Namibian Sun

Ogone Tlhage - National energy utility NamPower is reviewing its business plan in anticipation of having to compete on an equal footing with other power producers.

NamPower has remained tight-lipped about what its plan entails and said it would only be able to lay bare its strategy once it had completed the business review.

NamPower said it would publish its new business plan towards the end of June.

“Our five-year corporate strategy and business plan is expiring at the end of June this year. The review process and shaping of a new strategy for the next five years, which will include considering changes in the market and in the electricity supply industry, started at the end of 2017 and continues. We will only be able to give you an informed response once this process has been finalised,” NamPower said.

The current single-buyer model, which allows only NamPower to sell electricity to regional electricity distributors, mines and large transmission users, will be reviewed.

This was announced by the energy minister at the Invest in Namibia International Conference in November 2016.

Currently, the single-buyer model makes provision for only NamPower to buy electricity from existing independent power producers.

“To accommodate the ever-changing environment, a modified single-buyer model is being discussed to allow independent power producers to sell directly to off-takers other than the single buyer,” mines and energy minister Obeth Kandjoze said.

Mines and energy permanent secretary Simeon Negumbo told Market Watch in December that a study had been commissioned to establish an appropriate framework that would allow independent power producers to participate in power generation.

Market structure

According to Negumbo, the review process entails a review of the current market model and the development of market rules for likely participants in the power generation sector.

“The purpose of this project is to develop an appropriate market structure framework which will open the Namibian power market to private investors and encourage investors to participate in growing Namibian generation opportunities,” Negumbo said.

Giving a report on work done, Negumbo said a consultant was appointed at the beginning of last year to steer the process while one-on-one meetings with all major stakeholders in the energy sector were held. A second stakeholder meeting recently took place where role players were briefed and where input was garnered.

Stakeholders have been engaged to develop market rules to do away with the single-buyer model, Negumbo said.

The review was also being done with the buy-in of prospective power producers.

“While developing an appropriate market framework and rules, the ministry expects the project to be considered in a participatory manner through a combination of processes which will include a review of the previous work done and discussions with stakeholders,” Negumbo said.

2017 a golden year for OtjikotoRecord production B2Gold has earmarked US$5.1 million, more than N$60 million, for exploration in Namibia this year.

Jo-Maré Duddy – B2Gold’s Otjikoto mine in Namibia ended last year on a high note, producing an annual record of 191 534 ounces of gold.

According to the Canadian-based B2Gold Corp’s latest report, Otjikoto’s 2017 production exceeded the upper end of its revised production guidance range by 6% or 11 534 ounces, and the top end of its original production guidance range by 9% or 16 534 ounces.

Last year’s gold production was also 15% or 25 249 ounces compared to 2016.

“Otjikoto's outperformance in 2017 was mainly the result of better than expected high-grade ore tonnage from the Wolfshag Phase 1 Pit and higher than expected mill throughput. In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Otjikoto Mine produced 52 446 ounces of gold, exceeding both budgeted and reforecast production by 10% or 4 655 ounces,” B2Gold said in its report.

Otjikoto is expected to produce between 160 000 and 170 000 ounces of gold this year, primarily from the Otjikoto Pit. Production will be achieved at cash operating costs of between US$480 and US$525 per ounce and at all-in sustaining costs (AISC) of between US$700 and US$750 per ounce, B2Gold said.

“In 2018, Otjikoto is budgeted to process a total of 3.3 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 1.59 g/t and process recovery of 98%.”

B2Gold said the slight drop in grade versus 2017 is due to a “negligible amount of Wolfshag ore being mined in 2018 as phase 2 of the Wolfshag Pit is being developed”. “Ore production is planned to resume from the Wolfshag Pit in 2019 which is expected to provide higher grade open-pit mill feed in the future,” the company said.

Budget

“Sustaining capital costs in 2018 at the Otjikoto Mine are budgeted to total US$16.6 million. Non-sustaining capital costs are budgeted to total US$28.5 million, including US$26.6 million for Wolfshag pre-stripping and US$1.7 million to complete phase one of the solar power project which is expected to decrease fuel oil consumption and power costs starting in the second quarter of 2018.”

B2Gold said the total exploration budget for Namibia in 2018 is US$5.1 million. “Exploration in 2018 will include 17 000 metres of diamond drilling and 4 000 metres of RAB [rotary air blast] drilling split between the Otjikoto Project and the Ondundu joint venture.”

B2Gold Corp owns 90% of the Otjikoto mine through its local subsidiary, B2Gold Namibia. Evi Gold, a local empowerment group, owns the rest.

The company – which also owns the Masbate Mine in the Philippines, the Fekola Mine in Mali, as well as the La Libertad Mine and El Limon Mine in Nicaragua - is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchane (TSX) and on the Overall Index of the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX).

B2Gold ended at N$38.21 per share Monday on the NSX.

Need a Nambian visa?

The home affairs ministry has apparently taken a leaf out of US President Donald Trump's book by misspelling Namibia's name as 'Nambia'.

The ministry has undertaken to immediately remove a batch of visa application forms containing the error. The faulty form was collected on Monday at the home affairs office in Independence Avenue, Windhoek, and was forwarded to Namibian Sun. The form, which appears to still be in circulation, shows, at the top, Namibia's coat of arms and printed in bold letters 'Republic of Nambia'. Interestingly enough, on the rest of the form where the country's name is mentioned, Namibia was spelled correctly. The spokesperson of the ministry, Sakeus Kadhikwa, assured Namibian Sun that the misspelled forms were “out of date” and not in use anymore.

“I do not doubt the form's authenticity, but it is out of date and the forms have been changed,” he said.

Kadhikwa referred the newspaper to the ministry's website where visa application forms can be downloaded. On these forms there is no error. He stressed that the 'Nambia' forms were not in circulation anymore. However, according to a Windhoek resident, he received the misspelled visa application form from the head office in Windhoek on Monday. Kadhikwa said all the counters at the ministry offices would be thoroughly checked to make sure that none of the old forms remained.

