Namibian Sun

Malaria oteendelele monooliAantu 86 ya si komukithi nguka omvula ya ziko Ominista yUundjolowele nOnkalonawa Bernard Haufiku okwa tseyitha kutya okwa lopotwa iipotha yomukithi gwomalaria ya thika po 7 003 moomwedhi mbali dha piti.

Okwa popi kutya omukithi gwomalaria oshowo omaso taga etithwa komukithi nguka oga londo okuya pombanda okutameka mo-2014, nomaso 86 oga lopotwa omvula ya piti.

Haufiku, ngoka a li ta kuthileko aatotiveta mOmutumba gwoPashigwana mEtiyali, okwa popi kutya iitopolwa iyali yaKavango oyo unene yili moshiponga sho mwa lopotwa iipotha ya thika 1 184.

Oshitopolwa shaZambezi osha lopota iipotha 582 , Omusati 237, Oshikoto 196, Otjozondjupa 97 nOshana 69.

Okwa popi kutya etukuko enene lyomukithi nguka oshowo omaso ogendji ngoka ge etithwa kumalaria, oshi li unene omaipulo kuuministeli.

Uuministeli owa tula miilonga omilandu dhontumba ku kondjithwe omukithi nguka, mwa kwatelwa opombela momagumbo gaakwashigwana.

Mo-2014, iipotha yomukithi ngoka oya londo pombanda noopresenda 700 moshitopolwa shaHangwena, oopresenda 513 mOshikoto, oopresenda 306 mOshana oshowo oopresenda 120 mOtjozondjupa.

Iitopolwa yaKavango oya tothwamo kutya oyo unene hayi kala niipotha yomalaria yi li pombanda.

Haufiku okwa popi kutya aantu 86 oya hulitha kumalaria omvula ya yi, mpoka aantu 51 AaNamibia omanga 35 yeli aazaizai.

Oshitopolwa shaHangwena osha lopota omaso 31,

Oshana 21, Kavango 18, Omusati 11, Zambezi 8, Oshikoto 6 nOtjozondjupa 5.

“Iipotha oyindji oya lopotwa miitoplwa mbyoka yi li oongamba naAngola nenge Zambia omolwa omainyengo gaakwashigwana pokati kiilongo mbika naashika osho unene sha taandelitha omukithi, pahapu dhaMinista Haufiku.

Okomitiye ya nuninwa okukondjitha omukithi nguka oya kala omutumba oshiwike shika opo yi vule okuninga omagwedhelepo nkene ku na okukondjithwa omukithi go guvule okuyiwa moshipala.

Okomitiye ndjika oya thikama po maakalelipo ya za kuuministeli wuundjolowele, aanambelewa yEhangano lyUundjolowele mUuyuni, Clinton Health Access Initiative oshowo Malaria Elimination Secretariat.

Haufiku okwa pula okabinete opo ka zimine egandjo lyiimaliwa kuuministeli mekondjitho lyomukithi nguka.

Okwa popi kutya oshikondo osha pumbwa oshimaliwa sha thika poomiliyona 2 mokukondiitha omukithi ngoka, na oshi na po nale omiliyona yimwe. Oshikondo osha pumbwa woo iihauto ya gwedhwapo opo shi vule okuthika kiitopolwa ayihe.

Osha pumbwa woo iilongitho ya gwedhwapo ngaashi ootenda nomadhagadhaga melongelokumwe nOmbelewa yOmuprima.

ILENI NANDJATO

Kansela a kaleke ekuto miilonga lyaNamWater koKalkfeld

Kansela gwoshikandjohogololo sha Otjiwarongo, Julius Neumbo mEtiyali okwa yi moshipala ekuto miilonga lyaNamWater ndyoka lya ningilwa koKalkfeld mOshitopolwa shaTjozondjupa omolwa efekelo lyuulingilingi.

Ehangano lyoNamibia Water Corporation (NamWater) mesiku lyotango lyomwedhi nguka olya tseyitha kutya oli na oompito dhiilonga dhaantu ya thika o-20 mboka taya ka pumbiwa opo ya ka fule omikanka dhominino dhomeya nokudhifila.

Okwali ta kupumbiwa aantu ye na ontseyo mokulongitha omashina yeli yatatu oshow aahongi yiipilangi yaali, naashika osha etitha oompito dhi ye sigo opaantu 25.

Opoloyeka ndjoka oya nuninwa okufula omunino gwomeya gokunwa okuza mofaalama yepangelo yaRodenhof okuya kolukalwa lwaKalkfeld uule woshinano shookilometa 15.

Ekuto miiilonga ndika olya li li na okutameka mEtiyali poKalkfeld ihe Neumbo okweli yi moshipala manga inaali tameka. Neumbo okwa popi kutya okwa nothelwa ko kaakalimo yomofaalama ndjoka kutya oonakuninga omaindilo ya thika paantu 20, aapambele yaaniilonga yoNamWater mboka ya ende okuza kiitopolwa ngaashi Khomas, Erongo nOshana opo ya kuthepo oompito ndhoka. Iilonga otayi pula oonaku indila iilonga ya kale ye na ondondo onti-10 noye na woo uukolele.

“Itatu ka pitika aantu ya za kiitopolwa yimwe ya longepo iilonga yokuundula uutololi nokufula ominino ngele otu na omwaalu omunene gwaanyasha kaye na iilonga mehala ndika,” Neumbo a popi.

Okwa pula NamWater opo a kaleke ekuto miilonga ndyoka, naamboka ya za kiitopolwa yilwe oya monika yiithikamena ye na omitsalo dhawo. Kansela okwa pula opo ekuto miilonga ndyoka li tamukulule na okwa pula opo aanambelewa okuza mombelewa yelelo lyolukalwa ndoka yakalepo wo.

Okwa pula opo uukalata womahogololo wu longithwe noombapila dhokugana okuza kopolisi opo ku kwashilipalekwe kutya oonakuninga omaindilo aakalimo shili yomolukalwa ndoka.

Konyala aanyasha yomoKalkfeld ya thika po-100 oya kala pehala mpoka ya hala okupe wa iilonga.

Omunamimvo 35 Loretha Kharuxas okwa lombwele oNampa kutya ye omukalimo gwomoKalkfeld na okwa thiki pehala mpoka pwali tapu kutilwa aantu lyopotundi onti-05:00 mEtiyali.

