Namibian Sun

Shikongo, Nambala to lead Paralympic team• Four guaranteed participation Namibia's hopes of winning medals at the Paralympic Games rest on the shoulders of Ananias Shikongo, Johannes Nambala, Lahja Ishitile and Mateus Angula.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has allocated four slots for Namibian athletes in athletics and swimming.

The slots will go to T11 Para-athlete Ananias Shikongo, who competes in the 100 metres and 400 metres events, and Johannes Nambala (T13), who runs the same distances. They will be accompanied by their guide runners, Even Tjiviju and Sam Shimanda.

Another T11 athlete, Lahja Ishitile, who runs the 200 metres and 400 metres and also competes in the long jump, gets the third slot and will be accompanied by guide Sydney Kamuaruuma. The remaining slot will go to para-swimmer Mateus 'Spiderman' Angula (S6). He will compete in the 50 m freestyle, 100 m backstroke and 100 m freestyle.

Seasoned star

The experienced Shikongo and Nambala are expected to lead the rest at the Games.

Shikongo, who made history at Rio 2016 by becoming the first Namibian man to win Olympic or Paralympic gold, said their preparations have been smooth and they are set for the multi-disability Games from 24 August to 5 September.

Nambala, on the other hand, was the first to win gold at the Para-Athletics World Championships in 2013. He was also a 100 m and 400 m silver medallist at the Rio Games.

Not too impressed

The secretary-general of the Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC), Michael Hamukwaya, is not happy with the limited number of slots allocated to Namibian para-athletes.

“After four years of our qualification pathway, the country was only allocated these slots, which we have allocated to the Namibian athletes according to their world rankings and their performance in the last four years.

'It has been a very hard and tough qualification period for the team and NPC is not happy with the number of slots we were allocated from IPC this time around, compared to the seven slots we had for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

“This is a setback for the movement but also not an easy task in making sure that in the four-year cycle, athletes have enough financial support and that more athletes are given a chance to compete amongst the best during the qualification period in order to make sure Namibia gains more slots at the Paralympic Games.” Hamukwaya added that this is motivation for the athletes to put in a good performance in order for the country to gain more slots in the future.

“This will not depend on an individual performance, but a collective approach as a country to support our athletes at the right time,” he said.

He added that their hope is that two more athletes, namely T37 athlete Petrus Karuli (1500m) and F40 Silvia Shivolo (shot-put), can get slots before the end of the qualification period, which is 29 July.

Powering disability to greater heights

He further thanked NamPower for supporting the team during these hard times and said he hoped the partnership would continue to grow stronger.

“To the Namibian nation, these are your athletes who will be participating at the upcoming Paralympic Games. Please support them as we are sure that the team selected is capable of world-class performances,” Hamukwaya said.

'We have something for Mboma and Masilingi'

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

WINDHOEK

Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) chief administrator Freddy Mwiya has hinted at prizes and windfalls for top athletes Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi.

Speaking on the popular online 'Sport Wrap Show', Mwiya revealed that they had been busy discussing with corporate Namibia to hand out gifts to the teenage athletes upon their return.

Masilingi and Mboma have risen to fame following their recent successes in the 400 m and 200 m in Europe.

But their triumphant trip to Europe ended on a sour note following their removal from the 400 m World Athletics list for allegedly high natural testosterone levels.

“We are proud of what the girls have achieved so far and we can only show our appreciation by rewarding them when they return to Namibia.

“I can confidently say that we have been in talks with several organisations and corporate Namibia.

“That is why I am optimistic that the livelihoods of these girls will improve when they return,” Mwiya told Sport Wrap.

Masilingi, Mboma and coach Henk Botha are returning to Namibia before the start of the Games on 23 July, as all their remaining 400-metre races have been called off.

“We will be landing on Thursday and the girls are in high spirits about coming back home,” Botha said yesterday.

Paqueta sends Brazil past Peru

NAMPA/AFP

Star forward Neymar set up Lucas Paqueta to score the only goal as hosts Brazil beat Peru 1-0 on Monday to qualify for the Copa America final.

The semi-final was a repeat of the last final, two years ago, when a Brazil team shorn of the injured Neymar also triumphed on home soil.

The Selecao will play either Lionel Messi's Argentina or Colombia, who meet in Brasilia on Wednesday, in Saturday's final at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium.

Brazil totally dominated the first half at the empty Nilton Santos stadium in Rio but had to survive some nervous moments after the break before securing a spot in the final.

They opened up Peru on eight minutes as Paqueta's pass sent Richarlison in behind the defence, but after beating goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to the ball, the forward tried to pull it back to Neymar who blazed high and wide under pressure.

Gallese spilled a fierce Casemiro free-kick from distance but gathered the loose ball before winger Everton could turn in the rebound.

Brazil were turning the screw and Everton cut in off the right flank but shot straight at Gallese.

The Peruvian shot-stopper was the busiest player on the pitch in the first quarter and after saving another Casemiro piledriver from distance he made an incredible double point blank save from Neymar and then Richarlison.