He could not confirm how old the forms were or how many were printed. Late last year Trump was ridiculed for mispronouncing Namibia's name in a televised speech.

ELLANIE SMIT

Hepatitis E cases riseSanitation is crucial An education campaign for residents of Windhoek's informal settlements seems to have had little impact on the spread of hepatitis E.

The number of hepatitis E cases plaguing several informal settlements of Windhoek continue to rise, with 294 cases presenting with clinical signs at Windhoek health facilities since October last year.

The informal settlement of Havana remains hardest hit, with 121, or more than 41% of the cases, reported there.

Other informal settlements that are affected include Goreangab (72), Greenwell Matongo (9), Ombili (7), and Katutura (7).

Another 78 cases have been reported in 15 unspecified locations in the area, according to the health ministry.

Currently six patients are being treated at the Katutura Intermediate Hospital and are being monitored closely, health acting permanent secretary Petronella Masabane said yesterday.

Masabane added that the most affected age group is between 24 and 39. Roughly the same number of men as women have caught the disease. Five of the affected women were pregnant, including a fatal case in November.

The ministry confirmed that one miscarriage was reported recently by a pregnant woman with hepatitis E and that another mother was admitted to the acute care unit.

The outbreak, which claimed the life of a 26-year-old woman four days after she had delivered a baby in November, is spread by contaminated water.

A massive multi-stakeholder intervention was launched by the ministry in December, focused on education, testing and community outreach including advice on washing hands, sanitising and to ensure water is safe to use.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) risk assessment report published on Monday identified the poor living conditions in the informal settlements, where the majority of cases have been reported, as a key factor in the spread of the disease.

“These areas are overcrowded and have limited access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. Moreover, the holiday season will likely increase the movement of people within the country. All of these could be major contributing factors to this outbreak,” the WHO report stated.

The rainy season has also increased the risk, as “people often use rainwater or other surface water for drinking and domestic uses. This likely increases the risk of hepatitis E infection,” the report noted.

The report concluded that the same factors could lead to infection in other informal settlements, towns and districts with “similar poor environmental health conditions.”

The assessment found that the overall risk is “high at the national level and low at regional and global levels”.

The WHO recommended that the “number of latrines in different settlements should be increased to address the issue of open defecation. In addition, the waste management and the overall hygiene practices should be improved.”

In December, health minister Bernhard Haufiku confirmed the outbreak, with 26 patients being treated at the time.

By January 5, 167 confirmed cases of hepatitis E had been reported despite the launch of the campaign to contain the spread of the disease.

Part of the approach has been social mobilisation and health education with an emphasis in increasing access to safe water and adequate sanitation facilities for the population at risk.

Communities are educated on maintaining healthy sanitation practices such as hand washing and boiling water before ingesting it.

Water purification tablets were handed out to areas struggling with access to clean and safe water.

Tests of water sources are also being carried out.

The WHO recommendations include ongoing interventions including the provision of antenatal counselling for pregnant women, improving housing conditions for those living in these informal settlements and supporting the improvement of health facilities and patients care.

Lastly, the report recommends that the local and national reference laboratory capacities should be improved for timely confirmation of suspected cases.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Bitter fight looms over Oshikoto farmland

More than 200 settlers are facing eviction at Okolo in the Onalusheshete district after two powerful northern personalities approached the Oshikoto Communal Land Board to privatise the land they claim to have been occupying for 20 years.

The settlers say they have lived on the 2 593-hectare piece of land since 1996.

Last year, northern businessman Samuel Namwele and former Okaku constituency councillor Joseph Endjala claimed that the land was a private farm belonging to them.

The settlers told Namibian Sun they became aware of the problem on 3 July last year when a newspaper advertisement was placed, listing the names of leasehold applicants. Their land was included in the list.

“I first arrived at this place in 1996. I found a few cattle posts, but the whole area was still virgin land. I also set up my post and others started coming.

“Later we were informed that the area was a private farm which was established by a man who had died and apparently a family member was claiming the farm. We never saw anybody until we saw the advertisement in the newspaper,” said one person who did not want to be identified.

Upon investigation, Namibian Sun was informed that Okolo was established as a farm in 1985 by the late businessman Mathew Elago, but he never settled there.

He died in 2008. After seeing the advertisement, the settlers wrote to the communal land board in July last year, objecting the granting of the leasehold to the applicants.

They alleged that the applicants had obtained the land documents in an unethical way from the senior headman for Onalusheshete, Eino Shondili Amutenya.

The farm is currently divided into two parts, with Endjala claiming 1 235 hectares while Namwele claims the other 1 358 hectares.

On 12 October last year, the chairperson of the Oshikoto Communal Land Board, Sointu Angula-Mupopiwa, advised the settlers to approach the Ondonga Traditional Authority to clarify the ownership issue and provide the board with relevant documents before 30 November. The complainants requested the board to give them until yesterday to clarify the matter.

When contacted for comment, Namwele said that he and Endjala purchased the farm from the late Elago in 2006 and they only found seven settlers there at the time.

He said before they bought it, Elago had already returned the land to the Ondonga Traditional Authority.

Namwele further claimed that when they first bought the farm they could not settle there because the former senior headman for Oniimwandi district, Boas Mweendeleli, opposed the granting of rights to the farm.

“We applied for the farm from the traditional authority and were granted permission to farm by both the authority and the king. You can go and ask Shondili (Amutenya) and the king. They are the ones who gave us permission to farm at Okolo,” Namwele said.

He said the number of settlers increased sharply after a soldier stationed at the Grootfontein military base started settling other soldiers there.

“When we bought the farm there were only seven settlers until a certain Kwambi soldier settled there and started allocating land to his fellow soldiers from Grootfontein. We have our farm documents signed by the Ondonga king, Immanuel Kauluma Elifas,” he said.

“The number of settlers is increasing because when we bought the farm the former senior headman for Oniimwandi did not want us to settle until the king appointed Amutenya who gave us the go-ahead.”