Okwa popi kutya okwa adha aantu yalwe aakongi yiilonga ya za koondoolopa dhilwe ya thika po-20 ya lala motenda.

Fillipus Hipondoka, ngoka naye e li omukalimo gwomoKalkfeld okwa popi kutya ye ota vulu okulonga iilonga ayihe mbyoka tayi longwa, na okwa pula opo ku talike tango aakalimo yomomudhingoloko.

Omunambelewa gwoNamWater mombelewa yaKalkfeld, Jimmy Asser okwa popi kutya ngoka omalundilo taga ningwa na okwa tindi okutya sha.

Okuya pehulilo lyesiku, inaku monika uuyelele ngele NamWater osho a tsikile nekuto lye miilonga nenge ahawe.

NAMPA

Oshigandhi shepangelo nashikwatwe nawa – Calle Ontengenekwathaneko yelongitho lyoshimaliwa shoobiliyona 62.5 ya tseyithwa

Ominista yEmona moshilongo Calle Schlettwein mEtitatu okwa tseyitha ontengenekwatheneko yiiyemo nelongitho lyiimaliwa yepangelo yongushu yoobiliyona 62.5 dho shikakomumvo sho 2017/18, ndjoka ya tala unene kenkondopeko lyeliko lyoshilongo.

Omolwa onkalo yeliko lyoshilongo ndjoka tayi kanda omapunya,

Schlettwein okwa kala a taalela onkalo ya dhigupala ndjoka yemuthiminike a shunithe pevi elongitho lyiimaliwa miikondo yimwe po, netetulo lyelongitho lyiimaliwa ndika olya thiki poobiliyona 4.5.

Ontengenekothaneko yoshikakomumvo shika, iiyemo yepangelo otayi kala pevi kashona noobiliyona 53.43 okuyeleka naambyoka yomumvo gwayi mbyoka ya li poobiliyona 51.511. Onkalo ndjoka oya hwepopalekwa woo kiiyemo yoSouthern African Customs Union, momalanditho giinima yomeni lyiilongo mongongahangano ndjika.

Minista okwa tseyitha kutya ompumbwe yoshimaliwa mepangelo otayi ka hwepopala moMedium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), ndjoka kwa tegelelwa yi shune pevi noopresenda 3.6 dhiyemo yoshilongo okuza miilandithomwa ya ndulukwa moshilongo momumvo gwoshimaliwa gwonuumvo.

Ompumbwe ndjoka okwa tegelelwa yi ka shune pevi noopresenda 3 momumvo gwoshimaliwa gwo-2018/2019.

Epangelo olya kala lya taalela uupyakadhi woshimaliwa pethimbo lyoshikako shiimaliwa shomumvo gwa piti na natango oli na oongunga dhoongeshefa ndhoka dha longele epangelo.

Omolwa onkalo ndjoka epangelo olyiikalekela iimaliwa ya thika poobiliyona 2 momutengenekwa nguka omupe omolwa iifuta omayakulo ngoka ga pewa epangelo momumvo gwa piti.

Oshikondo shelongo osha pewa oshitopolwa oshinene shomoshimaliwa momutengenekwa gonuumvo sho sha mono konyala oobiliyona 12.

Oshikwiila shaakokele shokomwedhi nasho osha gwedhelwa noodollar 100. 00 nokuya ooN$1 200.

Oshikondo shEgameno lyOshilongo nasho okwa lopotwa shi li pombanda yomusholondondo.

“Oshimaliwa shoobiliyona 11.98 osha pewa Oshikondo shElongo lyoPetameko nOmidhigululwakalo, naashoka oshili oshitopolwa oshinene okutala mondjokonona yiimaliwa ya kala nokupewa oshikondo shika,” Schlettwein ta ti.

Oshimaliwa shoobiliyona 3 osha pewa Uuministeli wElongo lyoPombanda noomiliyona 926 odha nuninwa oshiputudhilo shoUniversiti yaNamibia omanga oNamibia University of Science and Technology tashi mono oomiliyona 533.

Uuministeli wUundjolowele nOnkalonawa owa mono oobiliyona 6.51 omanga oobiliyona 3.28 dha pewa Oshikondo shOkukondjitha Oluhepo nOnkalonawa yOshigwana.

Uuministeli wOnkalonawa nEgameno owa mono oobiliyona 5 omanga Oshikondo shegameno lyOshilongo sha mono oobiliyona 5.68.

Okakomisi kOkulwitha Uulingilingi oka pewa oomiliyona 50 opo ka vule okukondjitha uulingilingi moshilongo.

Kape na iihohela iipe

Kape na iihohela iipe ya tseyithwa nenge omagwedhelo giishoshela.

“Kombinga yiihohela itandi popile omagwedhelo nenge etulo miilonga lyiihohela iipe ihe otandi popile omusindalandu gwayo opo gu talululwe oshowo emanitho lyetulo miilonga lyomilandu dhimwepo .”

Omalunduluko oga pumbiwa opo ku talike woo komusindalandu gwoondjambi dhaaniilonga yepangelo ndhoka monena dhili poopresenda 50 dhiiyemo yiilongomwa yoshilongo.

“Oshikumungu shika osha kala nokukundathanwa poompito odhindji na eeno oondjambi odhili unene pombanda. Epangelo okupitila mOmbelewa yOmuprima olya gandja omayele opo kutulwe miilonga omisindalandu ndhoka tadhi indike oomwaalu ngoka gu londe pombanda ihe ogu shunithwe pevi.”

Schlettwein okwa popi woo eliko lyaNamibia ndyoka a ti kutya olya pumbwa omalunduluko.

“Otwa pumbwa okuninga omalunduuko meliko lyetu nokukwashilipaleka kutya eliko olya topolwa okuzilila pevi, nomomukalo ngoka inatu pumbwa oku yonagulapo onkalo yeliko lya kola oshowo opolotika. Sho tatu kambadhala okukaleka oshilongo shetu pondondo ombwaanawa otu na woo okutala komikundu ndhoka dha taalela oshilongo.”

OGONE TLHAGE

Valombola a holoka mompangu

Oshipotha shedhipago shoka tashi tamanekelwa omunangeshefa Maurus Valombola (58) osha pulakenwa mOmpangulilo yoPombanda yaShakati mEtitatu.

