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OMDis, Uconomy and Nedbank collaborating

November 9, 2021, 2:00 pm
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OMDis, Uconomy and Nedbank collaborating OMDis, Uconomy and Nedbank collaborating Improving livelihoods of communities The joint SME and economic development pilot project in Oranjemund is set to kick off immediately. OMDis has been established to transform our town and accelerate its economic diversification. Tony Bessinger, General Manager: OMDis STAFF REPORTER

Oranjemund has often been seen as a secluded town in the past, yet its evocative beauty has made it one of those must-visit places in Namibia. The announcement of an extensive collaboration between OMDis, Uconomy Namibia and Nedbank Namibia is set to increase the allure even further.

“OMDis has been established to transform our town and accelerate its economic diversification, such that it evolves into a vibrant centre for enterprises and provide further impetus for businesses operating in Oranjemund,” says Tony Bessinger, General Manager of OMDis. “This collaboration that we are undertaking with Nedbank Namibia and Uconomy Namibia will unquestionably usher in a new era for both our town and the rest of Namibia in supporting small medium enterprise (SME) development.”

Scha van Niekerk says Uconomy Namibia has the perfect model to support the OMDis vision for Oranjemund. “We have extensive experience in building viable enterprises within communities, and look forward to embedding these tried and tested elements of our programme in the town. We have a three-layered approach, which ultimately enables young talent to enter the world of work, support the SME sector and build an ecosystem with the specific aim of driving an integrated socio-economic development platform within the areas of our operations.”

Nedbank Namibia’s Managing Director, Martha Murorua, says the multi-faceted collaboration has been months in the making. “We are excited for the opportunity to make such a meaningful impact and improve the livelihood of entire communities. Whilst this collaboration is seen as a pilot project, we are creating a blueprint that can ultimately be scaled throughout Namibia.”

Murorua says that Nedbank Namibia is keenly invested in providing opportunities for Namibia’s youth to chart their own destinies and contribute to the economic prosperity of the country. “It has never been lip service for us, and the development of our ‘Young Professionals’ product offering is testimony of our resolve to continue our deep involvement in youth-driven enterprise development,” said the Nedbank MD.

The joint SME and economic development pilot project in Oranjemund is set to kick off immediately.
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Twoobii brings connectivity to the Ark Trust

November 9, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Twoobii brings connectivity to the Ark TrustTwoobii brings connectivity to the Ark Trust STAFF REPORTER

Twoobii Broadband, the well-known VSAT product from Q-KON Namibia, along with its reseller in the Kavango Region, CDM Technologies under the management of Carl Marx, have brought seamless connectivity to the North-Eastern Kavango.

The Ark Trust, a house of hope for underprivileged children as well as ordinary street kids, is a centre that is aimed at bringing about positive change amongst the youth through education. The centre provides children that live in and around it with basic needs such as food, psychological support, and an education.

The trust currently has a focused drive to expand across Namibia as they are certain there are many more children in different regions of the nation whose lives could undeniably be positively impacted by the availability of such a centre. As such, the Ark Trust is currently in the process of building a multipurpose care centre, opposite the Thipanana Tribal Court in Mukwe, located in the Kavango East region.

Connectivity difficulties have been an on-going trend in the North-Eastern Kavango area. This in turn made basic, everyday connectivity needs which were rather vital to the smooth operation of online learning and office administration unavailable.

Twoobii business broadband, a satellite-based internet solution, brought about a great deal of relief to The Ark Trust’s management who are now able to run the initiative, the office administration, and the online based education programmes seamlessly. The emergence of the ultimate off-grid solution allows even the ordinary citizen the choice ‘to be or not to be’ connected in areas where internet coverage is non-existent and mobile network reception is very poor.

Accessibility

The ground-breaking service provider’s vision and mission for the nation of Namibia is ‘to make information accessible to every citizen regardless of where they might be located’, which in essence, in this case translates to empowering the underprivileged youth with a reliable connection to information in an area where connectivity is constantly inept.

According to Q-Kon Namibia’s Managing Director, Manfred Engling, “One of Twoobii broadband’s core values is quality service delivery. We identified a gap in the telecommunications industry, and we have embarked on this journey to give each customer the best service. As much as we are a service provider to many organizations, our interest still remains with our marginalized communities, and we will go out of our way to ensure that every Namibian gain access to information.”

“There are many role players in the telecommunications industry and the more options we provide for our customers, the better we can work as an industry to provide fastest information to each Namibian,” he further stressed.

The collaboration of Q-KON Namibia’s flagship product Twoobii, and The Ark Trust was quite the befitting one as both have deep sentiments in granting every Namibian citizen access to information. The Ark Trust’s founder, CEO and Managing Director, Stella Schenk had nothing less than boastful praise for their new ‘off-grid’ service provider, Twoobii broadband. Stella Schenk’s exact words on the efficacy of the recently acquired connectivity solution were “Connectivity issues? What’s that? No more!”
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Fishrot: Mwapopi suspended, Shuudifonya likely still employed

November 9, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Fishrot: Mwapopi suspended, Shuudifonya likely still employed Fishrot: Mwapopi suspended, Shuudifonya likely still employed OGONE TLHAGE and ENZO AMWELE



WINDHOEK/OTJIWARONGO

Fishrot accused Philipus Mwapopi has been suspended by his employer, the City Police, pending an investigation into his role in the Fishrot corruption scandal.

The employment status of his co-accused Otniel Shuudifonya, however, remains murky, with his employer, the Otjozondjupa regional council, refusing the divulge details into what actions it has taken regarding the allegations. The duo has formally applied for bail.

Commenting on the matter, City Police spokesperson Celia Kapolo said an internal investigation into Mwapopi’s conduct was close to completion.

“He is on suspension pending [the] finalisation of an internal process which should be done by this month,” she said.

Also commenting on the matter was City Police chief Abraham Kanime, who was asked whether Mwapopi had been suspended with or without pay.

“It is a personal matter, we cannot talk about that, but we are aware that it is a matter of public interest. I believe the measures taken were appropriate,” he said.

Not a word

When approached on Shuudifonya’s employment status, chief regional officer in the Otjizondjupa regional council Agatha Mweti said declined to comment, while the council spokesperson, Cornelia Shikongo, remained tight-lipped as well.

Shuudifonya is – or was – employed as a deputy director within the council.

The duo, who had been unmasked as former Fishcor CEO Mike Nghipunya’s proxies, handed themselves over to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in December last year.

During court proceedings on Monday during Nghipunya’s bail application, it came to light from a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that Nghipunya held a 50% silent interest in a company called Wanakadu Investments, on paper solely owned by Mwapopi.

Shuudifonya had been perceived as a front for Nghipunya, who injected N$1.3 million capital into Fine Seafood Investment Trust, in which Shuudifonya is a trustee.

