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COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF

January 26, 2022, 2:00 pm
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COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEFCOMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF Microsoft offers strong forecast

Microsoft Corp on Tuesday forecast revenue for the current quarter broadly ahead of Wall Street targets, driven in part by its Intelligent Cloud unit.

The outlook soothed concerns about growth sparked by results for the December quarter, which initially dragged on Microsoft's shares in after-hours trade. But the shares reversed course following the outlook, trading 3% above the closing price.

Investors were seeking assurances that the enterprise cloud business is still growing strongly and got it from Microsoft.

Thill said Microsoft's guidance that Azure revenue would be up sequentially was strong assurance that cloud demand was solid.

Microsoft forecast Intelligent Cloud revenue of US$18.75 billion-US$19 billion for its fiscal third quarter, driven by "strong growth" in its Azure platform. That compared with a Wall Street consensus of US$18.15 billion, according to Refinitiv data.

Thill said the strong momentum for cloud computing benefiting Microsoft will likely also be reflected in upcoming results for rivals Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google. -Reuters

Texas forecasts upbeat revenue

Texas Instruments Inc on Tuesday forecast current-quarter revenue above expectations and said it would sharpen its focus on chips used in the lucrative automotive and industrial sectors, sending its shares up 4% in extended trading.

The company, which also beat fourth-quarter revenue estimates, is boosting capacity as chipmakers try to plug the gap between demand and supply caused by the pandemic-fuelled supply delays and a shift to working and learning from home.

Texas Instruments now plans to bank on opportunities and place "additional strategic emphasis" on the industrial and automotive segments, which roughly account for 41% and 21% of the company's annual revenue.

"It's very easily seen in the automotive market that there's content growth. We can see the cars today just have more semi content in them per vehicle than what we drove 5 years ago and 10 years ago.

And it's very clear that that's going to continue," TI's head of investor relations David Pahl said in a call with analysts. -Reuters

Google expands in Brazil

Alphabet Inc's Google is slated to hire 200 engineers in Brazil this year, as it seeks to bolster its privacy, security, and anti-abusive content technologies, Berthier Ribeiro-Neto, its director of engineering for Latin America, told Reuters on Tuesday.

The 2023 hiring push would double the current number of engineers working in Latin America's largest country with a focus on "local talents" that could create products not only for Brazil, but for the world.

The job offers will be focused on the south-eastern states of Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo, the country's tech hubs, but with the possibility of remote work.

Answering questions from Reuters via e-mail, Ribeiro-Neto also highlighted that the planned hires are part of a global expansion plan prioritizing Google's main markets outside the United States.

"With such a relevant market, we believe it is important to have more and more Brazilians at the forefront of the development of our technologies," he said, adding that Brazil is among the top five countries for the use of products such as Android, Chrome, YouTube and Maps. -Reuters

Airbus to create own airline

Airbus plans to charter out its whale-shaped Beluga transport planes -whose main job until now has been to ferry aircraft parts between its plants in Europe - to help other industries haul urgently-needed outsized machinery by air.

Airbus said the move to rent out spare capacity on its existing Beluga ST and new Beluga XL transporters would lead to the creation of a commercial-cargo airline subsidiary from 2023.

Weeks after ending output of the world's largest passenger jet, the A380, Airbus is planning a new role for what could be the West's largest commercial freighter by volume, the Beluga.

It is a rare example of aerospace 'in-sourcing' tasks from other industries after years of farming out work externally, and if successful could pave the way for other services. The 100% unit will work a commercial basis, Airbus said.

"It will get its revenues from its sales, and it will bear all its investments and operating costs," a spokesman said. -Reuters

GM's investment intensifies EV battle

General Motors Co said Tuesday it will invest US$7 billion in Michigan, much of that aimed at dramatically boosting production of full-size electric pickups, intensifying a battle with rival Ford Motor Co for EV supremacy in North America.

Both US automakers, however, will have to contend with current leader Tesla, which will soon open a second US plant in Austin, Texas, and is on pace to sell more than 1 million electric vehicles globally in 2022.

GM said its Detroit-Hamtramck and Orion Township plants will be able to build more than 600 000 electric trucks a year by late 2024, with three other plants in Tennessee, Ontario and Mexico boosting the company's total North America EV production capacity to more than a million units by late 2025.

In January, Ford said it will have the annual capacity to build 600 000 electric vehicles, including 150,000 F-150 Lightning pickups, within 24 months, when it aims to become "the clear No. 2 electric vehicle maker in North America" behind Tesla.

Last year, Ford said it would invest more than US$11 billion in new electric truck and battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky, along with Korean partner SK Innovation. -Reuters
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Dubai Expo: Nam attracts over 140k visitors

January 26, 2022, 2:00 pm
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Dubai Expo: Nam attracts over 140k visitorsDubai Expo: Nam attracts over 140k visitorsTravel bans won’t impact investment leads It’s business as usual at the Namibian pavilion at the Dubai Expo, despite travel restrictions banning travellers from several African countries. ELLANIE SMIT







WINDHOEK

Namibia already had more than 140 000 visitors at the Dubai Expo and generated 123 investment leads.

While travel restrictions were introduced on all southern African countries due to the outbreak of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, this will not have a significant impact on Namibia’s activities at the expo.

This is according to Catherine Shipushu, senior manager for marketing, branding and communications at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPD).

