Namibia wants off UK’s red list

September 14, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Namibia wants off UK’s red list ELLANIE SMIT



WINDHOEK

Namibia remains on the United Kingdom’s red list, which restricts travel and requires returning British or Irish nationals to endure a 10-day quarantine at their own cost.

This has a devastating impact on Namibia’s already embattled tourism sector. The controversial “traffic light system” is due to be updated on Thursday.

In an open letter to UK prime minister Boris Johnson and other top government officials, the Namibia Travel and Tourism Forum (NTTF) has requested that Namibia be reclassified as a safe destination for tourism.

NTTF founder Nrupesh Soni said Namibia is still listed as a high-risk country for travel, even though the country currently has one of the lowest seven-day rolling averages in the number of Covid-19 cases globally.

“It is therefore unclear and incomprehensible how your authorities came to the conclusion that Namibia should be a high-risk country. Moreover, Namibia and - in fact - the whole of southern Africa remain on the UK red list,” he said.

Soni said all bookings for the peak months of September and October have been cancelled or postponed.

“If things do not change within the next month, many more companies will most probably be forced into bankruptcy.”

Scrap it

He said ahead of the review of the traffic light system and the country review, they urgently call that they system be scrapped, including the red list.

Soni added that hotel quarantine should be scrapped and fully vaccinated travellers, whether British residents or not, should be allowed to enter the UK without need for any testing.

Only British or Irish nationals and those with residence rights are permitted to enter the UK from Namibia.

However, these travellers are still forced to quarantine for 10 days in a state-managed hotel at a cost of more than N$40 000, it is reported.

These mandatory quarantine requirements have kept away travellers from one of Namibia’s most valuable tourism source market.

South Africa has also taken issue with the fact that it still remains on the UK’s red list, and started a petition with more than 30 000 signatures.

Risk profile

Introduced by the UK, the traffic light system is updated every three weeks, with its joint biosecurity centre responsible for determining the level of restrictions – red, amber or green – according to a specific country’s risk profile.

The risk assessments focus on Covid-19 variants, active caseloads, transmission rates and genomic sequencing capabilities, however, the centre has been criticised for inconsistencies in its approach.

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Mauritius tourism battles Covid-19 explosion

September 14, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Mauritius tourism battles Covid-19 explosion As borders open for international travellers The authorities had ordered people in some sectors to have Covid jabs or risk hefty fines and jail terms of up to five years. NAD SIVARAMEN

Hospitals are overwhelmed, ventilators are hard to find, and there's no longer enough space at the main cemetery for Covid-19 victims in Mauritius.

Barely three weeks before it flings its doors wide open to international travellers at the start of the peak tourist season, the paradise island nation is struggling with an alarming explosion in coronavirus infections and deaths.

In just two months, cases have jumped over five-fold to more than 12 600 as of Friday, by far the largest increase across Africa during this period, according to data compiled by AFP.

Since the pandemic started, Mauritius has recorded 1 005 cases of Covid-19 per 100 000 inhabitants, far higher than the continent's average of 598.

The crisis is now so acute that 74-year-old former prime minister Navin Ramgoolam has flown to India for Covid treatment, and the opposition leader has discussed his struggle to find a bed for an ailing friend.

"People do not realise how bad the situation is," said one nurse at a Covid-19 treatment centre, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of possible reprisals.

In July, the idyllic Indian Ocean holiday destination, renowned for its white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, partly reopened to vaccinated international visitors.

But they had to remain in "resort bubbles" for 14 days before being allowed to venture further afield, provided they had a negative PCR test.

Vaccination

The government reduced that timeframe to seven days this month ahead of a full reopening planned for October 1, when tourists will be free to explore the island as long as they test negative up to 72 hours before arrival.

"The situation is worsening," one doctor said on condition of anonymity, adding that medical professionals had been instructed not to talk about the crisis. "The priority of the government is to ensure a smooth opening of the borders on October 1."

The government has not given any explanation for the surge, but local media reports speak of people ignoring social distancing guidelines and throwing caution to the winds after getting inoculated.

The authorities had ordered people in some sectors to have Covid jabs or risk hefty fines and jail terms of up to five years.

As of Saturday, 61%of the population was fully vaccinated. But nevertheless the pandemic picture remains bleak.

Victims

Bernard, a worker at the leafy Bigara cemetery on the main island, said the area reserved for coronavirus victims was already full.

The dead are now being laid to rest at another graveyard in the north of the island, but locals are furious, saying Covid-19 victims are being buried too close to their homes.

L'Express newspaper reported that police had to be summoned last week when some youths began throwing stones at health workers who were burying the dead at Bois-Marchand cemetery.

The authorities have also been slow to paint a clear picture of the pandemic death toll, and announced a sharp revision to official figures Friday, from 34 to 89.

The health ministry explained its initial calculations by saying that the majority of the 89 fatalities were due to comorbidities and not directly caused by Covid-19.

Locals are conflicted about the relaxation of restrictions, with tourism contributing 25% of the archipelago's gross domestic product prior to the pandemic. -Nampa/AFP

PG still deciding on Seibeb’s treason charge

September 14, 2021, 3:00 pm

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PG still deciding on Seibeb’s treason chargeCase sent back for ‘further investigations’ In a press statement issued yesterday, the Landless People’s Movement blasted the National Assembly, accusing it of running an anti-LPM agenda. JEMIMA BEUKES/JEANETTE DIERGAARDT







WINDHOEK

Having succeeded in the fight to prove that their suspensions were illegal, Landless People’s Movement (LPM) second-in-command Henny Seibeb now waits with bated breath to see whether he will be prosecuted for treason.