Shuudifonya told ACC investigators that the money was a loan which he was obliged to pay back, Namibian Sun reported in January.
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Woman fights for her life after panga attack

November 9, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Woman fights for her life after panga attack Woman fights for her life after panga attack TUYEIMO HAIDULA



ONGWEDIVA

Maria Shilongo (45) narrowly escaped death after her husband Ferdinand Festus Nghidipo assaulted her with a panga yesterday morning.

She is now fighting for her life at Oshakati State Hospital. Nghidipo (51) brutally hacked Shilongo with the panga five times before proceeding to hang himself in their bedroom during the wee hours of Tuesday morning – in full view of their three children aged seven, eight and 10.

The couple got married in 2000. Shilongo is a housekeeper while Nghidipo does odd construction jobs. She survived the attack with a gash to her face, right shoulder and right thumb, and two to her head.

Oshana police spokesperson Inspector Thomas Aiyambo said the incident happened at around 01:20 at Ongwediva’s Sky Phase 1 Location. The couple had reportedly been arguing recently because the man accused his wife of having an affair.

He said before the incident took place, their children heard their parents arguing in their room.

This, Aiyambo said, was before the man hacked his wife with the panga. “After the man cut his wife, he took his own life by hanging in their sleeping room with a rope,” [sic] he said.

He did not leave a suicide note. An inquest docket has been opened.

Horrific scene

Nghidipo’s older sister Christofina Festus Nghidipo told Namibian Sun yesterday that she arrived at the deceased’s house around 02:00 when one of the older children showed up at her house, shaken.

She said the children told her what happened and asked her to call the police. She rushed back to the house but could not go inside until the police arrived.

“When the police came and we all went in the house, Maria was lying in a pool of blood. The floor was bloody and it looked like she crawled from the main bedroom to the children’s room for refuge. She could not talk so she didn’t say anything,” Christofina said.

Hid issues well

She could not confirm the infidelity accusations in the police report, saying as a family they were not aware of any issues between the two.

“If they had any troubles, they hid them so well from us. On Saturday, they even went to visit her father-in-law so they could tell him about their kitchen party (iitala pepata) slated for December,” she said.

By yesterday afternoon, Shilongo was doing much better, responding to greetings from those visiting her and awaiting surgery to close her wounds.

Christofina said the doctors informed the family Shilongo she has a good chance of survival as the panga cuts, although very deep, didn’t reach her brain.

– tuyeimo@namibiansun.com
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Fishrot: N$317m allegedly misappropriated

November 9, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Fishrot: N$317m allegedly misappropriatedFishrot: N$317m allegedly misappropriatedFishcor alone reportedly lost N$167 million The State, in closing, said it has demonstrated that it has a strong case against Mike Nghipunya, who could be jailed for many years if convicted. JEMIMA BEUKES







WINDHOEK

The curtain is coming down on former Fishcor CEO Mike Nghipunya’s bail hearing today, with the State alleging that its investigations have shown that, in total, N$317 million of public resources were misappropriated in the so-called Fishrot saga.

Nghipunya, whose alleged dealings in this misappropriation were laid bare in court this week, denied a role in any of it.

In fact, he argued that no monies were misappropriated, adding that the whole saga is one big misunderstanding.

State advocate Cliff Lutibezi yesterday told Nghipunya in closing that more than N$317 million was allegedly misappropriated and, as such, there is a serious prima facie case against him in which he is facing very serious charges - from racketeering to money-laundering and corruptly gratifying himself as well as theft, amongst others.

Money misappropriated through Fishcor alone, when Nghipunya was in charge, amounted to N$167 million, the State told Judge Shafimana Ueitele. These monies were paid through Sisa Namandje Inc and DHC Incorporated law firms and other fishing entities owned by Nghipunya’s co-accused in the landmark case, the State explained.

The State also informed Nghipunya that he should bear in mind that if found guilty, he will face a very heavy sentence. To this, the former CEO retorted that there is nothing to suggest he was guilty of any crime.

He said: “It is my understanding that every allegation of crime is serious. I still strongly believe guilt of a person is not based on the number of charges but the evidence that is available against accused person, and I strongly believe the case does have the chance of proving the allegations beyond reasonable doubt”.

He also vehemently denied obstruction of justice charges he faced for having sent out usage agreements to several fishing entities in November 2019, long after the Fishrot scandal broke and some of his co-accused were arrested.

Shocked

At this time, he also contacted Jose Ramon of NovaNam Group of Companies, asking them to sign an agreement for consulting services he rendered to them for Gwanyemba Investment Trust (GIT); however, NovaNam denied that he had offered them such services.

Nghipunya told the court that he was shocked that the CEO and chairman of Novanam, Edwin Kamatoto and Miguel Angel Tordesillas, said GIT did not perform any consultancy work for them.

He, however, has no signed agreements between GIT and these entities, save for invoices processed by the companies.

“It was not signed [agreements] and the accountants of GIT has been asking that these agreements must be signed. The agreement has not been signed yet, we [only] have the invoices that was processed for the company,” he said.

Nghipunya was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in February 2020.

Interference feared

Another incident which, according to the State, points to the possibility of interference, was when Nghipunya contacted a certain Ramon for financial assistance of N$100 000 or N$80 000, which he asked to be transferred to his lawyer Milton Engelbrecht.

According to the Lutibezi, Ramon informed Nghipunya that he didn’t have that kind of money but that he could give him a smaller amount and eventually asked his gardener to pay between N$30 000 and N$50 000 to Engelbrecht.

The State therefore believes that there is enough evidence that shows that Nghipunya is a flight risk and that he will interfere with the investigation and witnesses.

Despite admitting that he double-dipped by earning millions as a fishing consultant for fishing companies in business with Fishcor like GIT while he was at the helm of the company, Nghipunya insisted that he deserves to be granted bail.

“I was flabbergasted,” he exclaimed, adding that it was certainly not obstruction of justice but rather the “normal cause of business”.

In fact, he had permission from the Fishcor board of directors, a claim he said can be backed up by a plethora of documents which he can unfortunately not yet present to the court.

“The board has authorised that I conduct business in my personal capacity. I think it is just reasonable - constitutional freedom cannot be taken by any board…” he said.

According to Nghipuyna, his co-accused, former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau, nominated him for the CEO position and the final order for secondment came from fisheries executive director Dr Moses Maurihungirire, despite there being three senior officials above him in his department.

jemima@namibiansun.com
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Supporting sustainable farming enterprises

November 9, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Supporting sustainable farming enterprisesSupporting sustainable farming enterprisesBoosting loan advances crucial In 2020, agricultural debt by commercial and Agribank stood at N$7.345 million, which is a 134% increase since 2010. Those who are interested and eager to start or expand their agricultural projects are encouraged to approach the bank for funding. Agribank PHILLEPUS UUSIKU

Making finance available for both commercial and communal farmers in crucial in transforming the agriculture sector to optimum sustainable productive status for prosperity.