She said the travel restrictions prohibit visitors from all southern African countries as well as Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Ethiopia entry into the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This development poses a challenge particularly for Namibians required to travel to Dubai for expo-related business, she said. However, having operated in an uncertain environment due to the ongoing pandemic for the past few months, the NIPDB had already put strategies in place to effectively manage these types of situations.

“It is therefore important to note that while travel to Dubai may be limited, these restrictions do not pose a significant impact on the country’s activities at the expo. It is business as usual on the ground and the investment promotion work is continuing unabated.”

The NIPD further assured all stakeholders that all expo-related events will proceed as scheduled.

No plans to cancel

Shipushu said as a precautionary measure against Covid-19, some of the activities will be hybrid events while others may be hosted virtually.

“NIPDB can confirm that there are no plans to cancel any of the scheduled events, although some will be scaled down for health and safety considerations and in compliance with social distance and other protocols introduced by the UAE government.

“While we acknowledge that the current travel restrictions have stifled some of our plans, we have found a solution to this challenge by leveraging technology to ensure that all investment promotion activities continue as planned.”

Shipushu said since officially opening its doors on 1 October 2021, the Namibian pavilion has recorded a steadily increasing visitor count that currently stands at 146 855, representing an average of 37 000 visitors per month.

“Namibia’s participation at the expo is anchored in the primary objective of positioning the country as an attractive investment destination by stimulating investor interest in the country. In order to be more practical and focused in achieving this goal, a specific target was set to create at least 10 investment leads per month.”

Keen on green hydrogen

Shipushu said, to date, a total of 123 investment leads have been generated, which is well above the targeted 10 leads a month.

“Most investor interest is in the area of green hydrogen. Recorded leads indicate investor interest in other key industries such as agriculture, education, tourism, and various trade activities.

“In terms of country of origin, over 50% of potential investors emanate from the UAE, with less than 10% of African origin,” she said.

“The NIPDB has the mammoth responsibility to ensure a return on the government’s investment into this expo. As such, the board remains committed to carrying out this assignment.”

ellanie@namibiansun.com
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EDITORIAL: The scourge of substance abuse

January 26, 2022, 2:00 pm
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EDITORIAL: The scourge of substance abuseEDITORIAL: The scourge of substance abuse There is no denying that drug and alcohol abuse destroys Namibian families every year.

Our country is not only grappling with the toll of heavy drinking, especially among the youth, but drug abuse is now also widespread among teenage addicts.

Last year alone, police intercepted drugs worth N$37 million. We are too scared to contemplate the value of drugs that went undetected.



We have to admit that substance abuse has the potential to drag teenagers far away from the happy and purposeful lives they deserve. We have also read how drugs, alcohol and just plain boredom have been leading Namibians down dark roads filled with sexual experimentation. Children of school-going age are falling prey to substance abuse and this has been attributed to the chaotic behaviour at schools including ill-discipline, aggressiveness, hostility, disrespect and vandalism.

Coming up with better strategies aimed at combatting substance abuse is a mammoth task for both parents and teachers. The challenge we are faced with is that as much as the state should increase penalties for offenders dealing in drugs, it is also important to handle addicts in a way that allows them to move toward recovery and rejoin society in a productive way. This more so when dealing with teenagers who still have their whole lives ahead of them.

What we can ill-afford is for drugs and alcohol to destroy the country’s future by destroying the very leaders of tomorrow.
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NamRA to accelerate digital transformation

January 26, 2022, 2:00 pm
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NamRA to accelerate digital transformationNamRA to accelerate digital transformationInternational customs day celebrated NamRa received a donation of laptops from the Namibia Nature Foundation to assist staff members when carrying out their operations. Leaving no one behind means leaving no one offline. Sam Shivute, Commissioner: NamRa PHILLEPUS UUSIKU

Accelerating digital transformation will play a key role in ensuring that the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa) becomes a world class revenue agency in order to positively impact the livelihoods of every Namibia.

The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa) joined other customs administrations and members of the World Customs Organization to celebrate the international customs day. This is the first celebration since the launch of the agency last year.

The celebration took place yesterday and was held under the theme 'scaling up customs digital transformation by embracing a data culture and building a data ecosystem’. At the occasion, the agency received a donation of laptops from the Namibia Nature Foundation.

Speaking at the event, NamRa’s commissioner, Sam Shivute, pointed out that without digital transformation, it is not possible to achieve the world class status.

The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the pace of digital transformation which led to a surge in digital platforms ranging from electronic commerce, digital payment methods and the provision of electronic services from both the public and private sectors.

“The development of an automated clearance system lies at the heart of our digital transformation journey,” Shivute said.

The transformation of digital technology provides a unique opportunity for customs administrations to tap into data from other government offices, ministries and agencies and other sources.

That is in addition to data collected on its traders and enforcement activities, to accelerate digitalisation across the customs community while further promoting connectivity, interoperability and collaboration among all trade stakeholders, Shivute added.

History

“Even though customs clearance plays a significant role in today’s customs workplace, you have also heard that it was not always this way as Namibia predominantly relied on paper-based Customs processes which negatively affected the movement of goods and people across borders.

Therefore, the theme for this year’s international customs day reminds us that the technology landscape will continue to change rapidly.”