This after Prosecutor-General (PG) Martha Imalwa yesterday indicated that she is yet to determine if Seibeb will be prosecuted on a treason case opened by presidential bodyguard, commissioner Johan Ndjarunguru, in April.

“I sent it back for further investigations,” Imalwa told this publication in a telephonic interview.

Ndjaronguru dragged Seibeb and Bernadus Swartbooi before the law following the State of the Nation Address fracas that played out in Parliament in April, which saw parliamentary proceedings being halted due to the commotion in the chamber and led to the eventual suspension of the LPM leaders for their alleged “dishonourable” conduct.

At the time, the Namibian police said it committed the necessary resources to probe the high treason case.

Police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga in April said thorough investigations must be conducted to determine if there will be need for arrests.

“The issue is there are two counter cases registered. They registered a case and the police also registered a case. Investigations will be conducted and then it will be sent to the PG,” he said.

Ndjaronguru refused to comment when contacted yesterday.

Anti-LPM

In a press statement issued yesterday, LPM blasted the National Assembly, accusing it of running an anti-LPM agenda.

“There is an anti-LPM atmosphere currently prevailing at Parliament. Parliamentary staff believe that they are essentially working for Swapo and treat opposition party members of parliament with disdain. It is as if the opposition party members of parliament are enemy number one. This is manifested in the so-called parliamentary security personnel and their conduct,” it read.

Seibeb also refuted the findings of the Standing Committee of Privileges, which found them guilty of misconduct.

He said they questioned the disciplinary procedure used by the committee through their lawyers, a move which yielded no response from National Assembly Speaker Peter Katjavivi.

“We did not even call our witnesses and cross-examine them. The so-called findings by the committee are therefore purely by Swapo members and their cohorts. Not even the leader of the Popular Democratic Movement [McHenry Venaani] was included. This is also on record in Parliament,” he charged.

‘Deep-seated hatred’

According to Seibeb, National Assembly spokesperson David Nahangondja “unleashes his deep-seated hatred” against LPM members and allows his emotions to interfere with his job.

He said Nahangondja has become a “self- styled propagandist” of the Speaker of Parliament, adding that the work done by LPM is not recognised.

Seibeb claims their suspensions were “typical African village tin pot behaviour”, and said Katjavivi’s actions come from a place of “extreme bitterness”.

EDITORIAL: Speaker Katjavivi must introspect

September 14, 2021, 3:00 pm

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EDITORIAL: Speaker Katjavivi must introspect In his well-renowned published article titled Roman Law and Its Influence in America, American attorney Gerald J. McGinley rightfully stated: “Laws are not the result of spontaneous action, but they are accumulated through the course of time to meet the demands of the people to whom they apply; they are affected by the industry of a country, and by the political, social and religious belief of the law-makers”.

This excerpt comes in handy when one observes the decaying state our National Assembly finds itself in.

More so, it comes in even more handy when taxpayers make a determination as to whether they are getting any return on investment and whether their aspirations when it comes to lawmaking are being met.

Many would agree that the events of 15 April 2021, on the day of the State of the Nation Address (SONA), cannot be viewed in isolation but rather as a culmination of events which reached a climax.

While the opposition parties have been blamed by the secretariat for rowdy – and even violent – behaviour in the August House, the biased, iron-fisted leadership style of Speaker Peter Katjavivi has long cultivated what eventually transpired.

Opposition parties have since the start of this current parliament red-flagged Katjavivi’s behaviour as what created a volatile parliamentary atmosphere because of his perceived bias.

What took place on SONA day was the explosion of a bomb that had been ticking inside the chests of the opposition MPs for a long time.

Send vaccines to Africa- AU says

September 14, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Send vaccines to Africa- AU saysUrgent need to catch up in vaccinating The COVAX programme also urged rich countries that had met their domestic needs to forfeit volumes rather than administer third shots. We are advocating for them to provide these through COVAX to low-income countries. Matshidiso Moeti, Head: WHO Africa Rich nations would do better to send vaccines to Africa to help fight the global Covid-19 pandemic rather than hoarding them for third-dose booster shots that scientific evidence does not back, the African Union's (AU) top health official said.

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) director John Nkengasong told a news conference he was baffled some rich countries were disregarding World Health Organization (WHO) advice to hold off from booster shots until more people were fully vaccinated worldwide.

"The problem we have with the third doses is, we have not seen enough science behind them," he said. "It is really confusing to me as to why we are moving towards a vast administration of the booster dose."

Wealthy countries such as Germany, France and Israel are planning to administer third shots, over concerns that immunity from the standard two-shot regimen is waning.

"We do not know at what point immunity drops to a level at which it stops offering protection," Nkengasong said. "Without that science, you'll surely be gambling."

The global programme providing Covid-19 vaccines to poor countries is on course to fall nearly 30% short of its previous goal of 2 billion shots this year, the international organisations running it said.

Needs

The COVAX programme also urged rich countries that had met their domestic needs to forfeit volumes rather than administer third shots.

WHO's Africa head Matshidiso Moeti reiterated calls for "wealthy countries with vaccines supplies that are well beyond their population's needs," to share them.

"We are advocating for them to provide these through COVAX to low-income countries," she said. "It is urgent now for Africa to catch up in vaccinating".

Nkengasong said third shot programmes would make it hard for Africa to meet its target for vaccinating 60% to 70% of people, for which it needed at least 1.6 billion doses.

Currently only 3% of the continent were vaccinated, he said, while 145.4 million vaccine doses had been procured across the continent, of which three quarters had been administered.