In 2020, agricultural debt by commercial and Agribank stood at N$7.345 million, which is a 134% increase since 2010, according to the bank’s monthly market watch for October.

On an annual comparison, the outstanding agriculture debt decreased by 6.7% from N$7.871 million recorded in 2019. Although the deceleration in debt is welcomed, this could also suggest, reduced investment and lower agricultural expansion as a result existing and recurring challenges such as drought, pest and Covid-19, Agribank pointed out.

Nonetheless, Agribank’s market share increased to 44% in third quarter of 2020 (3Q2021) from 40% in the third quarter of 2020 (3Q2020). Given the growth potential, there is need for Agribank to increase momentum on loan advances to support sustainable and viable farming enterprises, the bank said.

Recently, the bank announced that it has a cash flow lending facility that is primarily targeted at the unemployed. This cash flow lending is an option under the Women and Youth loan scheme, which was developed with distinct requirements to benefit women, youth, and agricultural professionals.

As a short-term loan, the cash flow lending facility requires no collateral for clients who do not have fixed properties or have limited collateral scope on their fixed properties. In addition, the special option was designed to address the barrier of limited access to finance due to lack of ownership of fixed properties to offer as collateral, especially among the unemployed members of the community, Agribank added.

Collateral

Similarly, women and youth who have fixed properties are also faced with the barrier of limited collateral scope on their properties, hence experiencing difficulties to access finance.

Therefore, in addressing the above challenges, the bank has a cash flow lending option under the Women and Youth loan scheme. Clients applying under this option are required to provide a valid off-take or supply agreement based on the project’s cashflow projections. This agreement is a commitment between the farmer, who is the producer and an off-taker, who is the buyer of the produce whereby the farmer commits to supply the produce and the off-taker pledge to buy the produce from the farm.

To ensure that an off-taker (buyer) is legitimate, the bank conducts a due diligence check on the off-taker prior to loan approval. Once funding is approved, a tripartite agreement is signed between the client, Agribank and the off-taker buyer. Through the tripartite agreement, the off taker, when purchasing from the farmer, agrees to first pay the loan instalment amount to Agribank and then pay the difference to the farmer.

Thus, public members especially the target market which are women, youth are agricultural professionals, who are interested and eager to start or expand their agricultural projects are encouraged to approach the bank for funding. Visit the nearest Agribank offices countrywide for further clarification on the cash flow lending option.
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Jewels lose by a point

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Jewels lose by a pointJewels lose by a point LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK

Namibia’s chances of winning a second match in the Netball Africa Cup taking place at the Wanderers Sports Grounds in Windhoek was snatched away by Zimbabwe, who won the closely contested match 50-49.

The Namibians led the score chart from the first to the third quarter. In the first half the Desert Jewels led 18-13; they increased the tally by four points in the second half leading 29-25.

The third quarter didn’t change much, with Namibia leading 40-37. However, things took a dramatic turn in the fourth quarter with Zimbabwe using their turnovers well and ending up winning the match by one point.

The head coach of Namibia, Julene Meyers, said she was happier with the shooting rotation. She said there was late tackling in the circles but that the players need to toughen up because the top-ranked terms will become aggressive if they see that they are trailing behind.

Meyers added that they will take one match at a time going forward and that the players will be ready to bounce back as they have great rhythm.

Namibia’s captain, Eve Hamaalwa, said they have been struggling with consistency.

“We are struggling with consistency in terms of the intensity of the matches. In the Pent Series Zimbabwe beat us by about 20 points; the girls narrowed that down to one goal and I’m very proud of them. We could have won the match,” she said.

At a time, Zimbabwe was down 10 goals. Their coach, Ledwin Dondo, said he had to keep encouraging the players. “Today we didn’t play well. Next match we need to make sure that all our turnovers are goals.”

Today’s fixtures will see Botswana taking on Zambia (9:00), Tanzania will face South Africa (11:00), Namibia will go up against Uganda (13:00), Malawi will play Zimbabwe (15:00), whereas Botswana will again end the day with a match against Kenya (17:00).
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CAF faces NFA litmus test

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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CAF faces NFA litmus testCAF faces NFA litmus testProgressive Forces flirt with Mosengo-Omba Ranga Haikali’s voting rights at Cosafa, CAF and FIFA congresses could save his job, while the association’s progressive forces played open cards to win the hearts of the travelling CAF delegation. JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

WINDHOEK

While Confederation of African Football (CAF) secretary-general Veron Mosengo-Omba’s impromptu visit to Namibia drew mixed reactions, there is still no clear roadmap regarding the future of football in the country.

Mosengo-Omba notably came on a fact-finding mission which involved attempts to strike a truce deal between the two NFA factions.

Namibian Sun understands the secretary-general implored NFA executive committee members to drop plans to hold an extraordinary NFA congress next week.

According to sources who attended Tuesday’s meeting, there was consensus that football should start in the country; however, differences regarding the composition of the NFA executive committee still persisted.

The crunch meeting is said to have been dominated by the so-called ‘Progressive Forces’, which include member clubs of the Namibia Premier Football League, with insiders suggesting that Haikali’s faction was outnumbered.

Haikali, who also had a separate closed-door meeting with Mosengo-Omba, said he was not in a position to disclose the details of their discussion.

“To be honest with you, I do not know what is going to happen next and I will not be able to tell you what our discussion was about,” Haikali said.

It is understood that Mosengo-Omba also met other stakeholders, including the sport ministry, before departing to South Africa yesterday to meet CAF president Patrice Motsepe. He is expected to brief Motsepe regarding the football affairs of Namibia.

Progressive forces

Insiders said the Progressive Forces’ plan to hold the extraordinary congress remains in motion and they remain hopeful that the CAF leadership will remain neutral in the matter.

There are fears that with several CAF regional elections coming up, as well as elections on the FIFA calendar, CAF might want to keep Haikali in order to canvass votes for FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the next elections.

“Yes, the CAF SG called for peace and told us that the congress must be the last resort but we have our minds already made up and want a new executive.

“There are possibilities that CAF could side with Haikali because there are elections coming up and they might feel the need to have backing from the association’s president.

“I believe a guy like France Mbidi is also behind there pushing for Haikali’s survival because he will need support on the Cosafa elections,” the source said.

“The good thing is that Veron identified us, the Progressive Forces, and actually even said that such groups exist and we are not even a third force.

Ambush tactics

Members of the regions backing Haikali said the meeting between the Progressive Forces and Mosengo-Omba was deliberately arranged to seemingly provide an exposure platform for the Progressive Forces.