The commissioner called on each and every staff member to have access to the right data to enable the institution to adopt progressive approaches such as data analytics to collect and successfully exploit data to drive trade and to facilitate the reinvention of the way they do business.

“NamRA takes pride in the steps that we have taken towards digital transformation. The various customs modernisation systems such as Asycuda World, Container Control Program, Non-intrusive Scanners and Unique Consignment Reference are clear evidence that we are on the right path to transform customs by scaling up digital transformation. We will continue working hard together with our partners, to make our customs administration a world-class service,” the commissioner said.

“Leaving no one behind means leaving no one offline,” he pointed out.

NamRA has a great role to play in enabling the government to foster economic recovery, sustainable growth and social development for the best interest of all Namibians, Shivute concluded.-phillep@nmh.com.na
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10 years later, no cows at N$140m Kavango dairy farm

January 26, 2022, 2:00 pm
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10 years later, no cows at N$140m Kavango dairy farm10 years later, no cows at N$140m Kavango dairy farm KENYA KAMBOWE



UVHUNGU VHUNGU

Government’s N$141 million Uvhungu Vhungu dairy farm in the Kavango East Region remains a white elephant, with not a single drop of milk produced since its establishment 10 years ago.

Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani was disgusted by the state of affairs at the green scheme, which he described as a ‘botch’, yesterday.

Currently in Kavango East visiting the various green schemes, he did not mince his words, saying taxpayer money has gone to waste. “This a Namibian botch dairy farm. The ministry spent over N$140 million on this project and 10 years later, there is no cow and nothing is happening,” Venaani lamented.

He proposed that a public-private partnership might be the solution to the issues at the project, which could create 30 to 40 jobs.

The leader of the official opposition also said he will request a meeting with President Hage Geingob regarding his findings from his trip.

The N$141 million upgrade to the Uvhungu Vhungu dairy farm was birthed during former president Hifikepunye Pohamba’s tenure, and was aimed at creating job opportunities and economic benefits for locals. This is, however, yet to come to fruition, with some residents calling the project a “far-fetched dream”.

Business as usual

The PDM leader said he is visiting green schemes to evaluate the seriousness of the agriculture sector’s productivity to the country.

National leaders who visit the region usually take a trip to the farm to urge that the project be completed, but things return to business as usual as soon as they leave the region.

In 2014, Pohamba visited the farm, while current vice-president Nangolo Mbumba paid a visit in 2019. The project, however, continues to deteriorate as far as infrastructure is concerned.

kenya@namibiansun.com
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Nghiwete hits back at ‘primitive’ NSFAF board

January 26, 2022, 2:00 pm
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Nghiwete hits back at ‘primitive’ NSFAF boardNghiwete hits back at ‘primitive’ NSFAF board MATHIAS HAUFIKU



WNDHOEK

Under-fire Namibia Students Financial Aid Fund (NSFAF) chief executive officer Hilya Nghiwete has accused the fund’s board of ‘primitively’ hijacking her disciplinary hearing and dismissing her even before the process was concluded.

NSFAF at the time roped in Clement Daniels to chair the hearing, but his tenure was cut short following the board’s “sudden” intervention.

According to Nghiwete in court papers filed last Friday, the board “unlawfully, unfairly and irregularly hijacked the disciplinary process”.

“As it turned out, the chairperson [Daniels] of the hearing was never given an opportunity to decide on that issue as on 6 and 7 February 2020 the Appellant’s Board of Directors stopped dead (and killed) the disciplinary hearing without notice to the chairperson of the hearing. It unlawfully usurped his powers.”

According to Nghiwete, the board earlier admitted that she was fired without being served with any charges.

She further indicated that NSFAF appointed its company secretary Fillemon Wise Immanuel as the coordinator of the disciplinary matter, notwithstanding the fact that there was a rift between him and Nghiwete.

Despite an arbitrator’s decision that Nghiwete must be reinstated, NSFAF has pooled all its resources to ensure that she does not return.

Irreconcilable

The fund said its image and reputation improved tremendously, with the number of public complaints declining remarkably, since Nghiwete’s departure.

NSFAF also claims the relationship between the CEO and the institution is irreconcilable, hence she should not resume her duties.

Nghiwete, however, disputed that assertion, saying the board does not have evidence as to whether or not her relationship with the fund has broken down.

“The evidence of acting CEO Mr [Kennedy] Kandume and the company secretary Mr [Immanuel] is irrelevant and unreliable in that aspect, particularly in view of the fact that the acting CEO is currently benefitting from the continued absence of the first respondent while the company secretary is clearly biased against the first respondent,” Nghiwete’s court papers read.

In its main heads of arguments for an appeal against the arbitrator’s order to reinstate Nghiwete and reimburse her N$3 million backpay, NSFAF said she was paid over N$4 million while not rendering any services to the fund, putting the institution in a precarious financial position.

Nghiwete refuted NSFAF’s claims, adding that the fund “simply does not like the decision of the Arbitrator”.

“The court, however, does not need to consider the Appellant’s seductive cry for mercy, it appears, on the basis of a wrong misconception that equitable considerations are what matters. The court, with respect, may only apply the law, not equity,” she said.

Sufficient grounds

The fund, meanwhile, said there were sufficient grounds to suspend the disciplinary hearing Nghiwete failed to attend, and dismiss her altogether.

These grounds include the fact that she was booked off sick for three months for a disease simply referred to as ‘psychopathological’ without informing the institution, yet travelling to Finland on personal business.