In the meantime, the coronavirus continued to evolve, as it coursed through unvaccinated populations, he said: "Today it's the Delta variant, tomorrow we just don't know which variant will be out there." Africa has recorded 7.9 million cases, of which 201 000 have been fatal, he said. - Nampa/Reuters

SA's regulator approves Pfizer vaccine

September 14, 2021, 3:00 pm

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SA's regulator approves Pfizer vaccine South Africa's health regulator has approved Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine for use by children aged 12 and older, paving the way for the government to offer vaccinations to teenagers.

The South African Health Products Authority (SAPHRA) said the decision came after a review of updated safety and efficacy information submitted in March this year.

After a bumpy start, South Africa's vaccination campaign has ramped up in recent months with a solid supply of shots secured and just over 12% of its more than 60 million people vaccinated. That puts the country well ahead of others on the continent.

However, health insurers say vaccine hesitancy is now the main issue impacting the pace of the campaign and the government has launched efforts to persuade people to get the jab. South Africa has a large youth population, with some 28% under the age of 15.

Countries around the world are now considering or administering vaccines to children, while other vaccine developers including Moderna are seeking the green light for the use of their shots on teens.

Pfizer, whose shot is already being administered to teens, is planning tests on even younger children. - Nampa/Reuters

Covid: Geingob encourages vaccinations as 3 436 die

September 14, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Covid: Geingob encourages vaccinations as 3 436 die JEMIMA BEUKES

Only 9% of Namibians fully vaccinated

14% Khomas fully vaccinated (highest regionally)

15.1% of national population received first jab

3 556 doses administered per day



WINDHOEK

So far, 3 436 Namibians have died from Covid-19, mostly during the devastating third wave, with President Hage Geingob yesterday expressing concern at the slow rate at which healthcare workers are taking the vaccination.

Only 14% of the country’s healthcare worker population have taken the jab.

The head of state was, however, pleased that vaccine uptake is much higher amongst the elderly and persons with comorbidities.

Since the start of the country’s Covid-19 vaccination roll-out, about 13.9% of Khomas Region residents have been fully vaccinated, while in neighbouring Hardap, the vaccinated population stands at 12.6%.

So far, those who have gotten their first jab constitute 15.1% of the country’s eligible population. Namibia, which targets 60% vaccine uptake in order to reach herd immunity, has in recent days recorded an average of 3 556 doses per day.

“This is a long shot from the requisite 60% total population coverage target to achieve herd immunity by March 2022. I implore all eligible Namibians to come forward and get vaccinated. Vaccination remains one of the most effective measures in our national response to avert serious illness and death from Covid-19,” Geingob said.

“When government developed the national Covid-19 vaccination and deployment plan earlier this year, we adopted the principle of voluntary vaccination. The aim of that approach was to encourage vaccine uptake on a voluntary basis. Recently, there has been broad discussion on different platforms about mandatory vaccination.”

He pointed out that the official government stance is voluntary vaccination, although there may be employers who are coercing their workers to get jabbed.

Enough vaccines

Meanwhile, health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula assured the nation that, at the moment, Namibia has sufficient doses of the vaccines for the vaccination campaign.

He further discouraged the public from peddling mistruths and misinformation about the effects vaccines may have on people.

“I want to debunk these lies and state categorically that there is absolutely no truth in such allegations. The nation must remain assured that all the vaccines delivered to Namibia, whether through donations or those that we have procured with government recourses, are within their shelf life and are safe for use. “Members of the public should stand warned that spreading false information about Covid-19 is an offence. As such, anyone who spreads false information will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

jemima@namibiansun.com

Tragedy strikes as boy (12) drowns in Goreangab Dam

September 14, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Tragedy strikes as boy (12) drowns in Goreangab Dam Tanja Bause



WINDHOEK

“What does he look like? Is he whole, is he whole? Please tell me the fish did not bite and eat him," Miriam Simon said just minutes after the body of 12-year-old David Sheya was pulled from Goreangab Dam.

Sheya drowned on Monday after he and two friends – also aged 12 – walked from their house in 7de Laan in Otjomuise to the dam to go swimming.

"He had a pink thing [plastic flotation ring] and told his friends that he would go into the water first and they could use it after him. But he fell a few metres from the shore.

“His friends tried to throw the floatation ring to him, but he couldn’t catch it. They then tried to reach out their hands to him, but he was too far away. Then they ran to fetch a stick. That stick was too short and he drowned. They then ran home to seek help,” she said.

She described him as a quiet boy who was in Grade 6 at Otjomuise Primary School.

"His mother sells sweets and vetkoeks to support the family. She has four children, of which he was the only son. She is not here today because she has to make money so the rest of the kids can eat.

"I called the police on Tuesday when I heard about the accident and they said they could not do anything and gave me the diver's number,” Simon said.

Percy Openshaw of Crisis Response International went diving yesterday in search of the boy’s body. After 40 minutes, he found the body at a depth of 39 metres.

"The water was terribly cold and I could not see anything,” he said, adding that he had retrieved another body – that of a 16-year-old boy – just last Friday. The boy had drowned the previous afternoon.

Openshaw is the only diver who retrieves bodies from the dam.

"When I heard about the boy, I called all the divers in the country to see if they could assist me because the water is so deep and dark, but everyone said no."

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SME Bank depositors still licking their wounds

September 14, 2021, 3:00 pm

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SME Bank depositors still licking their woundsMassive losses anticipated A whopping 23 259 claims had been made against the bank, to the combined value of over N$1 billion. OGONE TLHAGE







WINDHOEK

Depositors of liquidated SME Bank are still waiting to receive their payments from the bank – despite an agreement that they would be paid 10 cents on each dollar they had in their accounts.

The depositors also claimed that the liquidators, Ian McLaren and David Bruni, did not have follow-up meetings to discuss the developments pertaining to pay-outs they were meant to receive.