And when Gallese suffered a rush of blood to the head and charged out of his area only to be beaten to the ball by Richarlison, Brazil couldn't capitalize as Peru's defenders threw themselves in front of Everton's shot.

Peru were non-existent as an attacking force and when they did manage to win a corner just after the half hour, they ended up playing the ball all the way back to Gallese.

Brazil deservedly took the lead 10 minutes before halftime after Peru gave the ball away in midfield for the umpteenth time.

Neymar's tinkling toes got him free of three defenders in the box and he teed up Paqueta to fire home from 12 yards.

Peru finally had their first attempt at goal on the counter attack four minutes after halftime, but goalkeeper Ederson comfortably parried Gianluca Lapadula's powerful drive.

Soon after, Raziel Garcia shot wide twice in quick succession as Peru showed far greater ambition than during the first period.

Peru were now on top with Garcia at the heart of their attack and his shot on the hour mark was parried by Ederson.

Brazil started to wrestle back control and Everton shot straight at Gallese before Neymar blazed well over the bar. Peru should have been level nine minutes from time when Yoshimar Yotun fired a free-kick into the box and Alexander Callens beat Ederson to the ball but headed wide from just six yards out.

It would prove their last chance.

Australian Grand Prix and MotoGP called off• 23-race F1 season still planned It follows the cancellation of the Singapore Grand Prix on October 3 also because of Covid-19 worries.

NAMPA/AFP

The Australian Grand Prix was called off Tuesday for a second year in succession due to logistical problems caused by the pandemic, but Formula One bosses said they still planned on a 23-race season.

The race had been scheduled on November 21, but hit roadblocks over Australia's requirement for overseas arrivals to undergo 14 days of mandatory quarantine. The 2021 Australian MotoGP in October was also cancelled.

With Formula One's Brazilian Grand Prix taking place on November 7, drivers and teams would not have been able to complete the required lockdown in time, with suggestions of a more relaxed bio-secure bubble reportedly rejected.

The Australian MotoGP scheduled for Phillip Island on October 24 fell for a second year with the Malaysian MotoGP brought forward a week to take its slot and an extra race weekend added in Portugal's Algarve on November 7. Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Paul Little said he was “deeply disappointed”.

“We appreciate the challenge Australia faces with current international travel restrictions and the importance of vaccinations,” he added.

The Formula One race had already been pushed back from its traditional season-opening slot in March to November, sandwiched between the Brazilian Grand Prix and the inaugural race in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of December.

Cancellation means two years without a Formula One race at Melbourne's newly-reconfigured Albert Park after the 2020 edition was dramatically called off just before the opening practice session.

Despite the setbacks, Formula One chief Stefano Domenicali said he was confident of still being able to stage a 23-race season in 2021.

“While it is disappointing we won't be racing in Australia this season, we are confident we can deliver a 23-race season in 2021 and we have a number of options to take forward,” he said.

“We will be working through the details of those options in the coming weeks and will provide further updates once those discussions are concluded.”

While Australia has been among the world's most successful countries in containing the coronavirus, seeing just 30,000 virus cases since the pandemic began, it is badly lagging in vaccinations.

So far, less than eight percent of its roughly 25 million residents have been fully vaccinated, one of the lowest proportions for any developed nation, with few signs that its borders will reopen any time soon.

The decision to cancel could have ramifications for tennis's Australian Open, with the 2022 season's opening Grand Slam tournament due to begin in Melbourne in January.

Players were forced to go through quarantine ahead of the tournament this year, but it sparked a flurry of complaints about the conditions and a public backlash.

Victoria state Sports Minister Martin Pakula said he was confident it would be a different picture in January with more people in Australia being vaccinated as Pfizer doses become more readily available.

“I'm very confident that the Australian Open will proceed and I'm very confident that next year's Formula One will proceed,” he said.

“It may not sound like a lot, but the difference between November and January is quite profound.”

The Covid crisis and the need for health financing reform

CONS KARAMATA

The public health crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has put the spotlight on the need for countries to have robust and well-functioning health systems. All over the world, health systems are experiencing tremendous pressure, with many countries having to make amends and invest billions to deal with the crisis.

In Namibia, the alarming death rates in recent weeks caused by the third wave of Covid-19 in the country, has laid bare the weaknesses of the health system with both the public and private health sectors cracking under pressure. The current shortage of facilities, personnel, and medical supplies leading to rationing of hospital beds has exposed systemic weaknesses, both in terms of access and quality of health services.

While efforts are underway to deal with the current crisis, it is important to take a step back, look at the overall health system and identify pre-Covid systemic inequities and inefficiencies that may have given rise to the current crisis, with the aim of planning for better health outcomes in the future.

Several reports have in the past pointed out that there is a mismatch between Namibia's health care spending and health outcomes.

According to WHO reports, while Namibia leads the pack amongst all the upper middle income in the WHO African Region in terms of average healthcare spending as a percentage of total government budget, the country is said to record the lowest health outcomes amongst the group.