It is not clear why Nghiwete was medically fit to conduct private business but unfit to participate in a disciplinary hearing, the fund said.

She also reportedly refused to see a doctor recommended by the fund after it was found that her sick leave certificate was “wholly inadequate and provided no explanation for her condition or her ability or inability to participate in the disciplinary hearing”.

There are also talks the board wanted Nghiwete to go for psychiatric evaluation.
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Fishrot accused asked to use govt Falcon

January 26, 2022, 2:00 pm
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Fishrot accused asked to use govt Falcon Fishrot accused asked to use govt Falcon ACC spills fresh beans in bail application Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba approved the trip to Angola for which disgraced former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau asked permission to use the government aircraft - with men who never worked for government. JEMIMA BEUKES







WINDHOEK

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday said the men accused in the Fishrot scandal had applied to use the government Falcon aircraft to travel to Angola in relation to the deals that have landed them in hot water.

Andreas Kanyangela, the ACC lead investigator into Fishrot, confirmed this while giving his testimony in the bail application of some of the men accused in the case.

According to Kanyangela, the Falcon was to be used by a delegation - led by then fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau - heading to Angola to sign the controversial memorandum of understanding on agriculture and fisheries between that country and Namibia.

It was not immediately clear whether the men were eventually granted permission to use the aircraft.

The government Falcon is a corporate jet which is available for the head of state, prime minister, Cabinet ministers, government officials, parastatals and private business individuals.

According to Kanyangela’s testimony yesterday, President Hage Geingob had sanctioned this working visit to Angola on 12 June 2014 through the ministry of presidential affairs office, although the National Assembly was still in session at the time.

He had allegedly also informed the former permanent secretary of the foreign affairs ministry Selma Ashipala-Musavyi of this working visit.

The delegation included James Hatuikulipi, Johannsson Stefansson, Tamson Hatuikulipi and Ricardo Gustavo, none of whom ever worked for government.

Last year, Kanyangela told the court a total of 50 000 metric tonnes horse mackerel fishing quotas were allegedly fraudulently allocated to Angolan entity Namgomar Pesca Limitada.

Namgomar Pesca Limitada, which he called a “briefcase company”, was allegedly owned by João de Barros, the son of former Angolan fisheries minister Victoria de Barros Neto, and is purported to be the parent company of Namgomar Pesca Namibia – for which Gustavo was a sole director.

Thank you

According to court documents, Esau wrote to his counterpart in Angola to thank her for hosting them during the then just-ended working visit.

“I look forward to a productive collaboration between the two sister ministries and countries. As discussed, I would like to implement this agreement straight away. The government will post that the agreement is established in the government gazette,” Esau wrote to De Barros Neto.

He reportedly pointed out to her that they [Namibia] nominate Namgomar Pesca SA or its nominee in conjunction with the Namibian fishing entity Namgomar Pesca to harvest fish in Namibia.

He promised to inform these entities of these developments and expressed assurances of his ‘comradely regards’.

‘Who is Samherji?’

On 23 December 2013, former justice minister Sacky Shanghala allegedly wrote to Icelandic fishing executives to ask for a small profile on Samherji.

“Dear Vikings, I trust you are well. I really need your assistance. The minister [Esau] needs to go brief the president on the Namgomar matter. The question may arise ‘who is Samherji?’ Do you have a brochure, two pages or so? Please send to me,” he wrote.

Samherji is the Icelandic fishing firm alleged to have paid bribes to Namibian politicians and businessmen to gain access to Namibia’s marine resources.

jemima@namibiansun.com
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Don’t bank on oil yet

January 26, 2022, 2:00 pm
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Don’t bank on oil yetDon’t bank on oil yetResults of Shell well studied The results of the Graff-1 exploration well offshore Namibia are promising, but it remains to be seen if it is commercially viable. More work still needs to be done to establish whether there’s enough quantity that can be exploited commercially. – Tom Alweendo, Mines and energy minister Jo-Maré Duddy – No commercial discovery of oil has yet been made in the Graff-1 exploration well offshore Namibia in the Petroleum Exploration License 39 (PEL 39) in which Shell, QatarEnergy and Namcor have stakes.

“As of now, no commercial discovery is made as yet. However, the drilling results so far are that there’s a presence of an active petroleum system,” mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo reacted on a Reuters report Tuesday evening.

According to Reuters, three industry sources told the news agency that the Graff-1 well results have so far shown at least two reservoirs containing what one of the sources described as a significant amount of oil and gas.

According to a second Reuters source, the drilling results have shown one layer at least 60 metres deep of hydrocarbons, holding an estimated 250 to 300 million barrels of oil and gas equivalent.

“More work still needs to be done to establish whether there’s enough quantity that can be exploited commercially,” Alweendo told Namibia Media Holdings (NHM).

According to the Reuters report: “It is unclear if the discoveries are big enough for Shell to go ahead with the development of the country's first deep water field, the sources said.”

INVESTMENT

Shell holds a 45% stake in PEL 39 with a 45% interest held by QatarEnergy and a 10% held by the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor). The deepwater exploration well was spud by the Valaris DS-10 drillship in December.

At the time, IHS Markit said “if successful, Graff-1 could spark significant international investment to a region which has had minimal E&P [exploration and production] activity over the last 25 years”.