Defiant

For his part, Endjala said no matter what it took, the settlers must vacate the land.

“Even if it costs us an arm and a leg, we will get our farm back and these settlers have to vacate. Those people are lying and have to go… we have all the necessary documents. That soldier who was chased away from Kavango is the one who settled all those people into our farms,” Endjala said.

Endjala also accused the settlers of vandalising boreholes on the land.

The settlers said they came to the area on their own.

They believe that the size of the human and livestock populations of the farm justifies giving it village status.

The OTA directed all inquiries to Amutenya, who could not be reached for comment.

ILENI NANDJATO

New NSFAF board will clean up

A new board of directors has been appointed to clean up the troubled image of the Namibia Students' Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) and to transform it as it plans to return, as a directorate, under the wing of the higher education ministry,
Higher education ministwe Itah Kandjii-Murangi this morning announced the board that will be chaired by the communications chief of the Development Bank of Namibia, Jerome Mutumba, deputised by philanthropist businesswoman Christina Swart-Opperman.
The minister yesterday stated that it will take time and certain processes need to take place before the fund can eventually be part of the ministry.
“The fund was established by an act of parliament and we will have to look at repealing the law. And these things cannot be done instantaneously,” she said.
The minister yesterday repeated that the board’s mandate is to prove clear, effective guidance and leadership to the affairs of NSFAF.
She also said the board will ensure that the transformative processes at the fund do not negatively affect service delivery.
“The board must take correct and decisive actions to improve NSFAF governance, service delivery and restore students, parents, staff and public trust in the fund,” she said.
The other members are business transformation expert Stephen Tjiuoro, Abner Ananias, Adda Angula, Natascha Cheikhyoussef, Isak Neema and Tulimeke Munyika.
Most of the board members have a legal background.
The board will serve for a period of three years.
JEMIMA BEUKES

Warriors wage war on CranesMannetti calls for smart play It will be a battle that could determine the destiny of the Brave Warriors and Uganda's Cranes at the Grand Stade Marrakesh in Morocco at 21:30.

History beckons for the Namibian senior national football team as they play the Ugandans in their second match of the African Nations Championship tonight in Morocco.

The Brave Warriors hope that fellow Southern Africans Zambia will do them a favour by beating Ivory Coast.

A win for both Zambia and Namibia today will guarantee both teams a place in the quarterfinals of the competition.

Things could get complicated if Namibia lose to Uganda and Zambia lose to the Ivorians.

Such a result would mean that all four teams would have to battle for a place in the final matches, setting an electric finale to group B next week Monday.

Namibia look to keep going following their 1-0 win over Ivory Coast on Sunday night and Uganda will have to recover from their 3-1 defeat by Zambia.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday morning, coach Ricardo Mannetti called on his players to remain calm and grounded and see out tonight's game.

“Uganda have to come out and play and we remain underdogs. They are a physical team and we will respond accordingly.

“We need to be smarter and avoid reckless play against Uganda. Uganda losing to Zambia does not make them a bad team and we have to be cognisant of that and try to do our best and respond to our tactics very well and double our concentration,” Mannetti said.

Captain Ronald Ketjijere stated that the match against Uganda would be crucial for the Brave Warriors, as they plan to keep their dream alive at the championship under way in Morocco.

“We haven't achieved anything yet. We just beat Ivory Coast and we must remain focused and try to beat Uganda and then qualify to the next round,” Ketjijere told the media conference.

The top two teams from the group will face the winners from Group A, which includes the hosts Morocco, in the quarterfinals.

- Additional reporting by NFA

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Volleyball fever returns

Volleyball enthusiasts can brace themselves as the 2018 Windhoek Draught DTS Volleyball for All competition is on the cards for next month.

The 35th edition of the tournament will be played on 3 February at the DTS premises in Olympia.

Once again, Windhoek Draught has committed itself to sponsoring the competition.

Radiowave is still the media partner while Namibia Health Plan (NHP) came on board as the co-sponsor.

Last year, the event attracted close to 240 teams and the same is expected this year.

The organisers say spaces are limited and urge teams to register as soon as possible.

“I can tell you now that we already have 119 teams which have registered for the competition.

“I am also sure that we will already have 240 teams by Saturday and that is why people must hurry to register in order to secure a place,” organiser James Verrinder said.

Windhoek Draught's brand manager, Tasneem Klazen, said the company was happy to be associated with volleyball.

She assured the volleyball lovers that Windhoek Draught would remain committed to the sport.

Klazen believes that their sponsorship has provided an opportunity for corporate Namibia to have fun.

The chairman of the DTS Sport Club, Axel Dainat, thanked the sponsors, saying that the sponsorships and the people who participate in the event have been responsible for the growth of the sport.

This year, Namibian kwaito star Gazza will entertain the crowd at the prize-giving ceremony on 3 February.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Fighting Tsonga digs deepFrenchman reels in Shapovalov The 15th-seeded Tsonga looked dead and buried down 2-5 in the final set before 18-year-old Shapovalov faltered in only his second five-setter and the experienced Frenchman seized the initiative.

Former winner Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fought to the bitter end to overhaul rising Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov in a five-set thriller at the Australian Open yesterday.

Tsonga, 32, stormed into the third round after a 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 win in 3hr 37min on Margaret Court Arena.

It ended his three-match losing run in five-setters, but lifted his career record to 16-10 and reversed his loss to Shapovalov in straight sets in the second round at last year's US Open.

“Since the start I was behind him. I had to fight a lot and make him finish the match. He never did, so it's good for me,” Tsonga said.

“But the most important (thing) for me, it's to fight, give my best on court until the last point. That's what I did today.

“I think he deserved to win also today, but I was also courageous and I did my job at the end. I played well. I think I deserve it, too.”

It extended Tsonga's record at his best-performed Australian Open Grand Slam to 36-10 after he was runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the 2008 final.

Shapovalov said he would learn from the experience of losing after holding a winning position.

“There's always nerves in a tennis match. I wasn't thinking about it much,” he said.

“I just didn't play a good game on my serve (for the match). Then he picked up his level.