“We do not know what to do or where and whom to approach. We are troubled, we are bankrupt, banks have repossessed our cars and houses. We need our money from SME Bank - not tomorrow, but now,” depositors who approached Namibian Sun said.

Shareholders of the SME Bank were Namibia Financing Trust (Pty) Ltd, representing the Namibian government which holds 65% of the shares; Metropolitan Bank of Zimbabwe (35%), and World Eagle Investments (5%).

The SME Bank was closed in 2017 after approximately N$200 million the bank ‘invested’ with South African entities vanished into thin air. It is alleged that a lot of the SME Bank funds were deposited into Venda Building Society (VBS) Mutual Bank, a South African bank that is also now under curatorship.

The liquidators are claiming that between 11 October 2012 and 29 April 2015, an amount of N$97.1 million was transferred to South African recipients. Another transfer of N$53.5 million was made to South Africa between 30 April 2015 and 1 September 2015.

The bank again made a transfer totalling N$97.5 million to the South African recipients between 1 September 2015 and 17 January 2017.

After liquidation, the bank’s 208 employees lost their jobs.

Millions stolen

The liquidators of the bank are also accused of deviating from an original agreement to at least pay out N$0.25 on the dollar, depositors said.

“The initial verbal promise in the meeting held by SME Bank depositors and Bruni and McLaren liquidators was that we will receive at least N$0.25 for every dollar we are owed as settlement, and it was not done,” depositors said.

A whopping 23 259 claims had been made against the bank - to the combined value of over N$1 billion.

High Court judge Collins Parker concluded that N$247 million had been stolen from the bank before its liquidation in 2017.

The Bank of Namibia placed the former lender under curatorship after between N$181 million and N$196 million had been invested in questionable securities in South African financial instruments.

The former deputy chairperson of SME Bank, Enoch Kamushinda, his company World Eagle Investments and another other minority shareholder, Metbank, were found to be responsible for the liabilities amounting to N$1 billion.

Economy loses billions due to shipping constraints

September 14, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Economy loses billions due to shipping constraintsIncreased vessel traffic expected The value of exports stood at N$4.8 billion in July 2021, compared to N$9.4 billion recorded in June 2021, dropping by nearly 50%. Having increased the cargo terminal's capacity at Walvis Bay from 350 000 containers per annum to 750 000 containers per annum, Namport is well positioned to handle an influx of vessel calls. Theo Klein, Economist: Simonis Storm PHILLEPUS UUSIKU



For the month July 2021, the Namibian economy lost about N$4.6 billion in potential export earnings. Statistics released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) indicated that the value of exports stood at N$4.8 billion in July 2021, compared to N$9.4 billion recorded in June 2021, dropping by nearly 50%.

In July 2020, the value of exports stood at N$6.6 billion, declining by 27.7%.

According to Simonis Storm economist, Theo Klein, the shortage of cargo ships and containers negatively impacted Namibian exports, most noticeably on copper exports. Walvis Bay warehouses were at full capacity and accumulated a stockpile of export goods waiting for available containers. Some of the copper stockpile stored in warehouses were shipped during July 2021.The share of exports leaving Namibia via sea decreased from 73.5% in June 2021 to 51.0% in July 2021, he said.

Given these developments, Namibia recorded a trade deficit to the tune of N$3.2 billion indicating a growth when compared to the deficit of N$902 million recorded in June 2021 but an improvement when compared to N$3.4 billion recorded in July 2020, NSA pointed out.



Products

Copper was Namibia's largest export commodity during the month under review, accounting for 29.1% of total exports mainly destined to China, Spain, Netherlands and France. This was followed by fish which accounted for 16.4% of total exports destined mostly to Spain, Zambia and South Africa.

Non-monetary gold of which most was destined to South Africa occupied the third position after absorbing 9.2%. Finally, ores and concentrates of base metals accounted for 3.7% of total export and was primarily absorbed by Italy. The aforementioned top five export commodities jointly accounted for 70.3% of total exports up from its June 2021 level of 49.5% and 55.7% recorded in July 2020.

During the month of July 2021, exports amounting to N$2.4 billion, representing 51% of total exports left the country by sea. This translated into a decline of 64.8% when compared to (N$6.9 billion) of goods exported in June 2021.

“Having increased the cargo terminal's capacity at Walvis Bay from 350 000 containers per annum to 750 000 containers per annum, Namport is well positioned to handle an influx of vessel calls,” Klein said.



Imports

Imports stood at N$7.9 billion, dropping by 23.1% on monthly basis, while on annual basis a decline of 20.9% was observed from its July 2020 level of N$10 billion, NSA said.

Klein notes that commodities from local mines constitute about 60% of total exports and would be recommendable for Namibia to focus on its comparative advantage and the resources which are in abundant supply.

“In light of this, the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and the National Planning Commission (NPC) have endeavoured to find growth opportunities within Namibia in order to diversify our export product mix and focus on the manufacturing of alternative products which Namibia is capable of producing.

The NPC has identified certain industries, such as mining, which has run its course and aims to pursue opportunities in alternative industries to create jobs.

One main factor underpinning this strategy is to increase the complexity of Namibia's product offering to local and international markets. This will be done by importing skills and training Namibians in certain complex manufacturing activities,” he said.