Valombola ota pangulilwa oshipotha shedhipago lyomunamimvo 32 Benhard Kalimbo ngoka a lyata noshiyenditho konima yoontamanana dhali dha holoka pokati kawo momasiku ga 7 gaFebuluali mo-2013, moshikandjohogololo sha Anamulenge moshitopolwa shaMusati.

Kalimbo okwa hulithile moshipangelo shaShakati, naValombola okwiigandja kopolisi esiku lya landula pOgongo, na okwa kala modholongo konima nkene a tulwa miipandeko.

Omukalelipo gwe gwopaveta okwa popi kutya omuyakulwa gwe ka li e shi uuthemba we pethimbo a ningilwa omapulaapulo pethimbo lyo ku pulakena eindilo lyomboloha ndyoka lya ningilwa mOmpangulilo yaMangesetrata gwa Outapi. Valombola okwa li a kalelwa po ku Inonge Mainga pethimbo ndyoka.

Greyling okwa popi kutya omuyakulwa gwe okwiihumbatelwa nayi nompangu oya li yi na okukwashilipaleka kutya okwa tseyithilwa uuthemba we. Okwa tsikile kutya pethimbo lyomapulaapulo ngoka, omuyakulwa gwe okwa pulwa kombinga yetaaguluko lyompango nale naashika aniwa ka shali sha pumbwa okuningwa.

Valombola okwa li a pewa egeelo lyokufuta oshimaliwa shooN$12 000 oshipotha shedhipago lyaashi lyoshiningilawina.

Omukalelipo gwepangelo moshipotha shoka, Lucius Matota okwa popi kutya Valombola okwa li ena omukalelipo gwopaveta pethimbo ndyoka a li a pulaaapulwa, nomukaleipo gwe okwa li ena okumulombwela kombinga yuuthemba we.

Mutota okwa popi kutya ngele omatompelo gaGreyling oga talika nena shoka otashi pataneke elalakano lyokuningila aatamanekwa omapulaapulo.

Omupanguli Herman Januarie okwa undilile komeho oshipotha shika komasiku 22 gaMei nuumvo.

Valombola ota tsikile no ku kala mondjedhililo.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Hopes for Chinese reflation

China's producer prices surged at the fastest pace since 2008, further lifting the outlook for global reflation as manufacturers in the exporter to the world look to pass on higher costs.

Producer price index rose 7.8% last month from a year earlier, compared with median estimate of 7.7% in a Bloomberg survey and a 6.9% in January Factory prices only swung out of four-and-a-half years of deflation in September. Consumer price index rose 0.8% versus 1.7% increase forecast by analysts, as timing of Lunar New Year holidays skewed the reading.

China is lifting the global price outlook as producer inflation climbs and a pick-up in demand fuels commodity prices. Still, economists see such forces moderating as year-earlier comparisons begin to rise and policy curbs restrain the property market.

The CPI data was distorted by the week-long Chinese New Year holiday, which started in February last year, driving up food prices as families prepared for gatherings, whereas it fell in late January this year, when CPI climbed to a two-and-a-half year high of 2.5%.

It's a “strange reflation of the Chinese economy,” said Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief Asia-Pacific economist at Natixis SA in Hong Kong. It helps “corporations by allowing them to push up prices and generate the needed revenues to cover their very high debt burden.”

“Everything has peaked in the first quarter - nominal GDP growth, corporate earnings, PPI inflation,” said Larry Hu, head of China economics at Macquarie Securities in Hong Kong. “The strong numbers we are seeing now are not sustainable.”

“This reflects robust demand, higher commodity prices, and a weaker yuan,” Fielding Chen, an economist at Bloomberg Intelligence in Hong Kong, said in a note.

“More-recent moves in oil and iron ore prices suggest some cooling ahead. But the reflation trend points to higher corporate profits and lower real borrowing costs - both positive for China's economy.”

“We expect CPI inflation to remain tamed in the near term, while PPI may stay elevated,” Eva Yi, an economist at China International Capital in Hong Kong, wrote in a report.

“We do not expect a fast decline of PPI after February, nor do we believe February PPI is necessarily the high-point for this round of PPI reflation. Higher PPI signifies recovering investment and export demand and notable improvement in industrial profitability.”

Producer prices for mining and raw materials surged and consumer prices of food fell 4.3% from a year earlier. The slowdown in CPI was due to falling food prices, fewer tourists and cheaper accommodation after the Chinese New Year holiday, the NBS said in a statement.

BLOOMBERG

Surge drops oil priceOversupply causes drop to 2017 low The bid to increase the oil price is stumbling due to high levels of reserves. Oil prices slumped to their lowest level of 2017 on Wednesday following a bearish US supply report that also dented American petroleum-linked shares.

The US oil benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, slid more than five percent to US$50.28 a barrel, its lowest price since December.

International oil benchmark Brent also ended the day at a low for 2017.

The retreat in oil prices came on a choppy day for global stocks, with US equities finishing mostly lower, Asian markets mixed and European equities close to flat.

US stocks have been under pressure all week in a retreat seen as a consolidation after Wall Street set multiple records last week.

US investors also have questions about an expected Federal Reserve interest rate hike next week, and doubts about whether President Donald Trump can rapidly enact tax cuts and other key aspects of his agenda.

“With the Q4 2016 profit-reporting period behind us, investors are now focusing on the nation's capital for possible trend-altering events, and are unnerved by what they see,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA.

US oil supply surges

Oil prices have held solidly above US$50 a barrel throughout the first part of 2017, a move that has incentivised US shale producers begin to ramp production back up after a two-year slump in oil prices.

But US Energy Department's inventory report on Wednesday showed a hefty increase of eight million barrels in petroleum stocks in the latest week, with higher domestic production and increased stockpiling at the closely-watched Cushing, Oklahoma trading hub.

“People are nervous because they don't understand where all this oil is coming from,” said Phil Flynn of the Price Futures Group.

“Is it US production, is it imports, is it because Opec is not joining in? Because of these fears people are getting out of the market.”

The sharp drop in oil prices dented leading petroleum-linked stocks, pushing both the Dow and S&P 500 into negative territory.

ExxonMobil and Chevron both shed almost two percent and Halliburton tumbled 3.2%.