As an example, Namibia spent about 14,5% of its government budget in 2017 on healthcare, only 0.5% short of the Abuja declaration which set the target for healthcare spending by African Union member countries at 15% of total government budget. In the same year, the country had a Total Healthcare Expenditure (THE) in excess of USD 2.29 billion to cater for the 2.5 million population, translating into a per capita healthcare expenditure of USD 916.1.

For comparison, Ghana had a per capita healthcare expenditure of USD 249 in the same year.

Despite this disproportionately higher health spending, the country is reported to perform poorer than average for a number of critical health indicators.

These include indicators such as life expectancy, health-adjusted life expectancy, HIV prevalence, etc. Moreover, a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the country's health matters described the quality of patient care in public health facilities as below acceptable standards.

Indications of poor quality of patient care cited in the report include overcrowding at outpatient departments, long waiting times, inadequate numbers of health professionals, inadequate equipment and supplies, and poor infrastructure.

As indicated, this disparity between spending and health outcomes is indicative of inefficiencies in the allocation of resources and points to an urgent need for reform.

The need for reform has been recognized by the current government. In his Mid-term budget review speech in October 2020, Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi highlighted the restructuring of the Public Service Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) for alternative modes of benefits delivery as a needed step towards expenditure containment and as a way to introduce efficiencies in the allocation of health expenditure.

Needless to say, from the above, it is evident that there is a need for a large-scale review of Namibia's health care financing system.

The aim of such a review should be to conduct an audit of overall system efficiency (value for money), equity and quality of health services, revenue sources, and contribution mechanisms as well as investigate areas of synergistic partnerships between the public and private health sectors. The review must be candid, participatory, and inclusive to garner support from all stakeholders and produce evidence that can form the basis for policy reform and the introduction of innovative and efficient health care financing options.

The aim should be to build a strong and robust health system, which will ensure equitable access to quality health services for the majority.

It is only by building a strong and well-functioning health system, that Namibia will be able to respond to and withstand future public health challenges.

Covid-19 should serve as a wake-up call and propel us into action.

* Cons Karamata is the chief executive officer of the Economic Association of Namibia.

PDM's Muharukua promises open door• Landslide victory in regional by-election The new Opuwo Rural constituency councillor has urged the people of Opuwo to work with him and to avoid infighting.

TUYEIMO HAIDULA

OSHAKATI

The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate for the Opuwo Rural constituency by-election, Uakaisiua Melchizedek Muharukua, says he will have an open-door policy in order to properly serve his constituents.

The constituency held its by-election on Friday for the constituency councillor position that became vacant after the death of councillor Uaurikua Kakuva in April.

Muharukua won the by-election with 2 330 of the 3 451 votes cast.

He is followed by Swapo's Kazepanda Tjambiru with 486 votes.

Nudo's Hariki Maundu garnered 414 votes, Rikambura Kaiho of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) received 141 votes and 80 votes went to Kaihepere Tjituri of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC). In a telephonic interview on Monday, Muharukua thanked the voters and promised to address their issues.

He urged the people of Opuwo to work together with him and to avoid infighting, as it slows down progress.

“They should call me anytime. I know Opuwo is a vast area but I will make time to visit them and hear some of the challenges which include hunger and poverty, unemployment, poor network coverage and road infrastructure,” Muharukua said.

Muharukua said he expected the voters to work together with him to tackle some of these challenges.

tuyeimo@namibiansun.com

Girl's body found in well

NAMPA

WINDHOEK

The body of a seven-year-old girl was reportedly found in a well at Onankulo village last Friday, the Namibian police's weekend serious crimes report indicated.

The report, issued on Sunday, said the girl's remains, who has been identified as Melanie Paulus, were retrieved from the well.

It is alleged that the deceased was with other children and went to the well to fetch water when she slipped and fell.

In a separate incident, the body of a 52-year-old woman identified as Beata Shimpulu was found in her bedroom at Oshendje-Elombo village in the Onayena district on Friday. A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of the death.

The report further indicated that a 16-year-old girl was allegedly threatened and raped by an unknown male suspect at Otjomuise in Windhoek on Friday.

In another incident, a 15-year-old girl was reportedly raped at a village near the Oniipa area in the Onayena district on Friday.

“The girl was raped by a male suspect who is a neighbour to the victim. The suspect was arrested.”

COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF

SA's AngloGold names Calderon as CEO

South African miner AngloGold Ashanti Ltd said it has named Alberto Calderon as its new chief executive officer (CEO), who will be starting in his new role from Sept. 1.

The appointment comes a year after former CEO Kelvin Dushnisky resigned last July, citing family reasons, after two years at the helm.

AngloGold had named Chief Financial Officer Christine Ramon as the interim CEO. Dushnisky's sudden resignation came at a time when miners globally were battling the impact of the pandemic, but record high bullion prices meant gold mining companies were weathering the storm better than others.

The resignation hurt AngloGold's share price. The company lost almost half its market value in the last one year and was among the worst performing shares of gold mining companies globally.

Calderon was CEO of Orica Ltd, a Melbourne-based explosives maker, and previously served as a senior executive at mining giant BHP Group, AngloGold said. - Nampa/Reuters

NFT sales volume surges to US$2.5 bln

The market for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) surged to new highs in the second quarter, with US$2.5 billion in sales so far this year, up from just US$13.7 million in the first half of 2020, marketplace data showed.