“This was my longest match in the heat. Physically, I feel good. My body is getting a little bit tight on me now.

“Yeah, nothing too bad there. I mean, I'm just going to learn from it and keep going.”

Shapovalov quickly jumped out of the blocks, breaking misfiring Tsonga in the fourth game on the way to taking the opening set in 34 minutes.

Tsonga picked up his game and levelled one-set all with a service break in the sixth game.

But the Canadian left-hander hit back, taking the third set with some sensational shot-making, including a running backhand winner on break point and then breaking again in the sixth game.

Tsonga stayed alive and took the match into a fifth set decider with a resolute tiebreaker.

Shapovalov began the final set strongly, breaking Tsonga in the second game and then holding off break points in the following game to lead 3-0.

But Tsonga would not yield and broke Shapovalov as he attempted to serve out the match with a cross court backhand.

Shapovalov began to falter and made mistakes as Tsonga stepped up the pressure and broke the young Canadian again in the 11th game to hit the front 6-5. He didn't need a second chance as he served out strongly for the match.

NAMPA/AFP

Hindjou trusts Warriors

Former Brave Warriors captain Congo Hindjou is confident of the national senior football team reaching the quarter-finals of the African Nations Championship (Chan).

The former midfielder, who represented the country at its first appearance at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournament, the African Nations Cup in 1998 in Burkina Faso, said this to Nampa on Monday at the team's hotel in Marrakech.

Congo Hindjou said he is happy with the team's performance in their opening game at the championship.

“It's really important that the team won their first match at the competition as it will give them motivation to do well with their remaining games at the tournament,” he said. He added that Sunday's results are important for every Namibian, looking at how the team worked hard to qualify for the championship.

“What was really good to see on Sunday was collecting the three points against a power house like Ivory Coast who had a strong team that has been having active football all the time, unlike our players who just start playing league football three months ago,” Hindjou said.

He said he saw the team's potential when Namibia defeated Zimbabwe in November during the Hage Geingob Cup at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.

“I told Mannetti when we won the President's Cup that he gave us hope and I was confident from then that we will do well in Morocco,” Hindjou said, adding how great the team composition is at the moment.

In their opening match at the African Nations Championship, Namibia beat Ivory Coast 1-0 at the Stade de Marrakech on Sunday.

The Brave Warriors are in Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Uganda and Zambia.

They are currently second on the log, level on three points with group leader Zambia, who have a better goal difference after they beat Uganda 3-1 at the same stadium on Sunday night.

The Brave Warriors' next game will be against Uganda tonight at the Grand Stade de Marrakech.

NAMPA

Leicester plays with VAR Leicester made history as English football's first beneficiaries of the Video Assistant Referee system after the replay technology was used to award their second goal in a 2-0 FA Cup win over Fleetwood on Tuesday.

When Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho ran onto a Riyad Mahrez pass to slot home in the 77th minute of the third round replay, his strike was initially ruled out for offside.

But after a short delay while the attack was being analysed by the VAR assistant Mike Jones, the decision was changed after replays showed Nigeria's Iheanacho was just onside and referee Jon Moss awarded a goal.

The VAR system was first used in England earlier this month for Brighton's FA Cup third round tie against Crystal Palace and the League Cup semi-final first leg between Chelsea and Arsenal.

However, this was the first time it had actually been needed to reverse a decision.

“I didn't know if I was onside or offside but I agree totally now that I was onside,” Iheanacho said.

“I was concentrating on the goal, I didn't think if I was onside or offside but Riyad told me that I was onside.

“We just waited to see what the decision was.”

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy added: “This man got the goals and has shown that VAR does work.”

Former Manchester City youngster Iheanacho had already put Leicester ahead in the 43rd minute at the King Power Stadium, running onto Islam Slimani's pass and firing home.

Leicester's reward for a comfortable win against their third tier opponents is a trip to Peterborough, also of League One, in the fourth round.

VAR, which has already been used in other competitions around the world, can be called on to rule over goals, straight red cards, penalty decisions and cases of mistaken identity.

NAMPA/AFP

Ekondjelo lyevi lyuunafaalama mOshikotoOfaalama ya landwa po aniwa mo 2006 Konyala aanafaalama ya thika po 200 oya taalela etidho okuza mOkoli moshikandjohogololo Onalusheshete, konima sho aanankondo yaali yomonooli ya pula Oshikoto Communal Land Board opo ku tulwe paumwene evi ndyoka taya popi kutya olya kala lyawo uule woomvula dha thika po 20.

Omvula ya piti omunangeshefa Samuel Namwele oshowo kansela nale gwoshikandjohogololo Okaku Joseph endjala, oya popi kutya evi ndyoka olya li ofaalaama yawo yopaumwene, omanga aakwashigwana mboka yeli pehala mpoka taya popi kutya oya kala poshitopolwa shoka shevi shuunene woohecta 2 593 okutameka omvula yo 1996.

Aakalimo mboka oya lombwele oNamibia Sun kutya oya nongele kombinga yoshikumungu shoka muJuli gwomvula ya piti, sho kwa li kwa tulwa etseyitho miikundaneki kombinga yomusholondondo gwaamboka ya ningi eindilo lyokuhiila omahala gevi, noshitopolwa shevi mpoka yeli osha kwatelwa mo momusholondondo ngoka.

“Onde ya pehala ndika mo1996, na onda a dha po oohambo ooshona, ihe ehala alihe kalya li sha. Onda tulapo ohambo yandje naantu yamwe oya tameke taye ya po. Lwanima otwa ka tseyithilwa kutya ehala ndyoka oli li ofaalama yopaumwene ya totwapo komulumentu ngoka a hulitha nale nofamili ye oya hala ofaalama ndjoka, ihe inatu mona omuntu sigo twa mono etseyitho ndyoka moshifokundaneki,” omuntu gumwe ngoka ina hala okutumbulwa kuukwatya we a popi.