“This was a clear ambush because we only got the meeting request at the eleventh hour and not all could make it in time.

“What surprised me is the number of NPFL club members who were present at the event, while many of those that are perceived to be in support of Haikali were not allowed the liberty to travel timeously.

“The good thing is that we know that Mosengo-Omba or Motsepe will clearly not support groups or factions but the legitimate president of the NFA,” the source said.

“Some of the regions have joined us now; I feel we could have a strong delegation at congress to stop the progressive forces plans.”

Haikali’s faction also raised suspicion about the hurried congress even though the allegations of corruption against him have not been finalised.
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Namibia set for Congo

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Namibia set for CongoNamibia set for Congo LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK

The Brave Warriors of Namibia will face Congo in Brazzaville today in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers at 18:00.

The team wants to end their campaign in second place while reshuffling the pack.

“We got four points from these teams and we must try to better or equal that point tally,” said their coach, Bobby Samaria.

After their clash will Congo, they will take on Togo in their final match on 15 November in South Africa. As it stands Senegal leads Group H on 12 points, Togo and Namibia are both on four, whereas Congo is at the bottom with 2 points.

The Namibian squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Calvin Spiegel, Kamaijanda Ndisiro, Loydt Kazapua

Defenders: Ryan Nyambe, Ivan Kamberipa, Larry Horaeb, Kennedy Amutenya, Lubeni Haukongo, Riddick Gariseb, Aprocius Petrus and Charles Hambira.

Midfielders: Immanuel Heita, Denzil Haoseb, Dynamo Fredericks, Alfeus Handura, Deon Hotto, Absalom Iimbondi, Wesley Katjiteo, Wendell Rudath, Marcel Papama, Prins Tjiueza, Obrey Amseb and Willy Stephanus.

Forwards: Elmo Kambindu, Peter Shalulile and Joslin Kamatuka.
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Shanghai Marathon postponed

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Shanghai Marathon postponedShanghai Marathon postponedChina battles Covid surge The 2021 Shanghai Marathon has been indefinitely postponed. NAMPA / AFP

The Shanghai Marathon has been indefinitely postponed, organisers said on Wednesday, citing a resurgence of the Covid-19 that also has forced the suspension of the Beijing and Wuhan marathons.

China is battling a fresh Delta-driven outbreak that has spread across the country and sparked tough new measures to stamp out the virus before the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.

"Today, we've chosen to be cautious. We've chosen the health and safety of runners and citizens," organisers of the 28 November race said on an official social media account. A new date would be announced in the future, it said.

The announcements did not say how many runners were due to compete, but said that around 9,000 took part in last year's event.

Organisers of the Beijing and Wuhan marathons both announced last month that those races were also postponed due to the outbreak.

Although China's case numbers remain relatively low - it reported 54 new infections on Wednesday - China takes a zero-tolerance approach toward the Covid-19 and the government is especially concerned over any impact on the February 4 to 20 Winter Games.

Authorities have implemented mass testing, targeted lockdowns, and have suspended some cross-provincial tour groups and closed tourist sites.
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Sabalenka embracing top seed status

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Sabalenka embracing top seed statusSabalenka embracing top seed status NAMPA/AFP

Aryna Sabalenka says she is relishing her top seed status at this week's WTA Tour Finals even if she is still getting to grips with the challenging tournament conditions at altitude in Guadalajara.

The Belarusian star Sabalenka heads a depleted field at the season-ending tournament, which was moved to Mexico from its usual home in Shenzhen, China due to the pandemic.

The switch in venue means the tournament's eight finalists must adjust to the thin air of Guadalajara, which is around 5,100 feet (1,550 metres) above sea level, as they vie for the final title of 2021.

The 23-year-old Sabalenka, who notched wins in Abu Dhabi and Madrid this year and reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, said she had struggled to control the ball during her initial practice sessions in Guadalajara.

"Well, first day I arrived here, I mean, I wasn't surprised but I was shocked that I cannot control anything," Sabalenka said Tuesday. I was playing around the strings a little bit, found the perfect tension. I think with every day I feel better and better.

"I have another day because I start to play Thursday so I feel much better right now with the altitude and with the conditions here. Hopefully I'll be able to show my best on the first match," she said.

Sabalenka, who opens her campaign against Spanish seventh seed Paula Padosa today, said she is unfazed by the pressure that comes with her top seed status.

"I think I'm doing well with the pressure," she said. "I'm really happy to be here, especially top seeded. I couldn't imagine one day I will be top seeded on the WTA Finals. For me this is something amazing and unbelievable."
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Omukiintu a ponokelwa nekatana komusamane gwe

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Omukiintu a ponokelwa nekatana komusamane gweOmukiintu a ponokelwa nekatana komusamane gwe Maria Shilongo (45) okwa hupu na okuli ta mono epango moshipangelo shaShakati, sha landula sho ponokelwa nekatana komusamane gwe, Ferdinand Festus Nghidipo. TUYEIMO HAIDULA

ONGWEDIVA

Nghidipo (51) okwa tetagula Shilongo nekatana iikando ya thika puitano omanga iniimangelekela mondunda yawo yokulala koongulasha mEtiyali.

Shoka osha ningilwa komeho gaanona yawo yoomvula heyali, hetatu nomulongo.

Mboka yaali oya hokana momvula yo 2000. Shilongo oha longo megumbo omanga Nghidipo ha longo momatungo.

Omupopiliko gwopolisi yaShana, Thomas Aiyambo okwa popi kutya oshiningwanima shoka osha ningilwa molukanda Sky Phase 1 mOngwediva, na okwa lopotwa kutya mboka yaali oyali taya tamanana sho omulumentu a lundile omukulukadhi gwe kutya okuli miihole nomuntu gulwe.

Aiyambo okwa popi kutya aanona oya holola kutya omanga oshiningwanima shoka inashi holoka oyuuvu aavali yawo taya tamanana mondunda. Okwa tsikile kutya konima sho omulumentu a longo oshimbuluma shoka okwiimangeleke nongodhi mondunda yawo.

Ina dhigapo omukanda gwasha, na okwa patululwa epeko lyomapulaapulo.

Omumwayinakadhona gwaNghidipo omukuluntu, Christofina Festus Nghidipo okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun ohela kutya okwa thiki pegumbo yaNghidipo lwopotundi onti 02:00 sho okanona kawo hoka okakuluntu kathiki megumbo lyawo taka kakama.

Okwa popi kutya okanona oke mu hokololele shoka sha ningwapo na oka pula opo a dhengele opolisi. Okwa yi kegumbo ndyoka ihe ina vula okuya meni sigo opolisi ya thiki.