An NFT is a crypto asset, representing an intangible digital item such as an image, video, or in-game item. Owners of NFTs are recorded on blockchain, allowing an NFT to be traded as a stand-in for the digital asset it represents.

Sales volumes have remained high after NFTs exploded in popularity early this year. Monthly sales volumes on OpenSea, a major NFT marketplace, reached a record high in June.

Some NFT enthusiasts see them as collectibles with intrinsic value because of their cultural significance, while others treat them as an investment, speculating on rising prices.

Buyers have mostly totalled 10 000 to 20 000 per week since March, outnumbering sellers, according to NonFungible.com, which aggregates NFT transactions on the ethereum blockchain. - Nampa/Reuters

NNPC seeks lower pay-outs for communities

The head of Nigeria's state oil company on Monday urged legislators to lower the share of wealth earmarked for producing communities as leaders promised quick passage of a long-awaited oil overhaul package.

Both chambers of Nigeria's parliament cleared the overhaul last week but made amendments to the bill that need to be agreed by parliament before the president can sign it into law.

Experts say the bill, some 20 years in the making, is crucial for Nigeria to attract a shrinking global pool of investments as major companies look to cut spending on fossil fuel extraction.

Among the amendments, the House of Representatives increased the share of regional oil wealth that host communities can claim to 5% from 2.5%, while the Senate approved 3%.

Communities in oil-producing areas had pushed for a 10% share. Some have warned against paying too little to communities while the militant group Niger Delta Avengers even warned of possible attacks on oil and gas installations. - Nampa/Reuters

US$9 bln battle for Britain's Morrisons

An US$8.7 billion battle for Britain's Morrisons heated up when a third private equity group entered the fray on Monday and the supermarket group's share price outstripped the value of an offer it recommended on Saturday.

Following are some details about the bidders for the 122-year-old grocery group, which is Britain's fourth largest supermarket chain with 500 stores and is based in Bradford, northern England.

Morrisons agreed a 6.3-billion-pound (US$8.7 billion) takeover led by the SoftBank owned Fortress Investment Group and backed by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Koch Real Estate Investments on Saturday.

The consortium, which Morrisons had secretly been talking to since May 4, has pledged to maintain the Bradford headquarters and its existing management team led by CEO David Potts and pursue its existing strategy. It said material store sale and leaseback transactions were not planned.

That could prove more attractive to the British government after the opposition Labour party voiced concern over the impact on jobs and food manufacturing, with the coronavirus pandemic bringing home the need to keep it local. - Nampa/Reuters

GM expands China design studio

General Motors Co said on Monday it expanded its design studio in China, which will focus only on developing electric and connected cars and no longer design petrol vehicles.

The move comes as the largest US automaker prepares to cut out petrol and diesel vehicles from its fleet by 2035 and underscores its efforts to gain a bigger foothold in China, the world's largest electric car market.

It also plays into GM's ambitions of adding a recurring revenue stream from software and services long after the initial product is sold, a la Apple Inc, by selling EV battery charging and swapping services for example.

GM has said it wants to exceed annual sales of 1 million electric vehicles (EV) in the United States and China by 2025. Last month, the company said it would boost spending on electric and autonomous vehicles, shelling out US$35 billion through 2025, up 75% from March 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic choked the industry.

With new facilities and the studio's growing team of employees, "we have the right organizations and people to bring the most desirable products to China's consumers," Julian Blissett, executive vice president and president of GM China said in a statement. -Nampa/Reuters

Livestock discussed at high level

STAFF REPORTER

WINDHOEK

Representatives of the Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO) and the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) recently held a virtual meeting with agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein to discuss matters of importance in the livestock sector.

The LPO and NAU were given the opportunity to update Schlettwein on the activities they are engaged in, as well as to discuss with him the concerns and problems experienced in the sector and to seek solutions.

The LPO and NAU once again gave their support to the minister for his vision to grow agriculture and gave the assurance that they want to work with all stakeholders, north and south of the VCF, to bring about a better future for all.

Free market

The point was clearly made that livestock producers must be able to market in open and unregulated marketing channels that compete with one another to achieve the best prices.

According to the NAU, Schlettwein acknowledged the critical importance of the primary producers and that they form the foundation of the sector.

He expressed concern about the fragmentation in the sector.

The LPO's request to Schlettwein was to create a platform where the sector can come together to reach consensus on issues critical to the livestock sector.

This request was received favourably by the minister. However, he warned that to reach consensus, all parties must be willing to compromise to reach a middle ground.

The NAU says Schlettwein instructed the Meat Board of Namibia to compile a position paper that would serve as a basis for a symposium to be organised in the foreseeable future.

Understanding grasses• Vital insight for livestock farmers Farmers should understand the various attributes that are key to determining the grazing value of an area.

STAFF REPORTER

WINDHOEK

Livestock farming in Namibia is dominated by grazing livestock, mainly cattle and sheep.