However, IHS Markit added: “Success at a geological level does not imply economic or commercial success. Analysis of the Graff prospect suggests a minimum economic field size of around 85 MMbbls at US$70/bbl and a potential NPV [net present value] of around US$1.5 billion with a discovery size equal to 320 MMbbls.

“Cost curve analysis indicates an average BEP [break-even price] for new projects offshore West Africa of US$50/bbl. With this as a minimum long-term price expectation, Shell is likely targeting at least 210 MMbbls recoverable. It is also worth noting that there is additional upside potential with several key prospects already identified nearby.”

Regarding the latter statement, IHS Markit was referring to the Venus-1 well, which was drilled in the neighbouring PEL 56 licence shortly before Graff-1. TotalEnergies, the operator of the block, holds a stake of 40% in the PEL, while Impact Oil and Gas has 20%, QatarEnergy 30% and Namcor 10%.

‘DEEPWATER PLAYS’

Wood Mackenzie in its Global Upstream Outlook 2022, released in December said the oil and gas sector will continue to rebound this year.

“Deepwater plays with highly productive reservoirs will be prioritised, including giant prospects in Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, Namibia and South Africa,” the global research and consultancy giant said.

According to Reuters: “The Namibian government is planning to make an announcement next week on the details of the discovery.”

Alweendo told NMH that the “Graff-1 drilling campaign is planned to end sometime next week and thereafter we’ll have more information”.
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‘Accelerated schedule’ for Langer Heinrich

January 27, 2022, 9:46 am
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‘Accelerated schedule’ for Langer Heinrich‘Accelerated schedule’ for Langer Heinrich Jo-Maré Duddy - ASX-listed Paladin Energy, the majority shareholder in Langer Heinrich, today said it has developed an accelerated schedule with an optimised project execution plan for the Namibian uranium mine.
The plan includes the possibility of self-funding early works in Paladin’s 2022 financial year, as well as fast tracking first production when a decision to restart is made.
Releasing its latest quarterly report, the Australian-based global uranium miner said it would cost US$81 million – about N$1.25 billion at current exchange rates – to restart Langer Heinrich.
The mine ceased production in May 2018 due to the persistent low uranium price. More than 300 workers were retrenched when Langer Heinrich was put on care and maintenance.
Paladin CEO Ian Purdy said: “The Restart Plan Update is the conclusion of an extensive work stream that has reinforced our confidence in Langer Heinrich as a low risk, robust, long-life operation.”
Paladin owns 75% of Langer Heinrich, while CNNC Overseas Uranium Holding Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), has the rest.
Paladin is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) and has a dual-listing on the Overall Index of the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX). It closed at N$7.42 on the NSX this afternoon.
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Masilingi out for three weeks

January 27, 2022, 2:00 pm
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Masilingi out for three weeksMasilingi out for three weeksAthlete’s assessment result out Coach Henk Botha yesterday confirmed that Beatrice Masilingi will be out of action for close to three weeks after an assessment found a strained hamstring. JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

WINDHOEK

The twinge that Beatrice Masilingi felt in her hamstring last week will take time to disappear entirely, coach Henk Botha said yesterday.

Masilingi withdrew from the 200 metres sprint at the Athletics Grand Prix in Windhoek at the weekend after feeling discomfort in her left hamstring.

“I think we can now confirm that what she felt in her hamstring was indeed a strain and this means that she will be out for a few weeks.

“She is a strong girl and we expect her to be fine and back on the track in about three weeks.

“Of course, she is a bit disappointed that she is unable to train hard at the moment but I am sure she will be fine,” Botha said.

Timetable to follow

The athlete’s coach added that they plan on starting with light training next week already.

“Next week, she will be doing slow training and we will keep monitoring her for the rest of the weeks.

“There are plenty of events we are looking forward to and that is why it is important to make sure that she is okay and ready to run in a few weeks,” Botha added.

Last year, Masilingi ran 49.53 seconds in the 400 metres, unofficially the third-fastest time in history run by an under-20 athlete.

She also finished sixth in the women's 200 metres at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, having made the final along with fellow Namibian sprinter and eventual silver medallist Christine Mboma.

The athlete took second place after running a time of 11:39 seconds at the Under-20 World Athletics Championship in Kenya last year.
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European Union strives for change

January 27, 2022, 2:00 pm
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European Union strives for change European Union strives for change The European Union supports change in governance and inclusiveness in the Nyae Nyae and N?a Jaqna conservancies Staff reporter



The European Union has been funding the Nyae Nyae Development Foundation of Namibia (NNDFN) to provide support to the Nyae Nyae and N?a Jaqna conservancies with the aim to improve their governance and inclusiveness. This three-year project started in February 2020 and runs until January 2023. This was at the time that the Covid-19 pandemic struck and impacted this project in various ways. The pandemic has delayed and complicated both the planning and implementation of activities in the conservancies.
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Nande’s golf fundraiser good to go

January 27, 2022, 2:00 pm
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Nande’s golf fundraiser good to goNande’s golf fundraiser good to goEyeing bigger platforms Namibian amateur golfer Likius Nande’s planned fundraiser this weekend at the Windhoek Country Club Resort is good to go. LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK

The Likius Nande Golf Fundraiser slated for Saturday is expected to pull in amateur and veteran golfers who are participating in support of the initiative.