“Sho opolisi ye ya otwa yi meni, Maria okwali a lala menkunku lyombinzi. Opwali ombinzi pevi na otashi ulike kutya okwiikoko okuza mondunda yawo nokuya mondunda yaanona. Kali ta vulu okupopya onkene inatya sha,” Christofina a popi.

Okwa popi kutya onga ofamili kaye na ontseyo kombinga yomalundilo kutya Maria okwa li e li mekwatathano lyopahole nomuntu gumwe.

“Ngele oya li ye na uupyakadhi oye wu holeke nawa kutse. Molyomakaya oyali yaka talelapo hemweno opo ye mu lombwele kombinga yetalo lyelugo ndyoka yali taya pangele okuninga muDesemba,” Christofina a popi.

Okuya momutenya gwEtiyali, Shilongo okwali hewa e li hwepo ta popitha mboka taye mu taelepo. Okwali a tegelela etando opo iilalo ye yi hondje.

Christofina okwa popi kutya oondohotola odhe ya lombwele kutya Shilongo oku na ompito onene yokuhupa molwaashoka iilalo inayi guma uuluwi nonando oya ya muule unene.
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OvaMbanderus yahala egalulo lyomwiya gwomuleli gwawo

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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OvaMbanderus yahala egalulo lyomwiya gwomuleli gwawoOvaMbanderus yahala egalulo lyomwiya gwomuleli gwawo OGONE TLHAGE

OVENDUKA

Elelo lyOvambanderu Traditional Authority (OvTA) olya pula ongulu yoompungulilo yaStadtische Museum moBraunschweig opo yi galule omwiya gwomuleli gwawo, Kahimemua Nguvauva konima sho osheendo shoka shali sha yi hoka she gu dhimbulula.

Omwiya ngoka ogwali gwayi nomunambelewa gwaGermany Gustav Voigts, ngoka a li a kutha Nguvauva iilwitho.

Elelo lyopamuthigululwakalo olya yi koGermany opo ya ka dhimbulule omwiya gwaNguvauva, nokonima, ngashiingeyi elelo ndyoka otali pula opo omwiya ngoka gu galulwe.

Elelo ndyoka olya popi kutya omwiya ngoka pehala nagu tulwe moompungulilo dhomoshilongo opo gu vule okuulikilwa omapupi tage ya konima yoomvula 125 sho gwa kuthwamo moshilongo.

Elelo ndyoka olya pula woo etulo miilonga lyetsokumwe lyelongelokumwe pokati koBraunschweig oshowo OvaMbanderus miipambele yopankalathano nopaliko.

Omukalelipo gwelelo ndyoka, Ueriurika Nguvauva okwa li a dhimbulula omwiya ngoka ta popi kutya elongo lyago unene moka hamu humbatwa iikuti otali ulike ngaashi omwiya dhoka dha longitha kaantu yetu omathimbo gonale. Okwa popi kutya oshiti shoka sha hongwa omo hamu humbatwa iikuti osha faathana natango nashoka hashi longithwa kAaNama sha hongwa meno lyongete.
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The Corolla Cross-es into a bold new era

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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The Corolla Cross-es into a bold new eraThe Corolla Cross-es into a bold new era An electrifying addition to the range Andrew Kirby, president and CEO of Toyota South Africa: “We plan to fundamentally change the NEV landscape in southern Africa from a few hundred NEVs a year to well over 10 000 units per year.” Yochanaan Coetzee







The Corolla brand has a rich and diverse history spanning 12 generations, and having racked up over 50 million global sales, it’s one of the most successful vehicle model ranges ever, and one with some of the most varied personalities as well.

Originally spawned as a compact city car in 1966, the Corolla has continued to evolve in line with the needs of the times and of the regions it’s sold in.

From starting out as a 1.1-litre engine, 59 horsepower two-door family saloon in 1966, its rise to the top was rapid, becoming the best-selling car worldwide by 1974. By 1997, it became the best-selling nameplate, surpassing the Volkswagen Beetle.

Over the next several generations, we saw a phenomenal evolution of the nameplate. Most memorably for me was the AE86, the ae92 1.6 twin-cam and RXI-era, which took family-favourites and made them performance pin-ups that could staan their man, even in a stacked deck of top-trumps.

Evolved and elevated

The Corolla Cross represents the first foray into the cross-over/SUV space and combines the respected core-product characteristics Corolla is known for with a new body shape that offers enhanced utility and bold new presence.

The Corolla Cross also carries particular significance for neighbouring South Africa, as the model is locally produced at Toyota's long-running Prospecton Plant in Durban.

The Cross thus continues the legacy of producing Corollas in Mzansi, but takes it in a brave new direction, thanks to their massive investment into making hybrid motoring technology more readily accessible in the region.

Firm footing

Underpinning the Cross is Toyota's acclaimed Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) modular platform. It is capable of underpinning hatch, sedan and SUV model ranges as seen in the C-HR, Prius, RAV4 and 12th-generation Corolla models.

As of August, 32 Toyota and Lexus models are using this platform and now account for approximately 70% of global Toyota sales. From a regional marketing perspective, the Corolla Cross is produced in both right- and left-hand drive variants and is also the first model to be produced en masse on the continent. It will be exported to more than 40 countries in Africa.

Why hybrid is a big deal

The introduction of hybrid technology in the Corolla Cross line has required altogether new assembly processes as well as vehicle testing systems, and these are now part of Toyota South Africa’s standard operating systems at the Prospecton Plant.

For the Toyota customer, hybrid technology has the obvious benefits of lower emissions and significantly reduced fuel consumption while reinforcing the overall driving performance, but for the SA plant, the introduction of the low-emission Cross in hybrid guise is significant in that it’s integral to the company’s roadmap towards carbon neutrality.

The launch of southern Africa’s first locally-produced, volume hybrid electric vehicle not only allows local customers the opportunity to accelerate their own change to green mobility far quicker than what was previously possible, but Toyota is so committed to the adoption of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the southern African market that these new additions will even keep pace with the stringent green regulations in export markets such as the European Union and United Kingdom.

They are so invested in this mission - to the tune of N$2.6 billion for this model’s assembly line, in fact – that they’ve set a “very ambitious” target of selling more hybrid Corolla Cross models than traditional internal combustion engines models by 2025.

To put this into perspective, in 2020, 324 NEVs were sold in SA, and this year to-date, 322 have been sold. Incidentally, most of these have been Lexus models. So, there is still a long way to go, but this latest investment bodes well for this ambitious goal.

“We plan to fundamentally change the NEV landscape in southern Africa from a few hundred NEVs a year to well over 10 000 units per year,” Andrew Kirby, the president and CEO of Toyota South Africa, said.