Konima yomakonaakono, oNamibian Sun oya nongele kutya Okolo oya totwapo onga ofaalama mo 1985, nomunangeshefa nale Mathew Elago, ihe ina kala pevi ndyoka sigo osho a hulitha mo 2008.

Konima sho ya mono etseyitho ndjoka, aantu mboka oya shangele omukanda kokomitiye yelelo lyevi lyaayehe muJuli gwomvula ya piti, taya pataneke eindilo ndyoka. Oya holola kutya aaningi yeindilo oya mono oondokumende dhevi momukalo gwaahena uuyuki okuza kelenga enene lyOnalusheshete, Eino Shondili Amutenya.

Ofaalama ndjoka monena oya topolwa miitopolwa iyali, moka Endjala ta popi kutya ye okuna ko oshitopolwa shuunene woohecta 1 235 omanga Namwele a popi kutya ye oku na oshitopolwa shoohecta 1 358.

Momasiku 12 gaKotomba omvula ya piti, omunashipundi gwokomitiye yelelo lyevi lyaayehe, moshitopolwa shaShikoto, Sointu Angula-Mupopiwa, okwa gandja omayele kaakwashigwana mboka ya ninge omapulo kElelo lyaNdonga, kombinga yuumwene wevi ndyoka nokugandja omikanda ghomondjila kokomitiye ndjoka omanga omasiku 30 gaNovemba inaga thikana. Aakwashigwana mboka oya pe okomitiye ndjoka sigo omasiku 16 gaJanuari nuumvo opo ya kale ya yelitha oshikumungu shoka.

Sho ya ningilwa omapulo, Namwele okwa popi kutya yo naEndjala oya landa ofaalama ndjoka kuElago mo 2006, na oyali ya dha po owala aantu ya thika puyaheyali pethimbo ndyoka. Okwa popi kutya omanga inaye li landa, Elago okwa adhika nale a shunitha evi ndyoka kelelo lyaNdonga. Namwele okwa popi kutya sho ya landa tango ehala ndyoka inaya vula okukalapo molwaashoka elenga enene nale moshikandjo Oniimwandi, Boas Mweendeleli, okwa li e li ompinge negandjo lyuuthemba wokukala mofaalama ndjoka.

“Otwa ningi eindilo kelelo lyopamuthigululwakalo na otwa pewa epitiko kelelo oshowo omukwaniilwa. Oto vulu okuya wu ka pule Shondili (Amutenya) oshowo omukwaniilwa. Oyo ye tu pe uuthemba wofaalama ndjoka Okolo,” Namwele a popi.

Okwa popi kutya omwaalu gwaantu mofaalama ndjoka ogwa londo pombanda meendelelo, sho omukwaita gwontumba gwoGrootfontein a tameke ta tululula aakwiita yakwawo mofaalama ndjoka.

“Sho twa landa ofaalama ndjoka opwa li owala aantu yaheyali, sigo osho omukwiita gumwe gwomukwambi a tameke ta gandja evi kaakwiita yakwawo ya za mo Grootfontein. Tse otu na oombaapila dhetu dhofaalama dha shainwa kOmukwaniilwa Immanuel Kauluma Elifas.”

Namwele okwa tsikile kutya omwaalu gwaantu mboka ya tula mofaalama ndjoka ogwa londo pombanda molwaashoka sho ya landa ofaalama, elenga enene lyaNiimwandi kalya li lya hala opo ya ye mofaalama ndjoka sigo osho omukwaniilwa a ulike Amutenya, ngoka e ya pe omulilo omuzizi. Endjala okwa popi kutya otashi kutha shike, aantu mboka naya ze po owala pevi lyawo.

“Kutya otashi tu pula okwaako nokagulu, aantu mboka naya ze po pehala lyetu. Aantu mboka otaya fundju oya pumbwa okuya…..tse otu na oombaapila adhihe. Omukwiita ngoka a tidhwa mOkavango oye a tula aantu ayehe mofaalama ndjoka,” Endjala ta popi. Endjala okwa popi woo kutya aantu mboka oya yonagula omboola mofaalama ndjoka. Elelo lyaNdonga oya ukitha omapulo agehe kuAmutenya ngoka ina vula okumonika.

ILENI NANDJATO

Gawanas uulikwa onga omugandjimayele kIigwana yaHangana

Omugandjimayele gwowina kombinga yiikumungu yAfrika, kIigwana yaHangana, Bience Gawanas, ngoka opo uulikwa, okwa hala ondjokonona nomahokololo genenevi gepondolo ga hokololwe.

UN secretary-general António Guterres oshiwike shika okwa ulike Gawanas nokumupa ompito yiilonga ndjoka yi na oshinakugwanithwa oshinene, na okwa pingenepo Maged Abdelaziz gwaEgypt. Gawanas, ngoka a longa onga komufala gwiipambele yopashigwana moAfrican Union Commission, okwa kala ta longo woo onga omugandjimayele gwowina kominista yekondjitho lyoluhepo, Zephania Kameeta. Okwa popi kutya omahokololo gaakiintu ya Afrika taya longo omapya opo yiipaluthe oshowo omithigululwakalo dhenenevi oyo tayi nana aatalelipo nashoka osha pumbwa okutyapulwa. Okwa popi kutya nonando iilongo ya Afrika otayi yambuka po pandjele ya yooloka, uuyuni nawu tseye shoka sha pondolwa po kenenevi ngele tashi ya komayambulepo. “Sho nda li koAU aluhe onda kala tandi ipula kutya omolwashike enenevi lyetu li shiwike owala kombinga yiita nomikithi. Natutaleni kombinga okwawo pehala lyokumona owala oluhepo niikolokosha.”

Okwa popi kutya opwa pumbwa okukala eyooloko pokati kombili nomayambulepo , iita oshowo oluhepo.

Gawanas okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya ota faalele uuthiga womapangelo gaAfrika oshowo omitse dhiilongo kIigwana yaHangana.

