Ovaherero Paramount Chief Vekuii Rukoro, the most vocal critic of the negotiations, and Namibia’s special envoy Dr Zed Ngavirue [both Rukoro and Ngavirue have passed away in June 2021, soon after the agreement with Germany was announced].

Opposition parties have already signalled that the solemn act might be disrupted.

It clearly takes more to heal colonial wounds and promote reconciliation than the largely symbolic, piecemeal compromise agreed to. – Mail & Guardian

Community gardening initiative handed over to City

Staff reporter

The City of Windhoek has taken over activities at Farm Okukuna in Windhoek’s Goreangab informal settlement. The World Future Council recently handed it over to the municipality.

Farm Okukuna was started in 2018 as a project of three partners. The World Future Council, funded by the Liselotte Foundation, was responsible for management and fundraising. The Eloolo Permaculture Initiative facilitated training. The City of Windhoek, who owns the land, acted as a landlord, providing the land, security and water.

“A project so successful that it is taken over by local stakeholders – this is what one wants to achieve as a donor,” said Ina Wilkie, senior project manager of the World Future Council.

“We wish the City of Windhoek all the very best in continuing the work,” she added.

Over the past three years, a wide range of programmes have taken place at Farm Okukuna.

Wilkie had taken the lead, also raising third-party funding from the German Liselotte Foundation and the UK Waterloo Foundation, as well as the Southern African Innovation Support Fund (SAIS). What started as a permaculture community garden three years ago is now an established project.

According to Wilkie, community members have founded a voluntary association to manage processes and income on the farm. Sixteen members tend to their individual gardens, producing food for their families and for sale. The process was accompanied by many facilitated discussions, training and investments into tools and infrastructure.

“My garden is really important to me,” said Auguste Kankono, resident of Goreangab.

“It provides me with an income and keeps me away from the location. I wake up early to come here and look after my garden. My whole family is excited and my neighbours are ordering vegetables from me.”

Compost, seedlings and natural pest repellents are produced at the Farm Okukuna product centre.

The partners procure the materials and support with marketing. The products, however, belong to the producers who are people from the community. Every team member decides how much work they put in and therefore how much money they earn.

The products are developed together with local experts. The Okukuna SPICE compost, for example, a brainchild of facilitator Wiebke Volkmann, has already acquired some fame on the local market. It contains more carbon and nitrogen than other composts. It combines bacterial and fungal decomposition through an initial aerobic process which generates heat for killing weed seeds and pathogens, followed by low oxygen fermentation that breaks down material faster.

Farm Okukuna compost is sold through retail outlets such as Agrigro and at the Green Market in Klein Windhoek on Saturdays. Monthly open days at Farm Okukuna have also been an opportunity for sales and income generation.

“Compost production does not only provide me with income, but also with knowledge and experience,” Halleluja Ruusa Inane explained. “We really hope that we can continue.”

From the beginning, the training centre has been an integral part of Farm Okukuna. It had a focus on permaculture, which is a way to grow food and organise your life with minimal external inputs and therefore ideal for people with little money. Training was facilitated by the Namibian Eloolo Permaculture Initiative and South African permaculture activists.

A masterclass programme gave a local agriculture graduate the opportunity to gain further qualification.

“As an agriculture graduate it is difficult to find a job. Most employers look for people with experience. It was fabulous for me to work here and get the opportunity to learn about planting and designing. Permaculture really opened my eyes,” said Simon Indila, the masterclass student, resident of Goreangab. “We are doing something here that is really needed in the nation.”

Farm Okukuna was also an implementation site of the Living Permaculture Project, funded by the Southern African Innovation Support Fund (SAIS). In this 18-month project, shack dwellers designed solutions that could help make their life easier: a pit bed that uses grey-water from the bucket shower for growing food, shack insulation from cardboard that cools in summer and warms in winter, a compost bag to produce your own fertiliser, a simple grey-water filter made of two buckets and more.

“We are definitely planning to continue this work,” Wilkie stressed.

The organisation is currently developing a new project and reaching out to potential partners and hosts.

“Our two paid staff must not worry. We do not want anyone to lose their job in these times. Smart solutions for shack dwellers are needed now more than ever and we are looking forward to setting up a new project in Namibia,” Wilkie said.

Investing in small businesses Nictus introduces support programme for small furniture manufacturers

Staff reporter

Local furniture retailer Nictus embarked on an empowerment programme that supports small local entrepreneurs with capital to fund their manufacturing operations, in addition to their products being sold at Nictus Furnishers’ Windhoek branch.

The programme, which prioritises entrepreneurs creating products locally, was introduced to support local manufacturers who often lack the necessary funds to create products on a larger scale and compete with foreign brands.

Nictus chief executive Francois Wahl described the programme as a collection of efforts that solve many of the hurdles that Namibian entrepreneurs face.