Kanibal no more

September 15, 2021, 3:10 am

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Kanibal no more JUST IN: Namibian hip-hop legend Kanibal has died. His body was found by his siblings at his mother’s house in Pioneers Park in Windhoek this morning. His death was confirmed to the media by Nascam director, John Max. This is a developing story. PHOTO: Contributed

Chasing the elusive 200m world record

September 15, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Chasing the elusive 200m world record Does Mboma or Thompson-Herah hold the key? The late Florence Griffith-Joyner of the United States set a 200-metre world record that is unlikely ever to be beaten. JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

WINDHOEK

The women’s 200-metre world record remains elusive as no one has ever come close to it since the late Florence Griffith-Joyner of the United States did the unthinkable by running 21.34 seconds at the 1988 Olympics.

“We will not think about the world record at this point but I know that Beatrice and Christine Mboma can run much faster times than they do now.

“Breaking the 200-metre world record will be something special, but we are more focused on improving at the moment,” coach Henk Botha said when asked about chasing the record.

As the athletics season concludes, all eyes and hopes were on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and other competitions, with the world hoping that the 33-year-old record could finally have a new owner.

Yet, not even Elaine Thompson-Herah with a personal best of 21.53 seconds, or Christine Mboma’s 21.78 could rattle the elusive record.

Gabriella Thomas of the United States with a PB of 21.61, who was part of the crop of potential 200m record breakers, was far from her best after only managing a bronze at Tokyo without coming close to the PB she set in June.

But some still believe the American can improve and challenge for the record.

Not even her retired American compatriot and one of athletics’ greats Marion Jones came close to the 21.34-second mark, with her PB of 21.62 she ran in 1998 in still standing as the fourth fastest 200m time in history.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas, with a PB of 21.74, did not have the best of seasons since a scintillating run in Zurich in 2019 which saw her getting her PB.

Miller-Uibo who is 27 years old, is also expected to rejuvenate her form and bounce back to chase for the elusive glory.

So far, only five women have managed a finish around 21.60, while only Elaine Thomson-Herah has gone step further by getting in the 21.50s.

Namibia’s Christine Mboma, who is just 18 years old, with a current PB of 20.78, is among the 13 women who have finished in the 21.70s.

The 2020 Olympic silver medallist is not at her peak yet and many have pinned their hopes on her to one day break the 200m world record.

Mboma, who has a PB of 48.54 seconds in the 400 metres, looked as if she was close to breaking the 400m record of 47.60 set in 1985 by Marita Koch.

The athlete was however removed from the race category following the controversial high testosterone level rules that are currently under scrutiny.

The Namibian remains one of the potential athletes to come close to smashing the 200m record, provided that she keeps improving and reaches her peak.

“I just need to work harder and I will be able to run faster if I keep being committed,” Mboma said when asked if she could go faster.

Namibia Press Agency sport journalist Hesron Kapanga has no doubts that Mboma has what it takes to break the record.

“Christine is a gem and one can definitely say that she has all the potential of breaking all those records.

“All she needs is a bit of polishing because she is currently running with what she is being taught and her natural talent.

“That is however not enough because I know for sure that this lady will be like Usain Bolt if she gets the best polishing because she will break all the records in probably two years from now,” Kapanga said.

Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who has a PB of 21.88, is another athlete who has the potential of coming close to the record.

He current form has been far from her best when she ran her PB in 2019, but there have been gradual signs of improvement.

Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, who has a PB of 21.81 set in September this year, appears to be drifting further away from that record even if she has her personal best this year.

Her Jamaican and evergreen compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (21.79) looks highly unlikely to get that record given she will be approaching her 35th birthday without showing signs of slowing down.

The fact that the Jamaican is still running PBs in the 200m serves as an encouragement to the young athletes that they could still have enough time to chase the elusive world record.

Other encouraging news for those athletes yet to hit their 30s is that Griffith-Joyner was 28 when she broke the world record.

Thompson-Herah will be much more encouraged given that she is only turning 30 and probably in the best form of her career following her Tokyo 2020 success where she ran 21.53.

The record chasers will be encouraged that Jamaica’s Usain Bolt in 2009 smashed Michael Johnson’s (19.32) world record by finishing in a time of 19.19 in Berlin at the age of 23.

Still the question remains whether the current fastest women in history can break that record.

The Athletics Enthusiast believes it can be done if the athletes work hard and continue improving.

“This record has remained elusive for so long and it will take a special athlete to break it.

“If you however look at athletes like Thompson-Herah, who is in the form of her career, you can say that it is not impossible to break it.

“Christine Mboma has shown a remarkable amount of improvement in a short period of time and one does not know yet how much faster she can go but she has the potential to break that record one day.

“Shaunae Miller-Uibo is the third athlete I think can do it given the immense talent she has and if she can remain injury free,” veteran athletics coach Letu Hamhola said.

Hino Indongo shows off revamped 300-Series

September 15, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Hino Indongo shows off revamped 300-Series Offers the complete transport solution Jorinda Heymans, Hino Indongo: “We have a truck to suit every budget and application, so whatever you need, in whatever specification, you can find it at Hino Indongo”. Yochanaan Coetzee



Choosing a commercial vehicle is a key consideration for any business. You need a cost-effective, reliable and comfortable vehicle, which suits your specific needs down to a tee.

Thankfully, Hino Indongo has the perfect solution, whether you're moving freight, farming or working in any industry.

“We have a truck to suit every budget and application, so whatever you need, in whatever specification, you can find it at Hino Indongo,” Jorinda Heymans said.



New and improved range

Hino Indongo recently introduced 300-Series trucks in a revised range which has been carefully selected to provide a transport solution to best meet the requirements of its customers involved in a host of varied operations throughout the country.

Although the number of models in the range remains 12, there are some significant changes in the model mix.

Most importantly, the number of models with a six-speed fully automatic transmission has now increased from four to seven, covering all major model variants, with three of them fitted to crew cabs.

Two of the 614 models have a five-speed manual transmission, albeit a new model gearbox with revised ratios, while the other manual gearbox models now have six speeds.