“Ondiinekela aluhe kutya omatompelo sho tu na iiputudhilo ngaashi AU oshowo UN okukwathela aantu. Oluhepo oshinima oshinene sha taalela enenevi lyetu. Ondi wete kutya omaso gaanona naakiintu pethimbo lyepulumutho oshinima shi li pombanda na itashi vulu okwiidhidhimilikwa momudhingoloko gwetu.”

Gawanas okwa popi kutya otaka topolwa onkalo yegameno yaNamibia niilongo yilwe yaAfrika, mbyoka kayi na omusindalandu ngoka. Euliko lye olya tambiwako nawa menenevi oshowo muuyuni. Ominista yomakwatathano nelongelokumwe lyopaigwana, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, okwa hokolola kutya Gawanas oku na ontseyo yokukala nompito ndjoka yiilonga. Omunashipundi gwoAfrican Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, okwa pandula Gawanas omolwa euliko lye ndyoka, ta popi kutya Afrika otaka longelwa nawa.

“Otandi gandja omahaleloyambeko kumumwamemekadhona Bience Gawanas sho uulikwa nokupewa ompito ndjoka yiilonga ya simana noonkondo. Ondi na einekelo kutya otaka longa neitulemo omolwa onteyo ye ndjoka e na nale onga komufala nale gwiipambele yopankalathano nomukalelipo guuyuuki wopankalathano moshilongo she Namibia.”

JEMIMA BEUKES

Nghidinwa ta pewa efumbiko lyopapangelo

Omupresidemde Hage Geingob okwa tseyitha ongula yEtiyali kutya Ominista nale yOkabinete, Rosalia Nghidinwa ota pewa efumbiko lyopapangelo. Shoka osha kolekwa kuamushanga gwokabinete, George Simataa.

Ominista nale yoshikondo shuuthikepamwe oya hulithile moshipangelo shaVenduka, konima sho a taambelwa moshipangelo moka momasiku 19 gaDesemba omvula ya piti. Okwa hulitha mepupi lyoomvula 65.

Oshituthidhimbuluko shanakusa otaku pangelwa shi ningilwe moshikunino shoPaliamende mEtitatu lyoshiwike twa taalela, nomudhimba gwe otagu ka falwa moNkurenkuru moKavango West moka taka fumbikwa mOlyomakaya. Omupopi moPaliamende Peter Katjavivi, okwa gandja omahekeleko kofamili nookume kaNghidinwa pehala lyopaliamende. Nghidinwa okwa longa onga

omupeha minista moshikondo shaaniilonga pokati ko 2000 no 2005, ominista yiikwameni nomatembu pokati ko 2005 no 2012, na okwa hogolululwa mOmutumba gwoPashigwana mo 2010.

Okwa ulikwa nokuninga ominista yUuthikepamwe muDesemba gwo 2012 sigo 2015.

Katjavivi okwa popi kutya nakusa okwa kala e na omukumo nomatokolo mooprograma dhokuyambulapo aakwashigwana nokuyambulapo onkalonawa yaakokele, aakiintu naanona. Okwa tsikile kutya opaliamende ayihe otayi ke mu yuulukwa onga omuleli gwoshili nomuvalakadhi e na oshisho.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Iipotha yomukithi gwoHepatitis E ya londo pombandaIipotha tayi ihilile po 300 ya lopotwa Omahwahwameko giikonga yelongo lyoshigwana kaakalimo yomomalukanda gaVenduka otayi ulike kutya inayi ninga sha shomupondo mekeelelo lyetaandelo lyomukithi gwohepatitis E.

Olukanda lwaHavana okwa hololwa kutya olumwe lyomomalukanda ngoka ga dhengwa noonkondo komukithi ngoka, sho mwa lopotwa iipotha ya thika po 121, mbyoka ya kalela po oopresenda 41. Omalukanda gamwe ngoka mwa lopotwa omukithi ngoka ongaashi Goreangab (72), Greenwell Matongo (9), Ombili (7), oshowo Katutura (7).

Iipotha yilwe 78 oya lopotwa momahala inaga kolekwa pauyelele mboka wa tseyithwa kuuministeli.

Monena aapangwa yeli yahamano oyeli taya mono epango moshipangelo shoKatutura Intermediate Hospital, pauyelele mboka wa kolekwa kuamushanga muuministeli wuundjolowele nonkalonawa, Petronella Masabane.

Masabane okwa gwedha po kutya mboka ya gumwa unene, aantu yoomvula dhili pokati ko 24 no 39, aakiintu naalumentu ayehe yomwaalu guthikepamwe, okwa lopotwa konyala ya kwatwa komukithi ngoka. Aakiintu yatano yomwaamboka ya kwatwa oyiihumbata oshowo oshipotha shimwe sheso shoka sha lopotwa muNovemba gwomvula ya piti.

Uuministeli owa holola kutya okwa lopotwa oshipotha moka omukiintu a kanitha okanona ke sho etegelelo lya pitililepo omolwa omukithi ngoka, omanga natango omukiintu gumwe iihumbata a taambelwa mewalanda lyoacute care unit.

Omukithi ngoka gwa faalela omwenyo gwomukiintu gwoomvula 26, konima owala yomasiku gane sho a pulumutha okanona muNovemba, otagu taandelithwa komeya inaga yogoka. Omahwahwameko omanene ga tamekithwa nokutulwa miilonga kuuministeli muDesemba unene momalukanda moshilando, opshigwana osha ningilwa omakonaaakono nokupewa elongo lyokwiiyoga koonyala nokukalekapo uuyogoki opo ku kwashilipalekwe egameno.

Olopota yoWorld Health Organisation (WHO) ndjoka ya nyanyangithwa mOmaandaha oya holola kutya uuyogi wa nkundipala owo unene tawu taandelitha omukithi ngoka.

“Omahala ngoka oge na aantu oyendji na kage na omeya ga yogoka gokunwa. Pethimbo lyomafudho omwaalu omunene gwaantu ohagu endaenda moshilongo pomahala ga yooloka naashoka osho tashi etitha unene etandelo,” olopota ya holola.