“Now the entrepreneur does not only get their products housed by a recognised brand like Nictus, they are also able to get access to capital that is specific to what their business needs to compete with big names,” Wahl added.

One of the first local entrepreneurs to go through the initiative is Petrina Ashipala, the owner of Meme wOmabean Bags, a company that creates a type of furniture known as bean bags.

Ashipala described Nictus’s involvement as a lifeline that every entrepreneur needs, especially during this pandemic that has shifted how a lot of people do business.

She said the partnership will introduce her products to a wider customer base and in turn increase product output, sales volume and overall business growth.

Nictus is a wholly-owned Namibian furniture retailer. The company’s owner, Nico Tromp, succumbed to Covid-19 last weekend. Tromp had dedicated over 40 years of service to Nictus.

Getting to know Meekulu Nadula Hainane STAFF REPORTER

WINDHOEK

Meekulu Nadula Hainane is an award-winning actress whose achievements entail starring in the movie ‘Kapana’ and being featured on the ‘Third Will’ TV series. She’s now expanding her portfolio as an upcoming film writer and director. tjil caught up with her and this is what she had to share.

tjil (t): As a Zikomo Africa awards representative in Namibia, what’s in store for the next Zikomo awards, and how does it feel to represent the country?

Meekulu Nadula Hainane (MND): I feel honoured and grateful. I am proud to be one of the first Zikomo Africa awards winners, and I hope we will set a great example for the generations to come and make use of this amazing opportunity.

I believe the next Zikomo Africa awards will have more people, as many people are showing interest and know that Zikomo awards is real and not a scam as many people believed.

t: What do you love most about the industry you work in?

MND: Whatever the project or the magnitude of it is, it requires one to share their talent with a lot of people and that is so satisfying for me.

t: What’s your dream production and why?

MND: My dream is actually to have a massive film production company run by myself. I believe women are more holistic and we think long-term. One day I would love to direct a full-length feature film I have written.

t: What’s the highlight of your career?

MND: Travelling this wonderful world we live in. Seeing its beauty, its people and it diverse cultures.

t: Lastly, please share your future plans with us?

MND: I am taking things one step at a time, remaining positive and following my brain first before my heart.

Waters to headline second Hunter’s tjil Sessions A family performance The second Hunter’s tjil Sessions is slated for Friday, 9 July, at 18:00 on Namibian Sun’s Facebook page. MICHAEL KAYUNDE

WINDHOEK

A partnership between Hunter’s Namibia and Namibian Sun’s tjil is rooted in allowing Namibians to continue enjoying the magic of the music and supporting musicians. For its sophomore episode, the line-up consists of singers Waters and SHE, who will be performing with a live band.

Waters is a singer born and raised in Windhoek. In an interview with tjil, he mentioned he has been making music since he was 14 years old and always had a passion for creating.

He added that he studies graphic design when he is not making music.

“My biggest inspiration comes from Motown Music; the soul that comes people like Marvin Gaye and Al Green are crazy. They make vulnerability look sexy and I hope to reach level in my career,” he shared.

‘Feels like family’

On headlining the second edition of the Hunter’s tjil Sessions, Waters said it is an honour for him to share his magic on this platform.

“Having people like Kevo Maro and Kakia do it before me was amazing when I watched it.

“Being a part of it now is huge. I feel like this platform is going to go far as many artists would want to be on it. The organisers are welcoming, and at this point, it feels like a family,” the crooner said.

Adhering to Covid-19 regulations, the show will not be open to the public to physically attend, but it will be streamed live on Namibian Sun and Hunter’s Namibia’s Facebook pages.

Lady Pohamba Clinic receives vaccination drive support

Staff reporter

Namibia’s Covid-19 vaccination programme, just like that of any other country, aims to prevent serious illness and deaths. However, the pandemic is having a devastating impact as daily Covid-19 positive figures put a heavy strain on the healthcare system across the country.

In solidarity with the Namibian government in fighting the pandemic, Nedbank Namibia has donated N$100 000 to the vaccination clinic at Lady Pohamba Private Hospital (LPPH) towards Covid-19 relief.

"As we work to support the government during this devastating pandemic, we are grateful to corporate partners like Nedbank for standing alongside us. Together, we will work to increase access to critical life-saving medical care” explained Paddy Murphy, the CEO of LPPH.

He said the ministry of health and social services will deliver and supply vaccines daily to the clinic. The hospital manager assured that each person is under observation for 15 minutes after the vaccination, to ensure that health of the patient is not compromised. This added staff responsibility of maintaining the standards and protocols at the clinic is placing significant strain on the normal operations of the hospital.