The dollar pushed higher against the euro ahead of a European Central Bank meeting at which monetary policymakers are expected to resist calls to end a flood of cheap money.

The euro could get a bounce if the ECB hikes its economic forecasts, yet ECB chief “Mario Draghi will most likely talk down the currency and that could erase any earlier gains,” predicted BK Asset Management managing director Kathy Lien.

Meanwhile, British finance minister Philip Hammond predicted the economy would grow by 2.0% this year - much higher than the government's previous 1.4% GDP forecast.

He also said that Britain would borrow far less this year than predicted last year.

But the pound still fell against the dollar, reflecting anxiety towards the next step in Britain's divorce from Europe, noted Lien.

Prime Minister May has vowed to activate Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty in the next three weeks.

“Investors remain nervous about holding sterling ahead of the potential trigger of Article 50,” Lien said.

NAMPA/AFP

All the world's a canvasStudents make public art statements The John Muafangejo Art Centre (JMAC) opened its first exhibition of the year which consisted of four studio artists and several collections by previously resident artists displaying their works in plain sight, in public spaces.

The centre is a creative think tank focused on establishing collaborative methodologies in contemporary art practice and forging expansive networks. This effort is to reflect on the role that JMAC has played in hosting local and international artists over the years and to show the talent that many don’t get to see. “Many are used to only seeing art in galleries whilst there is a percentage of those that haven’t been in galleries to appreciate it. This is us as artists going the extra mile to show what we can do. We are reflecting on our work, networking and collaborating which has been central to public education and the arts,” said Jacques Mushaandja the project manager.

One artist, Frans Uunona opted to beautify the Windhoek State Hospital within the week he had to complete his task. He drew art in three sections of the hospital including the cardiac ward and the waiting area. He decorated the walls with symbols of peace and warmth. “I like flowers because the hospital is an environment where people come to get help and they need love and calmness,” he said. Another artist CStar took to Sam Nujoma Avenue for her simple yet meaningful art inspiration. “As a visual artist I got a conceptual embodiment to my work. There is a door that was spray-painted “scared” and I changed it to sacred to show how one word can a different meaning which can alter someone’s mentality,” she said.

The other artworks will be exhibited alongside the collection works at the gallery at the Katutura Community Art Centre (KCAC). The public artworks include mural paintings, sculptures and installations that all respond to the notion of art in the public space and the lessons conveyed. The collection works include prints, photographs, and paintings.

June Shimuoshili

Hair today, not gone tomorrow

Held this past weekend at the Nust Hotel School, the Natural Hair Celebrations event brought women together under one roof to celebrate and share their interest in natural hair.

Organised by Wilka Shinene and Liina Nghipandulwa, the event kicked off with an inspirational speech from Linekela Usebiu who shared her hair journey with the women. She spoke about the struggles she faced when she decided to go natural and the difficulty of changing the negative perception of not being seen as a professional when one goes to work with natural hair. Based on this, a lot of women at the event confessed that they were victims of stereotyping from people who believe that natural hair is not “office friendly”.

Accompanied by a slideshow of her journey, she took all the women present at the event through her different hair experimental phases and how she managed to get creative over the years. “I was very insecure with my hair, so I turned to wearing wigs for comfort,” Usebiu said. Most of the women at the event could relate saying it is a daunting task to be natural in a world where Western culture is worshipped.

Ezette and Odette Tauros serenaded the audience with a song from Adele and although it started on a rocky note, they managed to pick it up during their performance. Zodidi Gaseb, a natural hair enthusiast was scheduled to speak, but due to unforeseen circumstances, she could not be present. But, she went the extra mile by preparing a short video clip which made everyone aware that it is our duty to “listen” to our hair which according to Gaseb, tells us what works and does not work for each person.

She also focused on the importance of having fun with hair and not being boxed around the perception that natural hair is boring. Gaseb urged the ladies to do what is right and what makes them feel comfortable. The masters of this ceremony were life coach Suoma Tobias, alongside Miss Namibia 2014, Brumhilda Ochs. They took everyone through the event which also included a question and answer session that was handled by six women giving the audience a chance to interact and ask questions on issues that included hair wash routines, dealing with dandruff, maintaining the hairline and protective hairstyles.

It was a day of exchanging knowledge and expanding the natural hair community.

The event organisers showcased numerous hair products and jewellery entrepreneurs.

TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA

Cinema extravaganzaFrom features, doccies to music videos - all Namibian As a pillar of the Namibian Theatre and Film Awards, a local film screening week is a practice adopted to ensure that the Namibian people celebrate with filmmakers and industry professionals the beauty of the cinematic art.

The Namibian Theatre and Film Awards (NTFA) will be hosting a week-long event of films in different venues in Windhoek, offering a rare experience for the community in a glorious outdoor setting. This year, the Seven Days of Namibian movies will be screening all films and music videos that are in the competition which will take place on 25 March. The awards were founded in 2010 to celebrate, recognise and honour theatre and film practitioners.

As winter draws close, the organisers thought of how Namibians could enjoy the last warm summer days by watching a selection of proudly Namibian-made films and music videos. All venues are dual settings, indoor and outdoor; having the ability to be flexible enough to screen the films even when it rains.

The Seven Days of Namibian Movies will kick off on 11 March and end on 17 March. “ Some of the films to be watched include Katutura, The Power of Rain, The Unseen, The Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak of 2015 and Black Beginnings just to mention a few. Every screening begins at 19:30 promptly, in order to give the audience a great viewing experience,” said Nicola Muranda from the Namibia Film Commission.

The entrance fees for all screenings are N$30 (adults) and N$10 for students with valid student identity documents or enrolment, and pensioners. That being said, all films are rated PG-13, therefore underage children are advised to be accompanied by adults.

June Shimuoshili

Female filmmaker goes digitalWomen changing the film industry Oshosheni's views on women in Namibia and her exciting new virtual reality project will change the local film industry.

International Women's Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

tjil caught up with Oshosheni Hiveluah, a Namibian filmmaker, who has been making movies since 2004 and has directed four short films, numerous documentaries, music videos and also written screenplays for others and herself. Hiveluah has been breaking boundaries in the local film industry with a multi-medium digital installation which is the first of its kind in Namibia. Hiveluah said woman need to get to that place where they are go-getters. If they see something that they want they should go and get it instead of waiting to receive. “It's a form of fear as much as it is a historical thing where we stand back and wait for instructions, and I think we need to get in that place where we break the rules and realise what we are capable of. We need to be bold and say 'I can',” says Hiveluah.