These animal species mainly depend on grass for their nutrition, Agribank's technical advisor for livestock and rangeland Erastus Ngaruka said.“When one describes a grazing area, there are several attributes that should be key to determining the grazing value of that area. These are grass species composition, frequency, abundance, density, and soil cover amongst others,” he said.

Basically, the quality of the grass plant can be attributed to its species, growth structure and life cycle.

According to Ngaruka, farmers commonly use the term palatability as an assertion of the quality of the grass. However, grasses have different levels of palatability.

A palatable grass is one that an animal is attracted to or selects amongst others to graze, and this is influenced by its smell, taste, nutrients and digestibility.

Therefore, Ngaruka said selective grazing becomes dangerous especially when species' diversity or composition is narrow, thus, leading to local extinction of extremely sensitive valuable grass species.

Grass life cycle

“One of the important attributes that farmers should understand is the grass life cycle or lifespan.”

According to him, there are two different lifespans under which grasses can be classified - annual and perennial. The annual grasses refer to grasses that have a lifespan of less than a year. They grow fast, produce seeds quickly and shed seeds for reseeding, and then the mother plant dies. Usually, annual grasses emerge with the first rainfall or are only seen during the wet season but disappear during the dry season, by August.

Ngaruka said many grazing areas in Namibia are dominated by these types of grasses as their dominance increases with rangeland degradation.

“On the other hand, perennial grasses have a longer life span or last for more years. “Unlike annuals, they do not die after shedding seeds, but only undergo a dormancy period during the dry season to conserve nutrients for regrowth from the same stump in the next rainy season.”

He said there are many different species of perennial grasses, however, not all are palatable or well utilised by grazing animals.

Restorative practices

According to Ngaruka, the most valuable perennial grasses are more sensitive to continuous grazing; thus, their dominance decreases with overgrazing or rangeland degradation, which - in turn - gives rise to aggressive establishment of annual grasses.

“To make informed grazing management decisions, farmers need to know and understand the impact of the prevailing ecological perturbations, including herbivory, climate and intra-and inter-specific species competitions, amongst others. The reaction of the rangeland to these perturbations can be observed through its plant population establishment and distribution.”

He added that it is advisable that farmers engage in restorative practices on their rangelands. These include improving soil conditions, controlling bush densities, reintroducing the valuable perennial grasses by reseeding on their grazing areas, and cultivating them in gardens or crop fields.

Ivory Coast nut processors seek govt aid Against Asian competition Asian exporters, many in Vietnam and India, export about 80% of Ivory Coast's roughly 800 000 tonnes of annual cashew output. We don't know how the domestic processors work, but if they can't buy the cashew, it's not because of us. Alex Guettia, Member: Industry group

ANGE ABOA

Cashew nut processors in Ivory Coast have asked for government aid and protection from competition coming from deeper-pocketed Asian exporters that they say are driving them towards bankruptcy, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

The Ivory Coast Cashew Industry Group (GTCI), which represents 15 cashew processors, said in a letter to the sector regulator on June 23 the companies have only purchased around 37 000 tonnes this season, or around 15% of their capacity.

It attributed this to Asian exporters' ability to offer higher prices to farmers because of their scale, lower cost of production and access to state aid. It did not name specific companies.

Asian exporters, many in Vietnam and India, export about 80% of Ivory Coast's roughly 800 000 tonnes of annual cashew output.

The multinationals "have a virtual monopoly on purchases and exports of raw cashew nuts, leaving a small portion to local actors who are squeezed out of the supply chain," the letter said, warning that several companies face bankruptcy.

The companies, which have an annual processing capacity of around 250 000 tonnes and employ 2 300 people, asked the government to give them exclusive rights to purchase the first two weeks of the season's harvest in order to access the best quality raw nuts.

They also asked the regulator to help domestic companies export premium quality almonds, which are highly prized in Western markets, and to make available additional financial aid announced for exporters in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Regulator

Ivory Coast's cashew sector regulator declined to comment. Alex Guettia, a member of an industry group that represents 40 companies that buy nuts for Asian exporters including Vietnam's T&T Group, acknowledged the companies have benefited from state aid during the pandemic but emphasised their success securing outside funding.

"We don't know how the domestic processors work, but if they can't buy the cashew, it's not because of us," Guettia told Reuters. "Unlike processors, we know and master trading so it's easier for us to know how to avoid problems."

GTCI president Lucman Diaby said many domestic companies are nearly bankrupt or in severe financial difficulty because of the competition from Asian exporters. "Our Asian competitors have much lower production costs. It is impossible compete with them," Diaby said.

Aboubacar Toure, the director general of the Novarea processing firm, told Reuters domestic processing was unprofitable because of the high cost of production, including energy, industrial equipment and maintenance.

"For each kilo processed, we lose 160 francs CFA," he said, urging the government to double certain subsidies. - Nampa/Reuters

Tourism products should focus on Covid-19 confinement syndrome

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

The tourism industry should develop and offer affordable pricing options to tourists aimed at attracting families or individuals away from congested tourism destinations.