Ethimbo lyomuloka nalyo otali tula moshipotha nokuhwahwameka etaandelo lyomukithi ngoka, sho aantu yaha longitha omeya gomvula mokunwa nokulongitha momagumbo, naashoka otashi taandelitha woo omukithi.

WHO okwa gandja omagwedhelepo kutya opo ku vule okuyiwa moshipala omukithi ngoka, okwa pumbwa okutungwa omwaalu omunene guundjugo momalukanda , nokuningila woo aakalimo elongo lyuuyogoki.

MuDesemba minista Bernhard Haufiku, okwa koleke etukuko lyomukithi ngoka, na okwa li a popi kutya okwa lopotwa iipotha ya thika po 26, yaantu mboka ya kwatwa na oya mona epango.

Momasiku gatano gaJanuari, okwa kolekwa iipotha 167 yomukithi ngoka mboka ya hololwa pethimbo kwa tamekithwa omahwahwameko gelongo lyaantu kombinga yokmukithi ngoka. Omahwahwameko ngoka oga popi kombinga yelongitho lyomeya ga yogoka, oshigwana osha ndungikwa opo shi fulukithe aluhe omeya omanga inaga longithwa mokunwa oshowo okuteleka, sho tashi iyogo koomake aluhe. Oopela dhokuwapaleka omeya odha gandjwa woo momahala moka mu na ompumbwe yomeya ga yogoka.

WHO okwa gandja woo omagwedhelelo opo ku ningilwe omahungomwenyo aakiintu mboka yiihumbata nokuyambulapo oonkalo dhaakwashigwana mboka taya lumbu momalukanda nokuyambulapo omandiki guundjolowele oshowo esiloshisho lyaapangwa.

Hugunina olopota ndjoka oya gandja omagwedhelepo opo oolabora dhomoshilongo naadhoka dhopashigwana dhi ya mbulwepo dho dhi vule okukala tadhi gandja iizemo yomukithi ngoka pethimbo.

JANA-MARI SMITH

With Detroit launch, BMW aims to reignite US car salesSpate of new SUV offerings The Bavarian auto giant this week presented for the first time its new model X2. You need a lot of different options to satisfy different markets. - Bertrand Rakoto, Psycar

Daniel Aronssohn - BMW, which has been losing ground in the US luxury market to Mercedes, is hoping to turn the tide with a spate of new SUV offerings.

At the Detroit Auto Show Monday, the Bavarian auto giant presented for the first time its new model X2, a smaller SUV - part of a series of six new and upgraded SUV models the company is counting on to reignite growth in the US.

BMW in 2017 held onto its crown as the top global luxury carmaker ahead of Mercedes, thanks to strong gains by its British brand Mini.

But not counting the Mini, BMW-branded car sales have lagged those of Mercedes globally since 2016, and the situation has been especially severe in the United States, a key market for all luxury brands.

BMW, together with Mini, sold 405 000 cars in the US in 2015 - about 30 000 more than Mercedes that year.

But after declining two years in a row, BMW sales last year came in at 354 000, almost 20 000 below Mercedes.

Confidence

BMW Group chief financial officer Nicolas Peter told reporters Monday that the drop was due to a refresh of its US fleet and expressed confidence in a turnaround.

"We believe we'll see a slight growth in the US market in 2018," Peter said, pointing to the new SUV line-up and greater supply of the popular Five series of luxury sedans.

"The US market is an important market to us," he added.

The new offerings come as BMW finds itself competing not just with traditional rivals such as Mercedes, Toyota's Lexus and rising Volkswagen brand Audi, but also with electric carmaker Tesla.

"BMW took another hit in 2017," said Bertrand Rakoto, a Detroit-based analyst for Psycar."Their sales didn't actually fall that much, but part of the reason was due to heavy incentives."

Rebates

BMW gave rebates of US$5 400 per car in the US last year, far above the US$3 800 average for all US cars, according to Automotive News, a US trade publication.

"That's a big rebate for a luxury brand," said Rakoto, who said the brand-new X2 could give BMW a boost.

"SUVs are so popular in the US, but you need a lot of different options to satisfy different markets," he said.

Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of the Centre for Automotive Research said BMW became blinded by its own success.

"They became too cautious in terms of design," Dudenhoeffer said, deeming the conservative Series 2 Tourer a flop compared with its legacy of spiffy models.

"At the same time, Mercedes and others developed new ideas that were really innovative and interesting," Dudenhoeffer said.

‘Real threat’

Meanwhile, when BMW made the plunge to invest in electric cars with the i3 and i8 models, it opted for a carbon fibre material for the body that reduced weight, but was more costly than other options and gave little additional value to the customer, Dudenhoeffer said.

He added Tesla could represent "a real threat" to BMW and other luxury car makers if it succeeds in its ambitious production ramp-up. Whether Tesla reaches its targets is an open question at this point, but successful execution by the California company could ignite sales of electric cars, he said.

Last year, Tesla sold 55 000 vehicles in the United States, up from almost nothing five years ago and now as much as Porsche.

Among more conventional players, Lexus, the upscale brand of Toyota, is not far behind the German duo - and after that stands another big German brand: Volkswagen's Audi, which has more than doubled its US sales in seven years, coming in at 227 000 in 2017. – Nampa/AFP

Forgotten schools left to rot Education authorities surely have their work cut out for them because there is not only an urge to ensure a better and improved system, but serious attention is equally needed to tackle the overwhelming and enormous challenges so many schools still face. Boarding schools in particular found themselves in depressing conditions and the state of some of these institutions can only be described as pathetic. In today's edition, we carry on our front page a disheartening story about the run-down state of a primary school hostel in the Kunene Region. The Frans Frederick Primary School hostel is in a serious mess with dilapidated buildings, with roofs almost falling down and with no windows, among a potpourri of problems.

This school, like many other forgotten ones countrywide, has been pleading with the authorities for a number of years to remedy the situation, but nothing solid has been done to date. The school principal has confirmed that many learners are forced to sleep on spring beds without mattresses ever since the government stopped supplying the school due to tender issues for the past three years or so.