As a woman in an industry that is perceived to be male-dominated, it is important to Hiveluah for women to stand up and know that they can actually be at the forefront in the industry. “Because there is already so little support for the arts industry, we as women cannot afford to sit back and wait for something to happen because we will wait forever. We need to grab whatever we are able to and use the resources we are able to find whether its friends or family,” said Hiveluah.

To Namibian girls, Hiveluah says fear shouldn't be something that flows in their blood and they should know that it is easy to get distracted. “It is important for one to know what they want and where they would like to see themselves in life and get tangible results on those goals. Don't be scared because you will fail sometimes. but you will also succeed,” Hiveluah advised. She further said she would like to see a balance within social and government structures and more protection of women's rights. “There are still very few women in the media industry coming out and studying arts but there are very few opportunities for people to stick around. I would like us to create a fund where women will be able to tell their own stories because it reflects what women are going through from their point of view. There are many women's stories being told by men because there are no inhibitions towards them. We must take our place,” she said.

Hiveluah's idea to have a Virtual Reality (VR) exhibition came from an interest in new technologies and her curiosity as to how Namibians could adapt to them and use them on a daily basis. She has been exposed to a lot of VR activities in Johannesburg and Berlin when it was still being experimented and she got very curious and the debate around VR possibly taking over cinematography drove her interest further. “One is able to experience reality where it feels like one is right there at that minute when one isn't really, as everything is pre-recorded. But it makes one feel like they are part of a moment,” she said.

Her exhibition titled 'Evoking Origin' is a multimedia digital installation and will be on display from 16 March to 1 April at the National Art Gallery's Upper Gallery. 'Evoking Origin' is a multimedia digital installation that showcases work that explores the origin and source of life. The exhibition consists of motion pictures and 360-degree VR. Everything in this exhibition has a beginning, an original source and a set of instructions to help you navigate through whatever may come. Hiveluah and her team don't have much to showcase as they are also trying out works in progress. It's about people finding out their comfort zones because VR is not for everyone. Some consider it freaky or scary about the fact that one will be in this place turning around in a 360-degree orbit and everything appearing to be so real. “We would like to find out how the Namibian audience is comfortable with this and hopefully to find out whether it has the potential to do bigger projects as it is an expensive project to take on,” she said. The films have been shot around the city of Windhoek.

In this exhibition, we are ushered into the new digital age. 'Evoking Origin' is taken from the roots and explores Africa's understanding and handling of new media and virtual reality. The exhibition explores how it can fit into our authentic cultures and traditions. “Authenticity doesn't only have one look. This exhibition is an honest reflection of my own reality. This authenticity can be 'fabricated', 'recreated' and 'relived' in the VR experience.”

Through this exhibition we are led to question whether we are the ones making ourselves fit into this new digital age. Is it causing us to disregard our roots, origins, cultures and values? Or can it become an equally authentic part of our reality?

June Shimuoshili

Dear Namibian artists Invest in yourself. The greatest decision you can ever make is to plough back into your career. There are way too many success stories and you can become one of them. Some of you have been in the industry for many years and you have nothing to show for it. You do not have a studio, you do not own a camera, you do not have a publicist, a manager and so many other essentials that are needed for you to progress and excel in your career.

If you have been in the industry long enough, you must have learned a couple of essential skills. Can you make your own songs? Can you edit videos? Can you play any instruments? Investing in yourself does not necessarily mean you pump money into your career. It relies heavily on the kind of skills you have managed to acquire over the years. The minute I say the word “investment” to an artist, their brains instantaneously jump to funds. While financial investment is an important aspect needed to create a professional product, it is not the only or even the most crucial investment that you can make. I know many artists who do not even have their own cameras for shooting videos and that is totally unacceptable especially if you raked up valuable experience over the years. How do you expect the corporate industry to invest in you if you cannot even expand on your own brand? And this is not an attack on any artists, just a wake-up call, more so to the upcoming artists. Investing time in educating yourself first will help you feel more confident in tough situations, avoid you making the same mistakes or even help you to make the decision to walk away from ventures that simply are not working out anymore. You must invest your time, your energy, and your all into your craft if you want to create a recipe for success. There have been showbiz workshops organised by Bank Windhoek. These workshops were organised with the single purpose of teaching the artist about the industry and how they can better their careers in the industry, but the turn-out has been very disappointing and this only reflects badly on our industry. Attend such workshops and learn and just get some knowledge. Even if you are a “huge” artist and you feel like you do not need to switch your career. Sometimes you have to reinvent and refine your brand to attract a new audience.

Capitalising on one's brand is a lot like investing in your health. If you regularly go to the gym, you know your efforts are wasted if you don't eat the proper foods to help gain muscle mass or lose weight. In personal brands, you are much less likely to get involved in business ventures that may actually bring the quality of your brand's image down. Because for you, your vision is clear. You know what's important and you know what you're worth because you invested in yourself first.

june@namibiansun.com

Lutombi confident about completion of northern roads

Roads Authority (RA) chief executive officer Conrad Lutombi is confident that the company will deliver the long-awaited roads in the north by the end of this year.

Lutombi was giving an update on Wednesday on the ongoing construction of the Okatana-Endola and Uuukwiyu-Uushona roads, which were due for completion last year.

On the Okatana-Endola road, Lutombi said the delays were caused by budgetary constraints experienced last year and a change of contractors.

He said the new contractors were nearing completion the road would be opened by May.

“The current contractors are doing a great job and I have confidence in them. They will be done by the promised time,” he said.

The 27-kilometre road, incorporating a dike which stretches to Onhuno, was supposed to be completed in November 2016. The delay resulted in water being unable to flow the way it was supposed to, causing many houses in the area to be flooded.

Oshana Region Governor Clemens Kashuupulwa expressed disappointment over the delays during a meeting held between his office and the RA.

“Drivers are now forced to use the edge of the road full of water. The portion is very small and accidents are likely to happen,” Kashuupulwa told the RA.

On the Uuukwiyu-Uushona road in the Omusati Region, Lutombi said the RA was faced with a challenge of completing the Uuukwiyu stretch because of a shortage of materials.