Nande started the initiative to raise funds for the upcoming Sunshine Tour Qualifying tournaments, the first of which will be towards the end of February and the other in September.

The fundraiser will aid Nande as he plans to relocate to South Africa and to introduce himself to the professional circuit.

The 26-year-old Nande said entry numbers are looking great, with about 30 teams having confirmed entry, which means about 90 players.

“To be honest, I’m stressed and excited at the same time for the weekend. So, if you are in Windhoek, come out in numbers and support the golfers, it’s for a great cause,” he added.

A regular golfer, Wisdom Moyo, said he would try his best to put on a good showing but that his aim is to just have fun.

“It is not really about winning. It’s about having fun and showing support to our brother as he takes the next step,” he said.

Play starts at 08:00 and will continue till 15:00. The prizegiving will start at 17:00.
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Namibians cautious about their financial situation

January 27, 2022, 2:00 pm
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Namibians cautious about their financial situationNamibians cautious about their financial situation Staff reporter



In the last quarter of 2021, Old Mutual conducted its Savings and Investment Monitor Survey. The primary objective of the survey was to better understand the savings behaviour and financial attitudes of working Namibians, with specific reference to the ongoing impact of Covid 19.

Based upon the results, it emerged that a significant number of Namibians faced many financial adversities in 2021. Out of the sample, 58% feared the possibility of losing their job or income while 68% were concerned about their job security. Therefore, it is understandable why 33% of the participants had taken on an additional job or business or done freelance work on the side to supplement their income.

Equally, the results showed that a quarter of those surveyed lived with their parents while 80% said that they had children who are dependent on them. Similarly, a quarter of the participants highlighted that since the emergence of the pandemic they had started financially supporting more people.
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COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF

January 27, 2022, 2:00 pm
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COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEFCOMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF AT&T profit beats estimates

AT&T Inc beat analysts' estimates for fourth-quarter profit and revenue as solid growth in its streaming platform HBO Max more than made up for a dip in subscriber additions in its wireless business.

The company's shares rose about 2% in premarket trading as revenue at Warner Media, which houses premium TV channel HBO and streaming service HBO Max, rose 15.4% to US$9.9 billion in the quarter.

HBO and HBO Max together added 4.4 million subscribers during the quarter, drawing viewers with releases such as "Dune", "The Matrix" and the newest season of TV show "Succession".

In its wireless business, however, AT&T added fewer-than-expected subscribers who pay a monthly bill.

The company signed up 884 000 net new phone subscribers who pay a monthly bill during the fourth quarter, falling short of FactSet estimates of 906 500 new subscribers.

Rival carrier Verizon on Tuesday reported a better-than-expected 558 000 subscriber additions in its latest quarter. -Reuters

Intel wins appeal

Intel on Wednesday won its fight against a 1.06-billion-euro (US$1.2 billion) EU antitrust fine that the US chipmaker was handed 12 years ago for stifling a rival, in a major setback for EU antitrust regulators.

The judgment by Europe's second-top court in support of Intel's arguments is likely to cheer Alphabet unit Google in its fight against hefty EU antitrust fines and Apple, Amazon and Facebook, which are in the EU antitrust enforcer's crosshairs.

The European Commission penalised Intel in 2009 for trying to block rival Advanced Micro Devices by giving rebates to computer makers Dell, Hewlett-Packard Co, NEC and Lenovo for buying most of their chips from Intel.

The Luxembourg-based General Court, Europe's second-highest, criticised the EU competition enforcer's analysis and annulled the fine.

"The European Commission's analysis is incomplete and does not make it possible to establish to the requisite legal standard that the rebates at issue were capable of having, or likely to have, anticompetitive effects," judges said.

The court annulled the entire article of the contested decision which imposed a fine of 1.06 billion euros on Intel for the infringement. -Reuters

Anthem quarterly profit beats estimates

Anthem Inc beat quarterly profit expectations on Wednesday as the US health insurer spent less on Covid-19 related healthcare services and recorded solid membership growth for its government health plans.

Rival UnitedHealth Group last week forecast softer impact this year from the pandemic as it expects added costs of testing and treatment related to the recent Omicron surge to be offset by delays in non-urgent healthcare procedures. read more

Anthem said its benefit expense ratio, the percentage of premiums paid for medical services , worsened to 89.5% from 88.9% a year earlier. Analysts on average expected 89.45%, according to Refinitiv data.

Adjusted for the repeal of the industry-wide health insurance fee last year, the ratio decreased nearly 1%, helped by lower spending on Covid-19 related services.

Operating gain in the government business segment came in US$748 million in the fourth quarter, an increase of US$579 million from a year earlier. The increase was partly due to membership growth in the Medicaid and Medicare businesses, the company said. -Reuters

Apple grabs record China market share

Apple Inc achieved its highest-ever market share in China in the fourth quarter, when it was the top-selling vendor there for the first time in six years, research firm Counterpoint Research reported on Wednesday.

The milestone coincided with the release of the iPhone 13, and amid otherwise stagnant demand for handsets as chief rival Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's market share declined.

Apple's smartphone market share reached 23%, a record for the brand. Its unit sales volume grew 32% year-on-year in the quarter, while total smartphone sales in China fell 9%, according to Counterpoint.

Counterpoint analyst Mengmeng Zhangcited a lower starting price in China and the impact of US sanctions against Huawei, Apple's main competitor in the high-end segment, as factors.