The learners now depend on parents and sometimes Good Samaritans for better accommodation. But this is mostly not the case as poor parents can't afford to keep up with the supplies. The story of dilapidated structures is almost the same in most of the public schools especially in the rural areas. It is a real eyesore with any imaginable infrastructural deterioration you could possible think of.

The authorities must realise the inherent right of providing access and equity to basic education for the Namibian child. And this must take place in a conducive environment devoid of both physical intimidation and emotional frustration.

Do we really expect learners to perform optimally if they sleep in structures with cracked walls, leaking roofs and stinking toilets from hell? We can ill afford a ruinous education infrastructure of broken windows and run-down facilities. The authorities must quickly act on this highly embarrassing situation.

Shot of the day

OWL MAN: A reveller takes part in the ‘White Day’ parade during the Carnival of Blacks and Whites in Pasto, Colombia, the largest festivity in the south-western region of the country. More than 10 000 people among artists, craftsmen and revellers, take part in the Blacks and Whites Carnival, which has its origins in the mix of the multiple Andean, Amazonian and Pacific cultural expressions. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

Company news in brief

TFG rallies on December sales jump

The Foschini Group (TFG) reported a more than 30% jump in December sales, buoyed by recent British acquisitions, lifting the South African retailer's share price by 5%.

The clothing and homeware retailer has expanded in developed markets, including the purchase of Britain's Whistles in 2016 and Hobbs last year, as a weak economy, tighter credit rules and tough competition hampered growth in its home market.

That expansion helped to lift the international division's December sales by nearly 64%. For the nine months to Dec. 31, total sales including its African and international divisions were up 17.1%, TFG said without disclosing the total value. – Nampa/Reuters

Ethiopia to revive Zambian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines signed an agreement with the Zambian government to relaunch the southern African country's national carrier, which was shut down more than two decades ago.

Ethiopia's state-owned flag carrier, ranked by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as the largest airline in Africa by revenue and profit, is in talks with a number of airline companies across the continent to acquire stakes and manage operations.

Ethiopian Airlines said on Tuesday said it had struck a deal with shareholders of Zambia Airways and had acquired a 45% stake in the firm. It did not disclose how much it had paid for the stake.

State-owned Zambia Airways went into liquidation in 1994. – Nampa/Reuters

Ericsson to write down billions in Q4

Swedish telecoms equipment maker Ericsson said it would write down 14.2 billion kronor (US$1.8 billion) in assets as the troubled company struggles to compete in a rapidly changing sector.

The writedowns, which will be booked in the fourth quarter of 2017 and which were expected, originate mainly from goodwill from "investments made 10 years ago or more, and has limited relevance for Ericsson's business going forward," the company said in a statement.

Ericsson is trying to divest the two business areas mainly responsible for the writedowns, digital services and media.

Once a global leader in equipment making, Ericsson is facing intense competition from the likes of Finland's Nokia and China's Huawei, coupled with sagging investment in networks. – Nampa/AFP

BP hit by new US$1.7bn oil spill charge

British energy giant BP will take an additional charge of US$1.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017 linked to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster in 2010.

BP also expects to be hit by an additional US$3 billion of Gulf-related costs this year, up from a previous estimate of US$2 billion. This brings BP's total cost linked to the disaster - including fines and compensation to businesses - to around US$65 billion at the end of 2017.

BP saw its fortunes and reputation ravaged by the devastating oil spill disaster eight years ago caused by an explosion at the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that the company leased. – Nampa/AFP

Maersk, IBM to launch blockchain-based platform

The world's largest container shipping firm A.P. Moller-Maersk is teaming up with IBM to create an industry-wide trading platform it says can speed up trade and save billions of dollars.

The global shipping industry has seen little innovation since the container was invented in the 1950s, and cross-border trade still leaves an enormous trail of paperwork and bureaucracy.

Blockchain technology powers the digital currency bitcoin and enables data sharing across a network of individual computers. It will help manage and track tens of millions of shipping containers globally by digitising the supply chain process from end to end, the companies said.

A shipment of refrigerated goods from East Africa to Europe can go through nearly 30 people and organisations and involve more than 200 different communications. Documentation and bureaucracy can be as much as a fifth of the total cost of moving a container. – Nampa/Reuters

If land is yours, take it back – Mnangagwa

There are no textbooks on how a nation can reclaim its lost land, said Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa during his visit to Namibia on Monday.

Zimbabwe has gained global notoriety for its radical land transformation process which, in 2000, saw hundreds of white farmers flee the country after their land was expropriated by the State.

Speaking to the media this week Mnangagwa said Namibia can study how Zimbabwe has done it and start there, but cautioned that there are no set guidelines on how it must be done.

“On the issue of land, there is no textbook - like with English, Mathematics or Geography [which] you can learn – on how to take your land. You take it and see how we have done it. That is what we did in Zimbabwe; we did not look for lessons elsewhere,” he said.

He emphasised that Zimbabwe's land policy was based on the “concrete” situation of the landless people of Zimbabwe.

“And we went to war to gain our land back from those that have taken it. And we took it back. Land is yours and if it is yours, you take it back,” he said.

The Namibian government, under all three administrations, has consistently followed the willing buyer, willing seller land policy, despite shortfalls and challenges along the way.

Government has to date only expropriated three farms totalling 15 184 hectares since independence, while foreign nationals still own 1.4 million hectares of farmland in Namibia.

The government paid N$4.9 million for the three expropriated farms in 2006 and the process went smoothly because the farmers agreed to the purchase price.

All three farms, Wyoming, Kansas and Groot Ruigte, are situated in the Omaheke Region.

Expropriation differs from willing buyer, willing seller because there is no bargaining for compensation.

However, this process came to a standstill in 2006 when farm owners challenged expropriation notices for five farms in the High Court.

In 2016 the land reform minister Utoni Nujoma said government had acquired 36 farms at a cost of more than N$290 million to resettle 57 families between April 2015 and February 2016.

JEMIMA BEUKES