He said with this road too they faced budget issues although contractors were ready to continue working on the road, adding that the RA was confident that all these roads would be functional by the end of the year.

NAMPA

More destinations for Air NamAir Namibia, Condor in code-sharing deal Passengers will be able to choose from nine weekly connections between Frankfurt and Windhoek in summer and seven in winter.

Condor and Air Namibia recently concluded a code-sharing agreement. This agreement will allow Condor passengers in Germany to have access to daily flight connections to Windhoek.

The twice-weekly Condor flights from Frankfurt on Mondays and Fridays are being supplemented with flights from Air Namibia. This means that passengers can make their plans with more flexibility and chose from nine weekly connections during the summer flight plan and from seven weekly connections in the upcoming winter. From April onwards, all code-sharing flights will be available.

“With daily non-stop flights from Frankfurt to Windhoek, the cooperation between Condor and Air Namibia offers our customers additional advantages with an expanded selection of holiday destinations in Southern Africa and a continuous baggage check-in on code-sharing flights,” said Ralf Teckentrup, chairman of the board of Condor Flugdienst GmbH. “Our existing Africa routes are being optimally complemented with the agreement so that, in addition to Zanzibar, Mombasa, Kilimanjaro, Windhoek and Cape Town, other parts of Southern Africa can also be explored on long-haul flights.”

“We are happy to improve the service offering to our clients through collaboration with Condor, especially the seamless travel options via Frankfurt for onward connections to North America, the Caribbean or to the many other Condor holiday destinations result in a great added value for our guests. Before our agreement, these destinations were hard to reach for our customers”, said Mandi Samson, acting managing director of Air Namibia.

The code-sharing agreement was signed at the ITB fair in Berlin, Germany. Subject to the approval of the German Civil Aviation Authority and the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority, the agreement is expected to begin with the 2017 summer flight schedule.

In addition to code-sharing flights, the two airlines will offer other complementary connections of the partner airline on their respective websites. Apart from daily direct connections to Windhoek, visitors to the Condor website can also choose flights to eight destinations in Southern Africa.

The range on airnamibia.com is being expanded by many additional Condor destinations. In particular, destinations such as Minneapolis, Seattle, Austin and Barbados will enhance the Air Namibia route network.

STAFF REPORTER

Depressed uranium prices present a challenge

Uranium producers are positive the spot price will recover but are also concerned that the current low prices pose a challenge to the profitability of the mines.

This was the assessment of the Namibia Uranium Association's chairman, Hilifa Mbako, who is also the managing director of Areva Resources Namibia.

Said Mbako: “At the current price of uranium, it is not possible for the existing Namibian mines to operate profitably and for the advanced exploration projects to develop into operating mines. It is noteworthy that the various operations are still spending considerable funds to position themselves for the time when the price is moving up again.

“This is in stark contrast to other parts of the world where projects are simply mothballed. Nevertheless, in these economically trying times the industry relies heavily on the cooperation and understanding of both central and regional government since the continued funding from parent companies and the ability to raise additional funds through stock exchanges depend heavily on a stable and efficiently administered investment climate.”

According to him, despite the challenging conditions, NAU's member companies were still able to make significant contributions to their social development programmes.

“Despite the current low uranium prices and the consequent loss-making situation of the mines, the industry has also continued unabated to make its contribution to corporate social responsibility programmes and is actively supporting the Erongo Development Foundation.”

Approximately N$69 million was spent on education, poverty eradication, sanitation and youth development.

“The industry's programmes are fully aligned to the pillars of the Harambee Prosperity Plan. The great contributions to employment creation and CSR programmes still made by the uranium sector speak for themselves and the sector is therefore destined to be a major driver of economic development once prices have recovered and the industry is looking forward to making its contribution,” Mbako said.

STAFF REPORTER

Analysts give first impressionsDebt, deficit under discussion Finance minister Calle Schlettwein wants to reduce the budget deficit.

Analysts shared their first impressions of the national budget right after it was tabled in the National Assembly on Wednesday afternoon and welcomed finance minister Calle Schlettwein's budgetary stance.

Capricorn Asset Management analyst John Venter was fairly optimistic about the government's plans to reduce the budget deficit and debt.

“I am acutely optimistic about the fiscal future of Namibia. The main agenda of the Ministry of Finance was to achieve fiscal consolidation without stifling growth. The plan [was] to reduce the budget deficit, and subsequently debt level, by prioritising resource allocation and improving the quality of spending, all the while stimulating growth by realigning expenditure with development goals and engaging the private sector on infrastructure development.

“I can see this happening because of the positive growth expectation supported by the end of the drought and the International Monetary Fund's prediction of growth in the global economy,” said Venter.

Venter did not think trade gains would be realised, though, because of slowed economic growth in South Africa and Angola.

“My scepticism stems from the possibility that trade gains will not be realised because of slow growth in South Africa and Angola, two of our strongest trading partners, as well as the fact that there is an increasing call for protectionist trade policy in the global economy. This puts growth expectations at a risk.”

Schlettwein also announced that the new semi-autonomous revenue agency would become operational on 1 April 2017, with a view to strengthening revenue collection.

To this Venter said: “The efficiency of revenue collection as well as the ability to curb non-productive expenditure will determine how well debt can be driven towards sustainable levels relative to our Gross Domestic Product.”

IJG in its assessment said: “The growing debt burden remains a concern and here there are some anomalies in the budget figures. While the debt stock is forecast to grow further, the interest burden is expected to decrease significantly over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework. This would suggest that government expects to roll a large portion of its debt into much cheaper funding, an unlikely scenario.

“Managing the deficit is crucial to maintaining the investment-grade credit rating that Namibia enjoys at present. Losing this rating would lead to longer-term debt sustainability issues as it would greatly increase the cost of refinancing Namibia's current foreign debt.

“The FY2017/18 budget strives toward fiscal consolidation, which is what is needed to ensure that government plays a sustainable role in the Namibian economy. Should this consolidation be implemented as planned, it would greatly improve the outlook for Namibia,” IJG added.

“We believe that the continuation of fiscal discipline has strengthened Namibia's case to escape a possible downgrade by credit rating agencies in 2017, thereby further improving the investment climate in Namibia. However, clarity on a number of announcements still needs to be sought, specifically as it relates to tax reform implementation.