Apple last ranked as China's top-selling smartphone brand in late 2015, just after the company launched its iPhone 6, which attracted Chinese consumers with their large screens. -Reuters

Tesla forecasts growth above 50%

Tesla Inc on Wednesday forecast vehicle deliveries would comfortably grow by more than 50% year-over-year in 2022 despite persistent supply chain issues that it expects to be alleviated only next year.

The upbeat outlook from CEO Elon Musk came after the world's most valuable automaker posted record quarterly revenue that beat Wall Street expectations.

But the cautious note about supply chain woes showed that even Tesla cannot avoid the shortages that were pitfalls for many larger automakers last year. Shares fell 0.8% after hours.

Tesla, which produced a few cars at its Berlin and Texas factories last year, said scaling up production there would depend on supply chain headwinds and the successful introduction of new technologies.

Musk said that Tesla would not roll out new models this year but hopefully would launch its Cybertruck, Semi and Roadster next year. Tesla said it is not currently working on a US$25 000 model that Musk promised in 2020 would launch in three years. -Reuters
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CAN learns to co-exist with Covid-19

January 27, 2022, 2:00 pm
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CAN learns to co-exist with Covid-19CAN learns to co-exist with Covid-19Community support still a highlight As the Cancer Association of Namibia readies for lively 2022 calendar, CEO Rolf Hansen remains sentimental about the incredible support they received from Namibians Iréne-Mari van der Walt

After being forced to bow out due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) CEO, Rolf Hansen, says the show must go on.

“We started reactivating our national cancer outreach programme in 2021; then Delta broke out and we realised that people were very afraid to do to hospitals and clinics. We decided for the safety of our staff and in order to not waste money, we would stop the programme. However, 2022 is the year of learning to co-exist with this virus,” says Hansen.

Currently, Hansen says the Cancer Association of Namibia is anticipating a congestion in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“Over the last two years there has been less screening for cancer so we are expecting to see bottlenecks at our healthcare facilities. We will be seeing late screening, late reporting and late diagnosis. This late diagnosis and staging means we are going to see more critical and advanced cases,” he says.
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Keeping it real

January 27, 2022, 2:00 pm
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Keeping it real Keeping it real Just like any other industry, the music business deserves to be studied and mastered if you want to succeed in it. So many talented artists complain about the music business, but what they have not invested in is a team that’s knowledgeable about show business.

In 2022, artists can’t still be mad at the 360 deal. As the business of music shifts, so will business relationships. A label doesn’t just sell albums, they help build a brand. A percentage of brand equity is only fair when bearing all the financial risk. Go for what works for you – either you want to be independent or signed. If you go for the latter, find a lawyer and spend time reading to understand what you are signing up for.

michael@namibiansun.com
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‘Big Brother Mzansi’ back for season 3

January 27, 2022, 2:00 pm
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‘Big Brother Mzansi’ back for season 3 ‘Big Brother Mzansi’ back for season 3 A perfect fit for the African reality show Award-winning actor Lawrence Maleka hosts the new season. STAFF REPORTER







WINDHOEK

Known for his charisma and impressive acting chops, the versatile and multitalented Lawrence Maleka is adding another prestigious gig to his profile – as the presenter of the third season of ‘Big Brother Mzansi’.

The reality show premiered on Sunday, 23 January, live on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) and GOtv (channel 28).

Beloved by many for his portrayal of Zolani on the hit 1Magic telenovela ‘The River’, the South African Film and Television Award winner is also a celebrated TV presenter and host, having previously hosted Africa Magic Entertainment’s ‘StarGist’, Mzansi Magic’s ‘Clash of the Choirs’ and co-hosted the 2021 South African Music Awards, among others.

“I’m excited to be part of this instalment of ‘Big Brother Mzansi’. The franchise has become a massive phenomenon in African as well as South African pop culture, and I’m happy to join in the fun as a presenter. The fan base is huge and massively loyal – it’s an honour to be part of such a fantastic production,” he said.

Vibrant and confident

Shirley Adonisi, recently appointed director of local entertainment channels at M-Net, said Maleka was the perfect choice to present season three.

“Lawrence has proven to be one of the top young talents on our screens; his vibrant and confident screen and stage presence is a perfect fit for ‘Big Brother Mzansi’. We can’t wait for viewers to tune in to what’s certainly going to be a very exciting season.”

The highly anticipated new season will be the hottest yet. In addition to the 24-hour channel (DStv channel 198), daily shows and weekly highlights, viewers will also see the return of the most-liked feature, the Shower Hour. There will also be Friday game nights, Saturday night parties hosted with Channel O featuring the hottest DJs and, of course, the twists and turns of Sunday night evictions.
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The heartbeat of stationery

January 27, 2022, 2:00 pm
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The heartbeat of stationeryThe heartbeat of stationery 41 years of enabling work and learning in Namibia Jeanette Diergaardt

Pull Quote: “We go where it makes sense to have a presence.”

%; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Norman Walton and his father opened the store with nine staff members and an annual turnover of R40 000.

Fast forward 31 years, Waltons Namibia opened its doors on 11 March 1980.