This is one of the recommendations tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta made to the industry, requesting cooperation for the sustainability of livelihoods, businesses and growth of the domestic market in the face of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Another recommendation was that the industry should develop and promote innovative nature-based tourism product offerings to allow healing processes for those affected by fear or shock of the pandemic and to deal with the confinement syndrome and its negative effects.

Shifeta also said the industry should strive to ensure that all workers in the sector are vaccinated as far as possible for their own protection and for the protection of tourists.

He added the industry should provide flexible administrative booking protocols - given the changing restrictive regulatory environment - to promote short recreational or business tourism travels away from populated cities.

Tourists free from restrictions

Meanwhile, no travel restrictions will apply to international tourists once they comply to the provisions outlined in the tourism guidelines issued for the period 1 to 15 July, the minister said.

These guidelines were issued following the new measures and amendments announced by President Hage Geingob to curb the increasing cases of the virus.

Geingob also announced that a special dispensation for tourists would be put in place.

Shifeta said tourism players, operators and stakeholders must also ensure compliance with the regulations as well as the Tourism Health and Safety Protocols and Guidelines.

“It is of utmost importance for all industry players and stakeholders to enforce these protocols and instruments in order to ensure the highest standards of health and hygiene as well as the safety of tourists visiting our country and its tourism destinations.”

The tourism guidelines for the period 1 to 15 July can be found on the Namibia Tourism Board’s website.

Schlettwein engages livestock farmers

STAFF REPORTER

WINDHOEK

Representatives of the Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO) and the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) recently held a virtual meeting with agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein to discuss matters of importance in the livestock sector.

The LPO and NAU were given the opportunity to update Schlettwein on the activities they are engaged in, as well as discuss with him the concerns and problems experienced in the sector and to seek solutions.

The LPO and NAU once again gave their support to the minister for his vision to grow agriculture and gave the assurance that they want to work with all stakeholders, north and south of the red line, to bring about a better future for all.

Free market

The point was clearly made that livestock producers must be able to market in open and unregulated marketing channels that compete with one another to achieve the best prices.

According to the NAU, Schlettwein acknowledged the critical importance of the primary producers and that they form the foundation of the sector.

He expressed concern about the fragmentation in the sector.

The LPO's request to Schlettwein was to create a platform where the sector can come together to reach consensus on issues critical to the livestock sector.

This request was received favourably by the minister. However, he warned that to reach consensus, all parties must be willing to compromise to reach a middle ground.

The NAU said Schlettwein instructed the Meat Board of Namibia to compile a position paper that would serve as a basis for a symposium to be organised in the foreseeable future.

Elcin declares week of prayer Members urged to stay at home “Church servants are only allowed to perform critical or essential services such as burials, and as soon as they finish the performed service, they should immediately return home to prayer,” the bishop said.

TUYEIMO HAIDULA

OSHAKATI

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) has called on its members to observe a week of prayer and staying at home next week.

Presiding Bishop Shekutaamba Nambala issued a letter of encouragement to Elcin congregations amid the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nambala said they thank God for the over 60 000 Namibians who have recovered from Covid-19.

“Notwithstanding the reported medical recoveries from this disease, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 is on the increase. Medical treatment of this virus requires too much input, extreme patience and sacrifices,” he wrote.

Nambala called on all Elcin members to kneel before God wherever they find themselves. He also pleaded with them to adhere to the health regulations and avoid gatherings.

“The week of 12 to 16 July will be observed as a week of prayer and staying at home. This week all church offices should be closed.

“Church servants are only allowed to perform critical or essential services such as burials, and as soon as they finish the performed service, they should immediately return home to prayer,” he said.

The bishop also urged people to get vaccinated.

– tuyeimo@namibiansun.com

BAN donates oxygen supply worth N$2.3 mlnMobilising resources to support government BAN members who contributed to this initiative include, Bank Windhoek, First National Bank, Nedbank, Letshego, and Standard Bank. The donation by BAN will ensure that the demand for oxygen in state hospitals is met and lives are saved. Martha Murorua, Chairperson: BAN

The Bankers Association of Namibia (BAN) has responded to a call by the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) for the business sector to assist in the fight against Covid-19, by donating N$2.3 million worth of oxygen to the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

This timely donation by BAN comes at a time when new infections are rising exponentially, with more hospitalisations and deaths.

Fortunately, “the donation by BAN will ensure that the demand for oxygen in state hospitals is met and lives are saved,” said Martha Murorua, Managing Director (MD) of Nedbank Namibia and Chairperson of Bankers Association of Namibia

“As BAN, we have responded to this noble cause to help the Ministry of Health and Social Services secure oxygen. Namibians must unite and fight the pandemic collectively. As President Hage Geingob remarked, ‘we need to join hands’,” commented Murorua. BAN members who contributed to this initiative include, Bank Windhoek, First National Bank, Nedbank, Letshego, and Standard Bank.

The donation by BAN came as Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula, announced on Thursday 1 July that the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, which started three weeks ago in the country, has been devastating in its effects. According to the Ministry of Health and Social Services statistics, out of the 59 015 Covid-19 tests in the past two weeks, the rate of positive results was 41%. Shangula noted that the demand for oxygen has become acute and the suppliers have struggled to cope in its supply.