“Moreover, despite some positive rainfall received this month, we were surprised by the fact that there was no specific mention made about investment in sustainable water infrastructure, given the water crisis that plagued the Central Area of Namibia in the last two years,” said Simonis Storm in their assessment.

STAFF REPORTER

Solo Sandeng's remains found

The remains of a Gambian opposition activist, whose death last year sparked a series of protests that were once rare in this small west African country, have been exhumed by a team of investigators, police said on Wednesday.

Solo Sandeng, the youth leader for the United Democratic Party, was arrested on 14 April for spearheading a peaceful demonstration demanding electoral reforms ahead of December elections. Sandeng was allegedly tortured by security forces and died after the arrest.

His remains were exhumed on Saturday “by a team of investigators in the presence of his son Muhammed Sandeng and his brother Famara Sandeng”, police spokesperson Foday Conta said. He said the remains are at a teaching hospital “for medical examination so as to establish the actual cause of his death and help the police in their investigations”.

Sandeng's death was a rallying point for the opposition, sparking further protests that led to the arrest of more activists.

Protests were rare in Gambia before elections last year that saw President Yahya Jammeh, who ruled for more than 22 years, lose the presidential vote to the opposition coalition's candidate, Adama Barrow.

Jammeh rejected the election results, but finally flew into exile in January amid international pressure. His government had been accused of human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, torture and killings of opponents.

After Barrow's presidential victory, many opposition activists were released from prison.

Last month, nine former high-ranking officers at the National Intelligence Agency allegedly linked to Sandeng's death were arrested and charged with murder by a Gambian court.

Conta, the police spokesperson, said the former director of operations for that agency, the body known to imprison Jammeh's opponents, led investigators to the site where Sandeng was buried in the coastal fishing village of Tanji.

NAMPA/AP

Dutch far right growsImmigrants face tougher times in Netherlands Dutch polls suggest the far-right ticket will double its vote in the March 15 election, riding perceptions that many years of Muslim immigration threatens to erode Dutch national identity.

Despite statistics showing there are fewer foreigners in the Netherlands than commonly believed, many voters feel Muslim immigrants are failing to integrate and running down a once-generous health and welfare system.

Even if firebrand nationalist leader Geert Wilders does not enter the next ruling coalition given the refusal of “establishment” parties to work with him, he has managed to push the mainstream political agenda to the anti-immigrant right.

In the northern coastal town of Groningen, dozens of mainly Muslim men and women - Africans, Arabs and some Iranians – sit at bare tables and chat quietly in the living quarters fashioned out of a ship where hospital patients were once treated.

They are awaiting decisions on appeals of government rejections of their asylum applications, a process that has dragged on for years during which the Netherlands began to crack down hard on economic migrants. Groningen opened its “Bed, Bath, Bread” (BBB) facility for 100 asylum seekers in January after the government of conservative Prime Minister Mark Rutte cut off funding, and it plans to expand capacity to 300 people later this year.

About 30 other Dutch cities and towns run BBB shelters too. They accommodate thousands of asylum seekers in legal limbo.

Rutte's government, has under the populist pressure of Wilders imposed some of the toughest immigration policies in the European Union since 2012.

It has cut off funding for BBB facilities and shortened the period of shelter for failed applicants to 28 says unless they agree to leave and stay in semi-detention prior to deportation.

The government has also expanded the list of “safe” countries to which rejected migrants can be legally returned and outlawed the wearing in public of face veils by Muslim women.

The nationalist current changing Dutch politics reflects a deep souring of public attitudes towards immigrants in a country long known for liberalism and multicultural tolerance, rooted in centuries of maritime history.

The welcome showered on hundreds of thousands of Moroccan and Turkish workers a few decades ago has turned to resentment at open-door, pro-EU policies under mainstream parties that may drive 20 percent of voters into the PVV's arms at the polls next week.

That could make Wilders' party the biggest in parliament, though it is still unlikely to enter government as all its mainstream rivals have vowed to ostracise the PVV.

Groningen and other municipalities decided to pay for migrant shelters themselves after talks with Rutte's cabinet about funding the BBB programme collapsed.

Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, accused mainstream parties of not standing up to populists ahead of elections in the Netherlands, Germany and France, but instead adopting their policies for short-term political gain.

Such criticism has not swayed Rutte's conservatives. He published an open letter in January, weeks before election campaigning began, telling immigrants to accept Dutch values and blend in or go home.

Immigrants reacted with consternation and anger in social media posts. A poll last month found that 40% of Turks and Moroccans, there for decades no longer feel at home in the Netherlands.

NAMPA/REUTERS

A rollercoaster ride Mixed conclusions have been drawn from Calle Schlettwein’s N$62.5 billion budget, which was tabled in the National Assembly on Wednesday. The finance minister has been under pressure from the word go and in light of an extravagant public sector splurge over the years, there was a need to tame expenditure this time around, given the tough economic conditions. Government has resolved to spend billions in a number of priority areas including housing, social safety nets and poverty eradication, while education and health continue to receive huge chunks from the budget cake. An improvement in the SACU revenue pool is expected to be a huge boost in terms of revenue generation. Equally government must now collect taxes more efficiently than ever before to help improve state revenue. For the new financial year, revenue would be slightly less than N$53.43 billion, better than the estimated 3.5% estimated in last year’s budget review and an almost 10% year-on-year increase from an estimated N$51.51 billion in 2016/17. The situation was attributed to improved SACU receipts as well as improved domestic revenue streams. Economists appear to be upbeat by the minister’s budget statement, with some optimistic that the tide will turn for the better on the country’s current economic state. Also, the minister must be commended for speaking out on corruption, which has become so rampant and appears to be institutionalised. One can only hope that other cabinet ministers and senior government officials will heed this call and uphold good governance. On job creation, it however appears that the authorities are yet to hatch a proper plan to create decent employment for the many unemployed Namibians, particularly the youth. We are not investing enough in the youth and programmes associated with them such as sport. Government must seriously consider new interventions to amongst others, help fund young entrepreneurs who have the potential to create employment. We must also encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. Government has been investing heavily in poorly run parastatals and it is high time that results-based management systems are implemented to stop the rot at state-owned enterprises.

Are you smarter than a Fourth Grader? Have you ever had to complete a quiz which they say is meant for a Fourth Grader, yet you struggle to get the answers right? Well, you are not alone – I too have failed nine out of ten of those tests.