The humble start of the branch at the Huka Building in 1980 resulted in several moves of branch location. From their initial building, Waltons moved to the Kaiser Krone Corner. When new developments forced the company to move, they found suitable premises in Bell Street. Upon completion of Mutual Platz, an additional outlet was opened in the brand-new building. To further increase their reach of quality stationery, the company partnered with Bidvest Namibia in 1997. Fuelled by their passion in delivering quality education they further embarked on a programme of expansion from one branch in Bell Street to 11 branches across Namibia and staff numbering over 220.

Waltons serves Namibians countrywide with stores in Oshakati, Ondangwa, Rundu, Tsumeb, Otjiwarongo, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Keetmanshoop and three branches in Windhoek. The company also does door-to-door deliveries. Their fleet of delivery vehicles ensures that they distribute stock from the warehouses in Windhoek to the different branches countrywide.

Taking it to the next level

Although it is now under the umbrella of Bidvest, the company soars with its own Namibian spirit and flair, and operates independently.

After 41 years of working to build a brighter future for the next generations of Namibians, Waltons looks forward to the next 40 years with positivity, passion, and a commitment to the communities in which it operates.

The company promises to offer continuous support and limitless effort to source products that fulfil the country’s corporate and educational material needs, with cost-effective, quality products.

By employing locals, Waltons promises to create a growing and healthy environment for employees while remaining the heartbeat of the Namibian stationery sector.

Every task is met with relentless effort and enthusiasm that shows each Waltonian’s commitment to growing the company and its contribution to the economy.

With another successful back-to-school season completed, reasonable prices, great deals and lifelong partnerships helped Namibian parents to get their children equipped for school.

“We want to move with the times and needs of our customers,” says De Wet Botes, the national sales manager of Waltons.

Moving with the times for Waltons and meeting the needs of its customers means tapping into the field of fast-moving consumer goods. Therefore, adding to their already extensive product range, which includes not only school and office supplies, but also IT equipment and accessories, office and home furniture, and arts and crafts supplies of various levels, Waltons now also offers a large variety of cleaning supplies, available in bulk and smaller quantities, personal care items, including masks and sanitising products, and basic catering supplies such as coffee, sugar, milk and more.

Waltons staff serve their customers by going to where they are needed and not just meeting their customers half-way but by giving their customers their level best. They meet their promises by creating an e-commerce experience for customers through their website. The experience saves customers the time and energy going to the stores by providing quotations services as well as payment options.

“We go where it makes sense to have a presence,” says Botes, adding that the company provides pop-up stores and takes pre-packed stationery boxes to school.

Supplying schools and offices with the material they need to learn, grow and operate is not all that Waltons has up its sleeve:

Whatever else you may need to capitalise on the full potential of your office or classroom, Waltons remains the one-stop shop for productivity.
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Crocodile kills 14-year-old girl

January 27, 2022, 2:00 pm
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Crocodile kills 14-year-old girl Crocodile kills 14-year-old girl KENYA KAMBOWE



RUNDU

A 14-year-old girl’s life was cut short on Monday when a crocodile attacked her while she was drinking water from the Okavango River.

The incident happened at Thikanduko village at around 16:30 when Elen Mashora Disho and a fellow learner went to the river to drink water.

According to Kavango East police commander, Commissioner Johanna Ngondo, this was the third crocodile attack in two weeks, something she described as worrisome.

Just last week, a 33-year-old mother witnessed her five-year-old daughter vanish into the river after she was grabbed by a crocodile. The body has not been recovered.

Crocodile attacks have become common in the two Kavango regions, where a lack of water supply necessitates thousands to risk their lives at the river.

When contacted for comment, Kavango East regional governor Bonifatius Wakudumo called for the construction of a pipeline to provide water to riverside communities.

He also conveyed his condolences to the families who lost loved ones to crocodile attacks.

The governor called upon residents to walk in large groups when going to the river to keep an eye out for crocodiles.

kenya@namibiansun.com
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Home repossessions under spotlight

January 27, 2022, 2:00 pm
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Home repossessions under spotlightHome repossessions under spotlightVulnerable affected most The justice minister said the amendments were not to disregard the sustainability of financial institutions, but to understand internal processes and offer solutions that assist homeowners in protecting their primary homes. OGONE TLHAGE







WINDHOEK

The justice ministry wants to create safeguards to protect members of the public from losing their homes through repossessions.

During a consultative meeting, justice minister Yvonne Dausab said there was a need to look into the matter, and amend sections of the High Court Act.

Stakeholders met to identify reasons that led to primary homes being sold in execution of judgments, to identify defects in the current legal or administrative framework that might lead to abuse of the legal process by creditors and to come up with concrete proposals and recommendations for changes to the current framework, with a view to lessen the scourge of people losing their homes.

In 2014, the Rules of the High Court were amended to provide judicial oversight on the sale of immovable property in execution, thereby affording some protection to persons at risk of losing their homes.

Vulnerable affected most

Commenting on the planned amendments, Dausab said members of the National Assembly have raised concerns about repossessions, particularly of primary homes, which affect vulnerable members of society the most.

She said the amendments were not

to disregard the sustainability of financial institutions and their role in the economy.

“The intention is rather to understand the internal processes and see how as a collective we can offer solutions that assist homeowners to protect their primary homes from being sold in execution for unpaid debts.”

The ministry has made proposals they hope can mitigate the impact, Dausab explained, adding that she hoped to table the bill soon.

“Once the consultations are done, I hope to re-table the bills towards the end of the first session or the second session of Parliament.”
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