The power to perform

All Hino 300-Series trucks are powered by a four-cylinder, four-litre turbocharged diesel engine.

Some models use it in a lower output form (105 bhp or 78 KW of power and 263 Nm of torque), while the models with a higher GVM rating use it with a higher output (155 bhp or 116 kW of power and 404 Nm of torque).

Hino 300-Series wheelbase lengths are 2.525 metres for the shorter versions and go up to 4.2 m for the longest derivative, ready to suit your applications.

Both the 614 models, with a 5.5-ton GVM, and 714 range, with a 6.5-ton GVM, have short- and long-­wheelbase manual transmission derivatives as well as short wheelbase automatics.

The 816 models have a GVM of 7.5 tons, and are short wheelbase models, one with automatic transmission and the other with the six-speed manual.

The 916 models have a GVM of 8.5 tons and both sport long wheelbases with one having an automatic ­transmission and the other the ­six-speed manual.



Catering for your crew

The range is rounded off with three crew cab models – 714, 816 and 916 – all long wheelbase derivatives with well-proven and fuel efficient six-speed automatic transmission.

“The availability of automatic transmission on the 916 models has been welcomed by many operators who had requested this specification,” Hino SA vice president Ernie Trautmann said.

National service footprint

Downtime can have a serious impact on your businesses bottom line, which is why Hino Indongo have made sure to cater to their clients in various major centres to ensure they enjoy the best service in the quickest turn-around times.

“Besides our Windhoek headquarters, we also have fully-equipped service centres in Walvis Bay and Ongwediva to cater for our clients in those areas and assist them to ensure their business operations run smoothly and without unnecessary transport costs and business interruptions,” Heymans added.

To find out more, or to experience the quality and comfort of the Hino range, make sure to visit Hino Indongo on the corner of Bell and Stokes in Windhoek's Southern Industrial Area, or contact them at 061 237 130 for more information.

COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF

September 15, 2021, 3:00 pm

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COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF J&J reports promising Ebola vaccine data

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) said on Monday its Ebola vaccine regimen demonstrated antibody immune responses in adults and children, citing data published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.

The two-dose regimen was well-tolerated and induced antibody responses to the Zaire ebolavirus species 21 days after the second dose in 98% of all participants, the company said, citing data from a late-stage trial.

The regimen, Zabdeno and Mvabea, generated immune responses that persisted in adults for at least two years. J&J added that there were no safety signals of concern.

"These peer-reviewed data support the prophylactic use of the Johnson & Johnson Ebola vaccine regimen to protect people at risk of Ebola, which is essential to our vision of preventing Ebola outbreaks before they can begin," J&J's Chief Scientific Officer Paul Stoffels said.

The company added that a booster shot administered two years after the initial vaccination induced a strong immune response within seven days.

Ebola typically kills about half of those it infects, although vaccines and new treatments have proven highly effective in reducing fatality rates. - Nampa/Reuters

Africa vaccine hub to copy Moderna shot

Efforts to develop an African base for Covid-19 vaccine production will focus on trying to replicate Moderna's shot, but a lack of progress in talks with the US company mean the project will take time, a senior WHO official told Reuters.

The drive to produce vaccines in Africa is designed to help more developing countries access Covid-19 shots after rich nations bought up most of this year's supply.

Moderna said last October it would not enforce patents related to its shot during the pandemic, raising hopes that other companies might be able to copy it and help boost Covid-19 vaccine production.

In practice, though, it is hard to replicate a vaccine without the information on how it is made, and the World Health Organization-backed tech transfer hub in South Africa set up in June to give poorer nations the know-how to produce Covid-19 vaccines - has so far not reached a deal with the company.

"The talks have not yielded any results," Martin Friede, WHO Initiative for Vaccine Research coodinator, told Reuters.Moderna did not respond to a request for comment. - Nampa/Reuters

Pacaso raises millions in SoftBank

Pacaso, a property co-ownership sales and management platform launched only about a year ago, said on Tuesday it raised US$125 million in a funding round led by SoftBank Group Corp's Vision Fund 2 which valued the company at US$1.5 billion.

Pacaso buys luxury homes, renovates and furnishes them, and then finds up to eight owners to buy a share of the property. The property is then managed through Pacaso’s SmartStay app between the owners who may not know each other.

"Owning a second home is an aspiration many, many families share. But it tends to be out of reach for most people because second homes are very expensive and they're also highly underutilized," said Austin Allison CEO and co-founder of Pacaso.

The company makes money on reselling the property and a fee for using the management app, said Allison. The fast-growing start-ups, already operating in 25 destinations in the United States, has also quickly hit some pushback.

In May, a local newspaper in Sonoma Valley, California’s wine region, reported neighbours of a co-owned Pacaso home posting sign “Pacaso time shares not welcome here” and there are at least two petitions on change.org. -Nampa/Reuters

Boeing raises jet demand forecast

Boeing revised up long-term demand forecasts on Tuesday, as a snapback in commercial air travel in domestic markets like the United States tempers the gloomy industry predictions seen at the height of coronavirus lockdowns last year.

The rosier view underpins moves by the aerospace giant to prepare for growth in travel demand and military services, even as its own ability to respond to the brighter outlook remains hampered by industrial delays and the lingering 737 MAX crisis.

The US plane maker, which dominates jet sales together with Europe's Airbus, forecast 43 610 commercial jet deliveries over the next 20 years’ worth US$7.2 trillion, an increase of 500 units from the 43 110 projected a year ago.