And his sentiments are echoed by Toshimitsu Imai, the general manager of the Africa support division at the Toyota Motor Corporation and CEO at the Toyota Tshusho Corporation: “We are trying our best to make a significant contribution to reduce carbon emissions. We are currently proposing hybrid technology for southern Africa as it is important for local vehicles to have proper range or mileage”.

Line-up explained

Three grades will comprise the Corolla Cross line-up: The Xi, Xs and Xr. As the entry-level model, the Xi is fitted with all the basic technology and equipment to make it a worthwhile proposition. As such, it rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, has controls on the steering wheel, cruise control, all-round one-touch electric windows and Toyota Connect, to mention a few.

The Xs features much of the same, but adds a black leather interior, fog lamps and LED headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, two additional USB ports and a reverse camera with park distance control. Meanwhile, the Xr boasts 18-inch alloy wheels, Toyota Safety Sense, a choice of black or red 'Terra Rossa' leather interior and an LED interior illumination.

Toyota Safety Sense comprises of adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane trace assist and a pre-collision system.

Standard across the range is a comprehensive safety and security package, comprising of an anti-theft system, auto door-lock, Isofix anchor points, vehicle stability control, ABS, EBD and hill assist control as well as driver, passenger and side airbags across the board.

“They also only come in automatic, once again reinforcing the future-focused approach with this range,” Shaun Neethling from Indongo Toyota said during a recent open-day when they invited customers to see the new range up close.

The look

The Corolla Cross fuses the striking design language of the Corolla sedan and hatch models with an SUV-shape to provide a harmonious design.

Its large, elongated headlamps and elliptical tail lamps feature tons of high-tech detailing and trapezoidal design.

Its prominent radiator grille sets a bold presence perch above the broad 'upswept' lower bumper with its vertical accent lines. The fender flares create a sense of width, while sleek glasshouse and C-pillar trim with Corolla Cross detailing give it a sporty aerodynamic feel.

The interior

The interior space echoes that of its hatch and sedan siblings. Here, designers pursued an elegant design with excellent ergonomics and occupant space. The Corolla Cross has a premium feel with soft-touch elements and stylish metallic trim depending on the model. The double-stitched accent detail adds to its sporty feeling, while its large, centrally-mounted infotainment system underpin its focus on technology.

It also boasts a class-leading luggage capacity of 440 litres, with a 60/40 split rear seat and large passenger door entries to aid convenience.

Classy chassis

The Corolla Cross offers excellent ride quality without compromising agility thanks to its low centre of gravity, as well as front McPherson and rear Torsion beam suspension for enhanced comfort and handling.

The low noise, vibration and harshness levels make the spacious cabin a smart and serene space to inhibit, while its class-leading luggage capacity and meticulously designed cabin ergonomics guarantee stress-free commuting and road-trips.

The powertrains

As the Cross is poised to take Corolla into the 'new age', it is paramount that this model embraces the new-energy philosophy with the inclusion of both conventional petrol and hybrid petrol-electric powertrains.

Both are exclusively mated to Toyota's latest generation CVT transmission, aiding powertrain efficiency while offering the user convenience of an automatic transmission.

Petrol models will enjoy a 1.8-litre VVTi 2ZR-FE engine, producing 103 kW @ 6 000 rpm and 173Nm @ 4 400 rpm. Rated at 6.8 litres per 100 km in its fuel index and 154 g/km of CO2 emissions, even the combustion derivates won’t put a damper on your conscience.

In the hybrid model, owners take charge of a 1.8-litre 2ZR-FXE Atkinson cycle petrol engine which outputs of 72kW and 142Nm, however, with the addition of Toyota’s latest generation hybrid powertrain with a more compact, yet efficient battery pack, owners will enjoy smooth, immediate acceleration response with an instant torque boost up to 53kW and 163Nm, with an ultra-refined and quiet operation.

“You can also use it in dedicated EV mode where operation is restricted to near-silent, full-electric propulsion,” Neethling said. “And, best yet, the Corolla Cross automatically recharges the battery pack either via regenerative braking or by the petrol engine.

The closed-loop system means there’s no need to plug-in to recharge.

The pricing

The Corolla Cross range starts at around N$350 000 and tops out in the region of N$ 450 000. This is definitely one to watch, so do make a point of visiting your nearest Indongo Toyota dealership to find out how you can get your hands on this watershed vehicle for our market.



Additional reporting from MotorPress
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COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEFCOMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF BioNTech expecting billions in revenue

Germany's BioNTech SE said the Covid-19 vaccine it is developing with partner Pfizer will likely generate up to 17 billion euros (US$19.6 billion) in revenues this year, as booster shots take hold and use in children increases.

Based on planned deliveries of up to 2.5 billion doses so far, BioNTech said in a statement on Tuesday that it expects 16 billion to 17 billion euros in revenue accruing to it from the vaccine this year.

That was up from a forecast in August of 15.9 billion euros based on deliveries plus an order backlog of about 2.2 billion doses at the time. That figure includes milestone payments from partners and a share of gross profit in its partners' territories, the company added.

Pfizer, for its part, last week said it expected to book US$36 billion in 2021 sales of the Covid-19 vaccine and forecast another US$29 billion from the shot in 2022, topping analyst estimates for both years.

The company reiterated that no clinical data so far suggested the need for a new vaccine that addresses the highly contagious delta variant, or any other current variant, given the efficacy of two or three shots of its established product. -Nampa/Reuters

Airbnb launches translation tool

Airbnb Inc on Tuesday announced a slew of new features including a translation tool and expanded insurance for hosts as easing Covid-19 curbs send more people to its home-rental app.

The features, aimed at rising cross-border travel and longer stays, will help Airbnb further capitalize on a pandemic-driven shift in consumer preference towards non-urban destinations and alternative accommodations.

Airbnb said more than 100 000 guests had stayed continuously on its rentals for at least three months in the past year. Its "AirCover" insurance will offer hosts protection for pet damage as global searches surge on its platform for pet-friendly listings.

The company's translation engine will be able to translate listing descriptions and reviews in 60 languages and is expected to launch later this year, helping it take advantage of the cross-border travel resurgence.

Months of pent-up demand triggered a major spike in bookings to the United States on Monday, as the country lifted pandemic-driven travel curbs imposed in early 2020.-Nampa/Reuters

Panera Bread to go public again

Panera Bread plans to return to public markets through a U.S. initial public offering backed by Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer's blank-check company, the latest in a flurry of restaurant listings this year as dining out returns.

Meyer himself will directly invest in the Panera Bread owner at the time of the IPO, Panera Brands said on Tuesday, and become the lead independent director of the company's board.

Typically, special purpose acquisition companies (SPAC) are shell firms raised with the intent of later merging with a private entity to take it public. In the case of Panera, Meyer's USHG Acquisition Corp will invest following the IPO.

After the listing, a unit of Panera Brands will merge with USHG Acquisition for US$287.5 million and the proceeds will be invested in the restaurant chain owner.