Resources

The donation by BAN also came at the same time when President Geingob appealed to all international cooperating partners, friendly nations, and the Namibian private sector to continue mobilising resources in support of the government's response, to combat further devastation by Covid-19. In his speech on Wednesday, he reported that expert projections and simulation tools indicate that the rising incidence curve, during the third wave, is expected to peak around mid-August and may well continue until mid-September this year.

“As BAN, we will see to it that we continue to work with the government in the fight against Covid-19, our clients and employees have all been affected by the pandemic and need our support. We play an important role in the economy of our country; this is our Namibia.”

Murorua urged the private sector to join the call by the government and donate towards the fight against Covid-19.

The Bankers Association of Namibia (BAN) was established in 1997 in accordance with the Banking Institutions Act as the representative trade association for the commercial banking sector in the country. BAN members are Bank BIC, Bank Windhoek, First National Bank, Nedbank, Letshego, Trustco Bank and Standard Bank. BAN deals with non-competitive issues which are of common interest and of significance to the banking industry in Namibia.

NAMFISA’s legislative reforms to benefit industry

The Financial Institutions and Markets (FIM) Bill has officially been signed off by the Head of State and is yet to be gazetted while the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA) Bill was signed off by the President earlier in the year.

Once the FIM Bill is published in the Government Gazette, the authority will commence formal consultations with the industry on the standards

The Authority’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Matomola explains that the two pieces of legislations aim to strengthen NAMFISA’s enforcement powers, issue standards and to consolidate and harmonise the laws regulating financial institutions, financial intermediaries and financial markets in Namibia.

“Some of the regulatory transformations compels insurers to adopt plain language in all policies and avoids common conflicts or disputes among policy holders and financial services providers. The Act seeks to widen the scope of unit trusts schemes by introducing different collective investment schemes. It further repeals the outdated Pension Funds Act of 1956 and invites for more innovation in pension and retirement funding among other benefits.”

The FIM Act seeks to foster soundness of financial institutions and financial intermediaries such as brokers and agents, ensure fairness, efficiency and orderliness of the financial institutions and markets sector and the protection of consumers of financial services. It is worth noting that the FSA Bill has been removed from the parliamentary roll because a different practical approach is being explored to deal with matters relating to complaints on financial services. Key stakeholders will be informed on the latest developments at an appropriate platform

NAMFISA exists to supervise financial institutions and financial services, and to advise the minister of finance on matters relating to financial institutions and financial services.

Countries lose billions to wildlife crimePangolin the most trafficked animal in the world Wildlife crime often involves other serious crimes such as violence, corruption, fraud and money laundering, the report noted.

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

Governments lose N$100.6 to N$172.4 billion per year in potential fiscal revenue from illegal logging, fishing and wildlife crime.

Despite the unprecedented global Covid-19 pandemic, the threat of wildlife crime continued in 2020, according to the International Consortium on Combatting Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) annual report for 2020, titled ‘Together Against Wildlife Crime’.

The report said despite considerable effort by the global community, wildlife crime remains a significant threat.

“Highly organised and transnational in nature, wildlife crime often involves other serious crimes such as violence, corruption, fraud and money laundering, presenting law enforcement authorities with an increasingly difficult and complex task in addressing it. Illegally traded wildlife specimens also evade veterinary checks and sanitary safety inspections, intensifying the risk of disease emergence.”

The report pointed out that while N$1.72 billion is spent on combatting wildlife crime each year in 67 African and Asian countries, a massive N$431.1 billion is spent annually on drug crime in just the United States alone.

It further said between 2016 and 2018, the annual gross illicit income generated by ivory alone was estimated to be N$5.75 billion and by rhino horns N$3.3 billion.

“Wildlife crime affects not only the iconic animal species, but over 7 000 species of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)-listed wild animals and plants, driving many towards extinction. The Covid-19 pandemic illuminated the issue of wildlife crime and its role in intensifying the risk of disease emergence.”

On the verge of extinction

The report added that 22% of species are on the verge of extinction, while the pangolin is the most trafficked animal in the world. Furthermore, on average, 150 rangers are killed every year in the line of duty to protect wildlife.

“Wildlife crime has become one of the most serious forms of transnational organised crime and often converges with other serious crimes, with the criminals involved taking advantage of the low risk and high profits. Despite progress made to date, these criminals still do not face the full force of the law and much work remains to be done.”

Combatting crime of this magnitude cannot be done by a single country, organisation or sector, the report noted. It requires a global and holistic approach through cooperation across borders and across jurisdictions. It requires commitment, collaboration and engagement along the entire criminal justice chains.

The report further showcased how the consortium’s partnerships with member states and other stakeholders have helped enhance the capacity of customs, police, wildlife authorities and the entire criminal justice system, enabling a strong, consistent, coordinated and increasingly effective response to wildlife crime.

Namibia

A massive 91% of the 304 suspects arrested for wildlife crimes of high-value species last year were Namibians, according to the environment ministry and police’s annual wildlife crime report for 2020.