On a shorter 10-year view, which is more sensitive to the severe fallout on airlines from the Covid-19 pandemic, Boeing sees 19 330 deliveries, up from last year's forecast of 18 350.- Nampa/Reuters

Google to offer consumer benefits

Alphabet Inc's Google said on Wednesday its presence in South Korea equates to nearly 12 trillion won (US$10.16 billion) in economic benefits for its users, as the US tech giant faces increased scrutiny from regulators and politicians.

Google's announcement came a day after South Korea's antitrust agency fined Google 207 billion won for blocking customised versions of its Android operating system, in the company's second setback in the country in less than a month. read more

The Korea Fair Trade Commission said this could be the ninth-biggest fine it has ever imposed.

Google said during an online event that it annually provides 5.1 trillion won worth of benefits for South Koreans through its Play Store, 4.2 trillion won through its search engine service, and 2.5 trillion won through its productivity apps, including Google Docs, citing a report from consulting firm AlphaBeta.

Google added that it also annually provides 10.5 trillion won in economic benefits for South Korean companies. -Nampa/Reuters

USA Trade Hub presents Meatco with trophy

September 15, 2021, 3:00 pm

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USA Trade Hub presents Meatco with trophy ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

Meatco was officially awarded with the Exporter of the Year to USA Trophy during a ceremony held last week.

The Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), together with the Namibian Manufacturers Association (NMA), held the ceremony to award the winners of the first Namibia Annual Exporter Awards for 2021.

In his acceptance speech as Exporter of the Year to the USA, the CEO of Meatco, Mwilima Mushokabanji, said he was humbled to accept the trophy on behalf of the Meatco workforce.

“Meatco is an institution that is tasked with a very huge responsibility because we strive to become this big institution that competes globally and, as we do that, our objective is clear in creating sustainable wealth for all Namibians.

“We do this by maximising producer returns and paying competitive prices at all costs. Meatco also creates wealth by contributing to employment creation; currently, we are employing 700 staff members. This needs to be sustained as agriculture is the backbone of the Namibian economy,” he said.

Opportunity

According to Mushokabanji, Meatco saw an opportunity to utilise the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) legislation when in 2002 the Namibian Government sought approval to export beef products into the US.

Meatco used AGOA as a strategic gateway to make the best use of the export market.

At the time, there was no other African country exporting beef to the US market and Meatco became the first African beef exporter to the US market.

To date, it has exported 720 tonnes of beef to that market.

Mushokabanji said their target is the high-end user market, a health-conscious market that appreciates quality organic products.

“We are excited and look forward to a long-lasting relationship. We also look forward to producing and beefing up exports into the US market.”

The acting USA country representative for Namibia, Mark Anthony, said Meatco had proven to be the pioneer in creating market entry channels in the USA for Namibian beef products.

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Livestock production prices on the rise

September 15, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Livestock production prices on the rise ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

The cost of producing livestock has been on the rise, resulting in producers paying more for inputs.

According to the Namibian Agriculture Union (NAU), livestock producers paid about 7.0% more for their inputs in the first half of 2021, as opposed to the same period last year.

The increase resulted from price increases in fuel (7.7%), maintenance and fixed improvements (12.9%), capital expenditure (17.4%) and medicinal costs (6.6%).

The union says a rise in the cost of transportation had a negative impact on imported products.

“Livestock producers received better prices in 2021 (January to June) than in 2020 (January to June).”

According to the union, sheep prices improved by 26.0%, and cattle prices grew by more than 17.6%.

It says cattle prices increased because of a 21.8% and 11.4% improvement in the price of weaners and oxen respectively.

Weaners

“The production and sale of weaners remained more profitable than ox production, because on average the weaner price as percentage of the slaughter price stood at 76% in 2021.”

It noted that the weaner price dropped slightly by 5.3% from the first to the second quarters of 2021.

“The drop in the price of weaners could have resulted from an increase in grain prices, which affected feedlot input costs leading to a low demand for weaners.”

The union further said that weaner prices are variable, and the weaner production system has a high drought risk.

“The system is risky, in that it consists largely of breeding cows, and during drought, herd reduction occurs resulting in a good number of cows being marketed.”

According to the union, this poses a challenge to the system because breeding stock after a drought is always highly priced. Still, the weaner production system has been the most profitable over the past five years, it added.

Farmers respond positively to agri advisory training

September 15, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Farmers respond positively to agri advisory training STAFF REPORTER

WINDHOEK

Farmers in Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions responded positively to Agribank’s practical training and lecture sessions.

As farmers prepare for the upcoming rainy season, Agribank conducted lectures and practical training sessions in the two regions, targeted at farmers of all kinds.

Over 175 farmers participated in the practical sessions and lectures, with women being the highest in attendance, according to the bank.

According Hanks Saisai, Agribank’s technical advisor for crops and poultry, the lectures and practical training sessions have been targeting remote areas in order for them to have access to critical information.

This includes information on livestock nutritional needs, animal health, farm management, planning and record-keeping, chicken production, vegetable production and dryland crop production.

Saisai said these events were held to prepare farmers for the upcoming rainy season, to improve productivity and to contribute towards sustainable food security and wealth creation.

He added that some topics such as poultry, horticulture and cultivated pasture are more in demand, as participants requested follow-up training in such areas.

Agribank, through its Agri Advisory Services Division, conducts lectures and practical sessions with the objective of educating farmers on various components of farming, as well as advising on possible solutions to challenges faced by farmers. The sessions also serve as information-sharing opportunity for farmers.

The bank recently resumed with its lectures and practical training sessions, following the easing of the Covid-19 regulations on public gatherings.

NAU awaits proposed fire regulations

September 15, 2021, 3:00 pm

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NAU awaits proposed fire regulations ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

The Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) is hopeful that a new draft Forest Act and Regulations will be approved by the Cabinet soon.