If you, like me, are frequently subjected to solving mathematical formulae of your fourth Grader that leaves you wondering how you on earth you managed to pass Grade 12 in 1997, then you know what I am talking about.

If it is not figuring out the relationship between ‘osmosis and the degeneration of cells’, then one is expected to help your kid to explain why 2b+3c is not equal to 3c+2b!

The teachers would call it homework, but I think they are secretly passing the buck over to us parents. Mind you, my years of mathematics involved the collection of ice-cream sticks and beer tops to use as aides in class. Never was I expected to explain why the factorisation of 24 is infinite…or something like that!

As for life science, all I can recall is that I am a product of my parents because they went to ‘buy’ me at the Katutura central Hospital. Seriously, I only find out about human reproduction some two weeks ago when my nine-year old girl shockingly explained the process to me in stark details.

I knew trouble was in the offing when I sat her down as I figured it was time I inform her of the birds and the bees.

“Cutie, it is time we talk about something you need to know but not need to do. What I am saying is that I will tell you all about it, but you must never know about it entirely for another 15 years…I mean…”

She stopped me in my tracks by saying; “Daddy, do you mean about sex? If that is the case, what do you wanna know…?”

Eish, and they still think a heart attack is a natural ailment!

Going home after work these days is not so pleasant at all because I have to face my daughter’s homework. I bet the teacher marking the homework probably look once at my daughter’s work and think to herself: “So this so-called journalist from Omaheke is not that smart at all. Just look at how he explains the process of photosynthesis.”

I guess now I know why she talks slowly to me when I visit the school with my daughter to check on her books. I always thought she was doing that for my daughter’s sake.

I couldn’t care less; how will I know about the process of photosynthesis if I can hardly pronounce the word itself. In fact, the first time I heard of it I went straight to the periodic table and searched all day looking for the metal called ‘photosynthesis.

Then there is Afrikaans, my moeder taal! I have always admired the literature aspect of this magnificent language. When I think of Breyten Breytenbach, Antjie Krog and C.J Langenhoven, I cannot help but admire the quality of prose they produced.

Who would forget reading Kringe in die bos, Fiela se kind which had the famous line “Ek is Fiela Komoeti se kind…ek is fiela se kind…(I am Fiela Komoeti’s child, I am Fiela’s child.). Then there was C. Louis Leipoldt’s Oktober maand, die mooiste mooiste maand” which we had to recite every day!

But today’s kids are taught a different Afrikaans a different Afrikaans. They are made to read long passages, probably taken from ‘Rooi Rose’ or ‘Keur’ magazines, which they are then required to explain what the writer had in mind! How the hell should I know – dig him up from the grave, ask him and let me know what he says!

If our kids know where children comes from, are better at configuring our smartphones and know all the latest gossips about Justin Bieber – then they are definitely smarter than us. Forget about what we know about the Gulf War or the Treaty of Versailles – that, my dear friends is apparently as old as the sun!

Perhaps it would pay to spend a bit more time around these kids; you would not want to wake up one day and discover that the Afro is out of fashion…or is it already?

Until then…

tjatindi@gmail.com

Torrid living conditions for studentsPatience running out over delayed hostel The lack of hostel facilities at the Oshakati campus of Unam, has forced students to live in conditions that are questionable, to say the least.

The conditions under which University of Namibia (Unam) Oshakati campus students are living and have to endure on a daily basis can only be described as deplorable.

Describing the snail's pace at which Unam is working at to provide hostels, the students likened their unheeded pleas to phone calls which remain unanswered.

The students told Namibian Sun that their patience is “running out”.

Namibian Sun recently visited some of the places rented by the students who are living in shacks and renting rooms at houses where they have to endure the stench of urine and faeces from pit latrines. The students said they have to endure these debilitating conditions due to financial constraints.

Some of the houses seen by Namibian Sun have cracked walls and dangerously connected electric cables providing power to their rooms.

Students who cannot afford to rent are forced live with their relatives either in Oshakati or Ongwediva and locations which are far away from the campus.

The students said they travel the long distance daily on foot to and from campus because they cannot afford taxis.

Although the students have roofs over their heads, for some, the lack of electricity is another challenge.

Students renting rooms where there is no electricity said they are forced to remain on campus to study until late night making them targets of criminals who rob them of their valuables such as cellphones and laptops while walking home at night.

At one facility where more than 10 students reside, they bath in a bucket that is placed on top of an empty beer crate in a pit latrine toilet.

“We are not happy at all. Unam does not want to construct hostels for us. All they tell us is that they are busy with the plans, but that has been their song for the past three years that I have been here. We don't need promises, we need action,” said a student who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity.

In a petition handed over by the students during a demonstration in October 2016, they demanded a response before 28 February this year.

According to the Oshakati campus Student Representative Council vice-president Junias Shilunga, they have not received any response from the management and the students will indeed soon construct shacks on the campus.

“There is no definite date as to when we will do it but we will do it soon,” Shilunga said.

“You can ask around. There is no student that will tell you that he or she is happy about this and that's why we are ready to construct our shacks on campus. At least we won't have to pay those high rental fees and we will be safe.”

Shilunga said the management at the Oshakati campus is not taking their plight seriously accusing them of allowing Unam main campus management to prioritise less important projects.

“If campus management really cared about us they would have opposed the construction of the Windhoek main campus main gate, which was constructed at a cost of N$27 million. These are some of the things that make students here wonder whether we are regarded as important stakeholders in the development of Namibia,” Shilunga said.

When approached for comment Unam spokesperson Linus Hamunyela said that at the time of the campus' inception, a good number of their full-time students, of which the majority were student nurses, used to be accommodated at the nurses' home at the Oshakati intermediate hospital, an arrangement which only lasted until 2013.

Hamunyela said in 2014, the health ministry started giving priority to their own students and expanded nurses training programmes offered by the ministry.

“From 2014 onwards, the need to build hostels at Oshakati campus became critical as the students that were accommodated at the nurses' home were forced to make other arrangements and many were forced to live with their relatives in informal settlements in Oshakati,” Hamunyela said.

He added that with the introduction of more full-time programmes the problem was aggravated.

Regarding the construction of a hostel, Hamunyela said the campus management is working

tirelessly.

KENYA KAMBOWE