Suspects from neighbouring countries made up the rest of the arrests and included Angolans (5%), Zimbabweans (4%) and Batswana (0.4%).

The number of rhinos estimated to have been poached in Namibia reduced from 52 in 2019 to 31 in 2020.

There was, however, a significant increase in the number of rhino horns seized compared to previous years.

During 2018 and 2019, 13 and eight horns were recovered respectively, while in 2020, the number was 21. Arrests made relating to rhino horn poaching were 99 in 2020 compared to 62 in 2019.

Only 11 elephants are known to have been poached during 2020, while 13 were poached in 2019.

Last year, 62 ivory seizures were made and in 2019 115, while 127 arrests were made in 2019 and last year 64 suspects were arrested.

Pangolin was again the most-trafficked high-value species in Namibia during 2020, with 74 animals seized. This, however, represents a reduction in seizures compared to previous years (129 animals in 2019 and 88 in 2018). Only eight of the 74 animals seized in 2020 were alive, while most seizures consisted of skins (59).

A total of 175 suspects were arrested in 2019, while 103 suspects were arrested last year.

EDITORIAL: Covid lessons on succession One of the silver linings of the dreadful Covid-19 pandemic is the free and sometimes breakthrough lessons on how not to do certain things – now or in the future.

The pandemic is a harsh reminder of how gerontocracy, which is inevitably disintegrating because the virus is particularly fatal within senior citizens, has stifled the grooming of younger people to become leaders.

With many of our elderlies dying at a pace never seen before, leadership vacuums across all domains are emerging glaringly.

The laws of our country give leaders the latitude to enjoy endless stays in office and have made no deliberate provisions for grooming younger persons to assume such responsibilities.

This means the older persons who are dying are likely to either be replaced by their generational peers or by youths who have no clue about leadership and would thus drop the ball once they ascend into the unfamiliar territory of power.

We shouldn’t wait for crises and global pandemics to strike before realising the need for leadership succession plans.

The world is a rough place and life itself is a fatal disease. Tomorrow is never promised. We must plan for all its probabilities – good and bad.

It shouldn’t be left to a virus to twist our arm into doing what is right for the continuous functioning of our society.

Food commodity prices to ease this decadeReducing hunger, emissions are major challenges Chinese demand will remain a driver of global agricultural markets, particularly for meat, fish and feed grains. The fundamentals don't say to us that we will be moving to a super cycle of commodity prices. Maximo Torero, Chief Economist: FAO

GUS TROMPIZ

Food commodities are likely to become cheaper in the coming decade as productivity grows, but global targets on reducing hunger and emissions are unlikely to be met under current policies.

These remarks were made by the United nation (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on Monday.

Agricultural commodity prices have surged since last year due to a boom in Chinese imports and tightening inventories, leading the FAO last month to forecast record costs in 2021 for food importers.

However, prices of most agricultural commodities should fall slightly in real terms in the decade ahead, reverting to a long-term trend of improving production meeting rising demand from a growing population, the FAO and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said in a joint report.

"The fundamentals don't say to us that we will be moving to a super cycle of commodity prices," Maximo Torero, the FAO's chief economist, said during a presentation of the FAO/OECD Agricultural Outlook 2021-2030.

Chinese demand will remain a driver of global agricultural markets, particularly for meat, fish and feed grains, but rising at a slower pace than in the past decade as China's population expands more slowly and consumption of some foodstuffs levels off, the report said.

Gas

Overall greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture are projected to increase by 4% over 10 years, not fall, with livestock accounting for some 80% of the rise and a UN goal of "zero hunger" by 2030 remains far off.

"The problem is distribution and access to food in some regions," OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said, reiterating his organisation's call for farm subsidies to focus more on infrastructure and innovation.

The 10-year outlook assumes an economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic in which food markets prove resilient.

Net agricultural exports from Europe and Central Asia are seen doubling over the decade due to Russian and Ukrainian grain shipments.

In contrast, net imports to sub-Saharan Africa are projected to rise by 75% by 2030 due to higher imports of wheat, rice, maize and soybean. - Nampa/Reuters

Ethiopia approves US$12.9 billion budget

Ethiopia's parliament approved a 561.7-billion-birr (US$12.9 billion) budget for the 2021/22 fiscal year, an 18% rise in spending from a year ago, as the prime minister said he was focused on boosting prosperity.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told lawmakers before Monday's vote his government's priorities include finishing mega projects such as a giant dam on the Blue Nile and strengthening the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The parliamentary approval comes amid international attention on Africa's second-most populous nation due to the eight-month-old conflict in the northern Tigray region.

Abiy's government has been battling the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) after accusing it of attacking military bases in Tigray. Thousands have been killed.

Top United Nations officials warned the Security Council on Friday that more than 400 000 people in Tigray were now in famine and that there was a risk of more clashes in the region despite a unilateral ceasefire by the federal government.

The Tigrayan forces said on Sunday they want a full withdrawal of troops from Eritrea and the neighbouring state of Amhara before they can engage in any talks with the federal government about a ceasefire. -Nampa/Reuters