It includes draft fire regulations proposed by the NAU based on the fire regulations of South Africa to declare commercial and communal land fire hazard areas.

According to the union, the current Forest Act of Namibia only regulates state forests and stipulates measures for preventing and combating forest fires.

“According to section 39 of the Forest Act, the forestry minister, Pohamba Shifeta, can on request declare any piece of land outside state forests a Fire Hazard Area and approve certain measures for preventing and combatting veldfires in such area.”

The union said if these proposed fire regulations are approved by the minister, certain very important measures necessary to successfully prevent and combat veldfires will be legally binding.

These include compulsory firebreaks on the borders of all farms, and that the lighting of fires without reasonable measures to prevent them from getting out of control will be an offence.

For controlled fires, all owners of adjoining land must be informed well in advance and persons combating veldfires will have the right to enter any land to take whatever measures are deemed necessary in order to distinguish the fire or prevent the spreading thereof.

The regulations also include that negligent causing of veldfires will be an offence, and the guilty person will be liable to pay compensation to any person who suffers damage as a result thereof.

The union said Namibians need to realise that fire is a natural phenomenon.

It said that according to various studies, fire is needed to revive land and to ensure that a savannah remains a savannah.

“Some plants actually require heat to spread their seeds,” says the union.

It said that nonetheless, uncontrolled fire is most of the time destructive for the commercial agricultural sector.

Casualties

From May to September this year, 99 veld fires occurred in the country.

The forestry ministry said 580 480 hectares were burnt, while one person died and four others were severely injured in these fires.

In the Omusati Region, 21 goats and sheep burnt to death and two cattle posts were destroyed, while in Khomas 25 farms burnt and 491 livestock and game were killed, one human life was lost and four severely injured.

Meatco ships NCA beef to West Africa

September 15, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Meatco ships NCA beef to West AfricaExploring new markets As part of its business strategy of creating markets for farmers in the northern communal areas, Meatco signed a contract with a Ghanaian client and shipped the first consignment of beef to the West African market in August. ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

Meatco recently sent a first consignment of beef from the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) to the West African market.

The company says it is optimistic that 2021 will yield positive results for its sustainability, despite challenges with throughput.

Throughput remained a big challenge for Meatco in 2020, especially after the devastating drought in 2019, but this year started off very promising due to good rains received in all parts of the country.

Meatco's CEO, Mwilima Mushokabanji, said this in his business update for the first and second quarters of 2021.

He said the good rains meant that farmers restocked their core herds, making throughput of slaughter-ready animals relatively low.

Strategies were put in place as per their Integrated Business Plan of 2021/2026 to ensure that they remain robust and streamline the value chain to ensure consistent supply throughput.

“This led to facilitating key engagements with our top producers at various platforms, introducing them to our new procurement streams as well as engagements with government in a quest to create a conducive policy environment for the livestock industry.”

Mushokabanji said one of the successful engagements they had with the government was bringing cattle from the FMD-free zone of Botswana for the local market.

Europe

Further agreements were reached to export cattle to Britain and South Africa under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) preferential tariff, provided the meat undergoes working and processing, he said.

Mushokabanji said that as Europe is slowly reopening, they are witnessing an increased demand for beef.

“Many European importers have been nervous to import unless already pre-sold, as the hospitality industry has been opened and closed, often in most cases with little to no warning.”

He said they are seeing good prices on round cuts and items such as picanha and rump tails and while main steaks are recovering it has yet to climb back to normal levels because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, in the United States market there is demand for grass-fed, hormone-free beef as local prices are high.

“Meatco is currently focusing on acquiring new clients in the USA to engage more interest in our product.”

He said the Chinese market remains well on track, with the demand predominantly being for boneless and bone-in cuts, making it Meatco’s most lucrative market.

According to Mushokabanji, Meatco opened and started operating the Katima Mulilo Abattoir.

He explained that it is government owned and funded as part of their business strategy of creating markets for Namibian farmers in the NCA who have been without a legitimate and sustainable market for over a decade.

He said that on 31 August they signed a contract with the Ghanaian client from A&G Agro Systems and shipped the first consignment of beef to the West African market, which will be sustained with beef from the NCA.

Otweya houses to see the light

September 15, 2021, 3:00 pm

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Otweya houses to see the light JEMIMA BEUKES



WINDHOEK

Erongo governor Neville Andre has confirmed that they are pushing to fast-track the electrification process of the 142 houses handed over by President Hage Geingob in the Otweya informal settlement in Walvis Bay last week.

Geingob and Andre came under fire for forging ahead with the handover process while the houses were still incomplete and the tender for the construction of the power station was only awarded on Friday, 10 September.

He said this week that the handover officiated last Friday was done to avoid houses remaining unoccupied once completed, as is the case with several homes under the National Housing Enterprise’s (NHE) low-cost scheme.

Meanwhile, the process to electrify these houses will take up to six months, which means residents may only be able to move in next March.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Andre explained that the electrification process - which will be done at a cost of N$15.3 million - is now underway.

“The full electrification is now underway and everything is being done to expedite the project and to ensure all housing units have access to electricity in the shortest possible time,” he said.

Devastating fire

After a devastating fire blazed through the Twaloloka informal settlement, destroying hundreds of shacks and killing a toddler last year, Cabinet approved the construction of the houses under the Office of the Prime Minister’s disaster risk management directorate. Twaloloka has since been renamed to Otweya.

In the statement, Andre explained that the administration and modalities of the provision of land and housing at Otweya will be based on loan and cost recovery principles set out under the Build Together Programme.

Once the modalities are concluded, the beneficiaries will be informed and consulted about the process.

jemima@namibiansun.com