The IPO plan comes four years after European investment firm JAB Holdings took Panera private in a deal valued at about US$7.5 billion, with the sandwich chain's return coming at a time when people are heading to restaurants again after months of ordering in during lockdowns. -Nampa/Reuters

Nissan triples profit forecast

Nissan tripled its full-year net profit forecast on Tuesday as it rebounded from the impact of the pandemic with a strong quarterly performance, saying it expected to withstand challenges including the global chip crunch and rising raw material prices.

The firm now projects 180 billion yen (US$1.6 billion) in net profit for the fiscal year to March 2022, up from an earlier estimate of 60 billion yen. Nissan's last yearly net profit in the black was in 2018-19.

For the three months to September, Nissan logged a 54.1-billion-yen net profit, reversing a 44.4-billion-yen net loss for the same period last year.

"Our strong results are the outcome of diligent financial management, improved quality of sales and continuing product offensive. This has helped us withstand several headwinds," Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida said in a statement.

The firm has faced a series of trials in recent years, including weak demand during Covid-19 lockdowns and the fallout from the arrest of former boss Carlos Ghosn, now a fugitive in Lebanon. -Nampa/Reuters

TSMC, Sony to invest US$7 bln

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) said on Tuesday it would build a US$7 billion chip plant in Japan with Sony Group, a move that was welcomed by the Japanese government.

Construction of the factory, which local media said last month would supply semiconductors to Sony's image sensor business, will begin in 2022, with production slated to begin at the end of 2024, the companies said in a press release.

The decision marks a success for Japanese industry ministry officials, who want world No.1 contract chipmaker TSMC to build plants to supply chips to Japan's electronic device makers and auto companies as trade friction between the United States and China threatens to disrupt supply chains and demand for the key component grows.

"The fab plant is expected to directly create about 1 500 high-tech professional jobs and to have a monthly production capacity of 45 000 12-inch wafers," Sony and TSMC said.

The plant will produce 22-nanometer and 28-nanometer chips to address strong global demand for speciality chip technologies, they said. -Nampa/Reuters
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Agra Weaner Championship Series concludes

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Agra Weaner Championship Series concludesAgra Weaner Championship Series concludes STAFF REPORTER

WINDHOEK

The annual Agra Weaner Championship Series recently crowned Andre Compion as this year’s National Champion.

This marked the very first time that a National Champion was crowned for heifer production.

This year, there were 15 weaner auctions held between July and September across most of the cattle-producing areas of Namibia.

According to Agra the Series not only allows them to reward individuals for their weaner production excellence, but the auctions also stimulate cashflow in the cattle industry, as many of producers rely on this series to finance their business.

Furthermore, the Series provides an opportunity for producers to measure how they compare to their peers, as well as areas where they can improve on in terms of farming practices, said Agra.

Rising prices

This year, 9 027 weaner calves were sold on auction, compared to 8 422 in 2020. When comparing average prices, producers earned N$7 567.02 per head during the 2021 Series, while 2020's average price was N$ 6 655.86.

On average, a farmer selling a lot of 12 tollie calves at this year’s Weaner Championship Series would have earned N$10 420 more than the previous year. When comparing tollies and heifers, the average tollie price during this season was N$7 752.08, compared to the N$7 134.72 average for heifers.

Representing Bank Windhoek as the primary sponsor, the bank’s executive officer for marketing and corporate communication services, Jacquiline Pack, said the bank had been a proud sponsor of the annual weaner auction since 2009 in partnership with Agra.

“We will always support the livestock producer's industry. As a 100 percent Namibian commercial bank, we understand the importance of building a robust agricultural sector in aid of national food security.”

Pack added that the bank’s relationship with the farming community is based on understanding their needs and supporting the activities of the farming sector.

“To this end, Bank Windhoek offers an array of agriculture-specific products and solutions to cater to the specific needs of the farming community. We believe in building sustainable relationships with our customers,” said Pack.

She mentioned that the bank supports various projects in the farming sector. They include the cattle judging competition for the youth segment, agricultural shows, genetic auctions, and most recently partnering with the organisers of the Schumacher Bonsmara auction.

Pack thanked all the farmers for their hard work and achievements and urged them to continue farming to inspire the upcoming farmers. She concluded by acknowledging Agra and appreciated all the sponsor's efforts.

“It is only through a combined force such as this that we can truly make an impact and be connectors of positive change.”
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Cashflow lending option for the unemployed

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Cashflow lending option for the unemployedCashflow lending option for the unemployed ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

Agribank has a cashflow lending facility that is primarily targeted at the unemployed and was developed with distinct requirements to benefit women, young people and agriculture professionals.

According to the bank, this cashflow lending is an option under the Women and Youth loan scheme.

Bank spokesperson Fillemon Nangonya explains that as a short-term loan, the cashflow lending facility requires no collateral for clients who do not have fixed property or have limited collateral scope on their fixed property.

“In addition, the special option was designed to address the barrier of limited access to finance due to lack of ownership of fixed properties to offer as collateral, especially among the unemployed members of the community.”

He says that women and young people who own fixed property are also faced with the barrier of limited collateral scope on their properties, hence they experience difficulties to access finance.

Nangonya said clients applying under this option are required to provide a valid off-take/supply agreement based on the project’s cashflow projections.

He said this agreement is a commitment between the farmer and an off-taker, who is the buyer of the produce, whereby the farmer commits to supply the produce and the off-taker pledges to buy the produce from the farm.

To ensure that a buyer is legitimate, the bank conducts a due diligence check on the buyer prior to loan approval.

Once funding is approved, a tripartite agreement is signed between the client, Agribank and the buyer. Through the tripartite agreement, the buyer, when purchasing from the farmer, agrees to first pay the loan instalment amount to Agribank and then pay the difference to the farmer, explained Nangonya.

“Thus, public members especially the target market being women, youth, agricultural professionals, who are interested and eager to start or expand their agricultural projects are encouraged to approach the bank for funding.”

Nangonya said as a state-owned development finance institution, Agribank will continue to play a meaningful role in ensuring that both communal and commercial farmers have affordable access to financing, to transform the agricultural sector to optimum sustainable productive status for prosperity.
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Understanding fertiliser application methods

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Understanding fertiliser application methodsUnderstanding fertiliser application methods ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

Soil fertility is an important aspect in crop production as it ensures that crops are supplied with crucial elements that increase growth, production and yield.

Agribank’s technical advisor for crops and poultry, Hanks Saisai, says it is crucial for farmers to understand that the right inputs must be readily available before the start of the cropping season to ensure a successful harvest.

He explains that conventionally, soils usually supply all thirteen essential elements required by the variety of crops grown by farmers.