LPPH has now diverted its complete corporate social responsibility (CSR) and marketing budgets to cover the monthly operational costs of the clinic with over N$358 000 in order to make it a success. At this point, the hospital has only enough funds available to cover the costs of the clinic for the next six weeks. Murphy further explained that the LPPH has formed a non-profit Section 21 company specifically for the project. They now need financial support and are requesting the business community and citizens to contribute to enabling them to deliver effective services. This is based on the likelihood that the vaccination centre will be needed for at least another 18 months, he added.

Those wishing to support the operational costs of the clinic can donate via the PayToday app. It’s as easy as sending a Whatsapp message, explains Chris Botha, CEO of the local Fintech company.

“Download the PayToday app, select Lady Pohamba Vaccination Centre, select the amount you wish to donate and click PAY.” Via their IDToday platform, Chris and his team have also assisted LPPH to develop an online booking system for the Covid-19 vaccinations, enabling a more streamlined administering process.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Nedbank Namibia has contributed significantly in order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown by providing generous financial contributions to projects through its corporate social responsibility initiatives.

N$1.3 million was set aside for the National Disaster Fund and another N$1 million for conservancies amid the tourism recession. To assist individuals and businesses during the lockdown in 2020, Nedbank extended credit to account holders in the amount of N$7.6 billion, with individuals receiving 58% of the credit. Support, further included contributions towards public health, youth, financial literacy, poverty alleviation, as well as the bank’s staff volunteers programme, set to do good in vulnerable communities.

The bank also committed an initial N$7.5 million for personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff, including for those working from home, as well as transport, cleaning and sanitising costs.

Martha Murorua, Nedbank’s managing director, says, “Getting immunised is important for at least two reasons: to protect yourself and to protect those around you. Given the present situation of our country, it is important that we must help our communities, particularly in light of the impact of the epidemic on those with minimal resources.

“Nedbank has always been driven to help build a better society and to support individuals, families and communities who are vulnerable, at risk, or less fortunate. The Covid-19 pandemic has amplified our commitment and resolve in this respect. We are in this together, Namibia.”

MSMEs as the key to an inclusive and sustainable recovery Celebrating Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day: Reflecting on Namibia-German Bilateral Support Programme.

Staff reporter

The United Nations General Assembly in 2017 declared 27 June as Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day, which is celebrated around the world. Most people just assume it’s the large companies, the tech-driven companies, large petrochemical industrial giants or car manufacturers that keep the local, regional and global economy thriving.

Their position and contribution are not questioned, but it is MSMEs that are the real drivers of the economy. Globally, formal and informal MSMEs make up over 90% of all firms and account, on average, for 70% of total employment and 50% of GDP.

The United Nations chooses to highlight and celebrate this contribution that the often forgotten or in the very least marginalised (Micro)-SMEs make; they are the real drivers of the economy from a grassroots level and up.

In Namibia the informal economy and the (M)SMEs are the true engines of the economy, and during the global Covid-19 pandemic it became clear how many people and their families depend on income generation through their small enterprises.

The MSMEs are also among the most concerned about climate change: 68% of companies in sub-Saharan Africa say that environmental risks are significant to their business, according to research by the International Trade Centre (ITC). That is why in 2021 the theme of MSME Day is ‘MSME 2021: key to an inclusive and sustainable recovery’. MSMEs are the backbone of our economies, now is the time to create the foundation across the board for an equitable and sustainable post-Covid-19 recovery.

In Namibia the informal economy and the small businesses work across all imaginable sectors, from cosmetics, mining, manufacturing, food service industry and many more.

“Our ministry strives to improve the business environment and conditions for businesses including the MSMEs through initiatives covering both the policy, legislative, regulatory, institutional and programme framework specifics.

“The MSMEs policy the ministry has introduced in 2016 is clearly ensuring appropriate definition of the sector as well as providing guidance on how the country should support our MSMEs.”

MIT plays an important role through the Industry Growth Strategies (IGS) in assisting these small businesses, develop, market, grow and thrive. The reason for championing these small enterprises is that they have a disproportionately large impact on developing an economy. Increasing annual investments in small and medium-sized enterprises by $1 trillion would yield disproportionate high dividends in terms of progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

MIT channels this support to MSMEs through the IGS which were launched for several sectors including metal fabrication, charcoal production, gemstones, Swakara wool, handicrafts, wildlife products and the cosmetics industry, even before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

IGS are implemented by the MIT and in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)’ Promotion of Business Advisory and Economic Transformation Services (ProBATS) programme under the German-Namibian Development Cooperation. Ongoing initiatives include the ‘Pitching for Resilience’ programme which will take place in all 14 regions and give MSMEs a fighting chance.

The importance and need for MSMEs cannot be underestimated and their impact and contribution should be celebrated every day. One can only hope that people understand that their friend, neighbour, family member or people working in the community are not only hustling and trying to survive, they are literally the engine that will allow the Namibian economy to survive, rebound and make the nation resilient in these challenging times.

Honour them by buying what is produced, grown or developed locally.