Crops require macro-nutrients, elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, in large quantities daily.

Secondary nutrients such as calcium and magnesium are needed in moderate quantities and micro-nutrients such as boron, zinc, sulphur, iron and molybdenum are needed in smaller quantities to perform other specific functions.

Fertilisers are key inputs that crop farmers utilise to ensure that crops receive adequate amounts of each essential nutrient.

“Fertilisers are any materials (organic or synthetic) that are incorporated into the soil to supply nutrients that crops require for growth. However, to ensure effectiveness, it is important to ensure that fertilisers are applied correctly.”

Different methods

He says there are many ways in which fertilisers can be applied and it is important for farmers to understand each method.

Firstly, fertiliser can be applied using the basal application method.

This method requires a farmer to apply fertiliser by distributing or spreading it over the crop field and working it into the soil before any planting is done.

“This method is the least likely to cause plant damage and is best for home gardens.”

Secondly, Saisai says that the top-dressing application is the distribution of fertiliser on to a field containing a growing crop and is used mainly for soluble fertilisers such as nitrate, which are easily washed into the soil and quickly available to the plant.

He says when using this method, it is advisable to do a split application during the growing season to give an extra shot of nutrients when needed by taking into consideration the different nutritional requirements of crops at different stages of growth.

“Sideband or row placement application is a third method of applying fertiliser. It usually involves placing the fertiliser in the soil at a slight distance from the seed or seedling, often five to eight centimetres to one side and three to five centimetres below the seed or plant.”

In this way the fertiliser is near enough to be used by the plant, but not close enough to injure it.

Lastly, Saisai says that fertigation is another method that a farmer can use to apply fertiliser to the soil.

This method is only compatible with water-soluble fertilisers and it is usually incorporated in the main water tanks that are used to supply water to the crop fields or gardens.

When applying fertiliser, it is recommended that a farmer understands the available nutrient reserves in the soil by testing the soil and determining how much fertiliser is to be applied to avoid over- and under-fertilisation of the soil as it may harm crops.
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Urgent feedback required on Stampriet Basin

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Urgent feedback required on Stampriet BasinUrgent feedback required on Stampriet BasinUranium project could make entire Kalahari unliveable Famers in the Stampriet area are asked to urgently provide information on boreholes to the Namibia Agricultural Union. ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

The Namibia Agricultural Union has made an urgent appeal to anyone who owns a farm in or around the Stampriet Artesian Basin to immediately provide the union with farm names on which boreholes for the exploration of uranium have been drilled.

They also want to know on which farms boreholes for water have been drilled by prospectors.

This follows after serious concern was raised over the leaching of uranium from ore deposits in the Stampriet Artesian Basin and that it could cause a health disaster.

Poisoning the Kalahari

It is reported that the process will leave so much uranium in this aquifer that people and animals will not be able to live in the Kalahari, because they will get all kinds of health problems and diseases such as cancer.

This aquifer covers 60 000 square kilometres and stretches across Botswana and South Africa. It is the life source of the Kalahari and provides top-quality drinking water to everyone who lives there.

Headspring Investments Namibia obtained an exclusive exploration licence (EPL 4656) on 15 August 2011 to search for uranium at Leonardville.

The company is a subsidiary of the Russian state nuclear power corporation, Rosatom.

On 3 September 2018, an environmental clearance certificate (ECC) for the continuation of the exploration project was issued to Headspring Investments.

In the same year, Headspring Investments bought the farm Tripoli, on which the exploration work is being done, from Pieter Maartens.

The exploration phase has meanwhile been completed and the company is now in the process of applying for an ECC which authorises it to proceed to the operational phase.

Farmers unite

Meanwhile, the Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Committee (SAUMC) has been established and met at the end of last month.

Divan Opperman, a representative of the Leonardville Farmers’ Association, was elected as the chairman of the committee.

According to the NAU, the purpose of their meeting was to plan and coordinate future actions with the participation of specialists - geologist Dr Roy Miller, environmental consultant Dr Lima Maartens and hydrologist Dr Diganta Sarma.

The union said the first step will be to involve all relevant ministries, preferably the ministers themselves, of agriculture and water, environment, mining and health.

“A further aim is, from the outset, that the various ministries will have to make a balanced joint decision on this extremely serious issue and not each one separately.”

The NAU said should this effort not materialise, discussions will be held with each ministry separately.

“The position of the SAUMC is clear, that nowhere in the world are in-situ uranium mining operations conducted on a freshwater carrier of the quality and scope of the Stampriet Artesian Basin - this intention must be stopped under all circumstances.”

In-situ leaching, also called in-situ recovery or solution mining, is a mining process used to recover minerals such as copper and uranium through boreholes drilled into a deposit, in situ. In situ leaching works by artificially dissolving minerals occurring naturally in a solid state.
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Unemployed graduates demand allowance

November 10, 2021, 2:00 pm
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Unemployed graduates demand allowanceUnemployed graduates demand allowance ESTER KAMATI



WINDHOEK

The Graduates Union of Namibia (GUN) wants government to intervene in the unemployment status of an estimated 80 000 graduates in the country.

In a letter to President Hage Geingob, the union demanded an allowance for the graduates, adding that unemployment in Namibia has long reached crisis levels.

The proposed allowance would be used for job hunting, which printing and delivering resumes and attending interviews.

A starting allowance of N$350 has been suggested for graduates who hold a certificate, N$400 for a diploma, N$450 for an advanced degree and N$600 for those with an undergraduate degree, while those who hold honours and Masters degrees but are still jobless should get N$700 and N$750 respectively.

“Our unemployed graduates are not to blame for this crisis. They were never part of any committee that drafted our education policies; neither do they form part of a governing body that can have direct influence on the running state affairs.

“Blaming young graduates for a lack of innovation proves partial and unfounded,” the letter read.

Facing extreme poverty

The union’s spokesperson, Fanus Ivula, said the allowance will also be helpful as a social security net for the graduates. “Imagine the blame they get for wasting their parents’ money to go for studies.”

He added that unemployment has nothing to do with career choice, but is a matter of governance. “Our graduates are leaving the country to become nannies in Europe,” he said.

According to him, the unemployment crisis has resulted in extreme poverty and has been worsened by the pandemic.

“The youth, including myself, are facing extreme poverty, suicide, drug abuse and often turning to dangerous criminal activities on a daily basis,” he said.

“It takes time to cultivate a mindset of become self-employed into the minds of people who were imparted to become employees.”

A family’s hope

The union said the high unemployment numbers are heightened by an influx of graduates yearly.

Ivula added that these graduates are often the hope of their families, to help save them from poverty.

In March, the ministry of higher education published that a total of 67 000 graduates are unemployed. This number has been estimated to have increased to at least 80 000 given the October graduation.

ester@myzone.com.na
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