Namibian Sun

Feed the chickens…To feed the people Chicken forms a critical part of the African diet but the continent seems unable to produce enough for its own needs.

Africa, which imports nearly 83% of the food it consumes, has a real chicken and egg problem. The continent is caught between pressure from imports in some countries and an inability to meet demand in others.

Africa's chicken crisis is an expression of overall weaknesses in its agricultural system. If Africa cannot raise its grain production it cannot expect do well in increasing its chicken output.

It is a complex problem. Producing chickens requires feed such as corn. Yet producing grain to meet human needs remains one of the continent's most pressing challenges. Africa's urban populations, for example, are growing faster than the continent can produce grain. This has contributed to Africa's shift from being a net food exporter to being a net food importer.

The inability to ramp up grain production has affected Africa's ability to feed its people as well as its chickens. Its imports for grain as well as chicken have been rising as a result. Its import of poultry products is estimated at US$3 billion a year.

Imports lead to oversupply

South Africa has the capacity to grow its own chickens at a far cheaper rate compared to most countries in the world. However it is unable to do so due to imports.

South Africa has a trade agreement with the US which allows for tariff-free quotas of key agricultural products. One of these is chicken from the US. This is done in exchange for preferential trade under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

With increased imports following the trade agreement, additional imported chicken has been added to the South Africa. This has led to oversupply and price reduction. This may benefit consumers, but it undercuts incentives for local production.

In much of the rest of Africa the problem is different.

Inability to meet demand

Population growth, urbanisation and changing diets have over the last 20 years shifted African meat consumption away from beef to pork and poultry. According to some estimates, chicken now accounts for nearly half of the meat consumed in Africa.

The supply of poultry has not kept up with the demand, which is in turn pushing up prices.

The demand for chicken in countries such as Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania is projected to rise significantly over the next decade. Chicken prices in those countries are already prohibitive given the fact that large sections of the population live on less than US$2 a day. The challenge now is finding ways to increase production while competing with imports.

Poultry production challenges

At face value the situation looks like an opportunity for entrepreneurs to align production with the rising demand. The challenge, however, is more deep-rooted. The factors (such as poor infrastructure, low investment in research, limited technical training and a lack of farm incentives) limiting poultry production are similar to those affecting the rest of the agricultural system.

The solution to Africa's chicken crisis lies in upgrading agricultural systems overall. Here are the major limitations:

Low-cost, high-quality feed. Expanding feed production involves investing in grain production, especially corn and soya.

The lack of starter stock (chicks and broilers bred specifically for meat production). Improvements in this area will require better breeding and extension programs akin to those needed for crops. Nearly 84% of chicken in Kenya is based on local breeds that have low levels of efficiency in converting feed into meat.

Disease control. The most common threat to chickens is Newcastle disease. But the frightening spectrum of new infectious diseases calls for more investment in livestock diseases in general and chicken diseases in particular.

Poor infrastructure (especially energy, transportation and water supply systems) is a major barrier to the expansion of chicken production, especially in rural areas. A lack of cold storage facilities forces farmers to keep feeding their chickens instead of slaughtering and refrigerating them. They generally transport live chickens to markets, which raises logistical costs and increases concerns over disease transmission.

The lack of credit for producers. Countries that provide credit for crop producers to purchase seed and farm input have the opportunity to extend their incentives to chicken production.

So far Africa can hardly feed its people. But even worse, it cannot feed its chickens so that it can feed its people. The chicken crisis is yet another reason why Africa must focus on getting its agricultural act together. The crisis is a warning to African leaders: they need to wake up with the chickens and act in time.

– The Conversation

*Calestous Juma is a professor of the Practice of International Development at Harvard University.

Calestous Juma

Last MH370 search ended yesterday

Australia said it held out hope Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 would one day be found, as the last search of the seabed in the remote Indian Ocean where it was believed to have been lost was scheduled to ended yesterday.

Malaysia said last week the search by Texas-based company Ocean Infinity would end on Tuesday after two extensions of the original 90-day time limit.

Australian Transport Minister Michael McCormack said the four-year search had been the largest in aviation history and tested the limits of technology and the capacity of experts and people at sea.

"Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the 239 people on board MH370," McCormack's office said in a statement. "We will always remain hopeful that one day the aircraft will be located."

Malaysia signed a "no cure, no fee" deal with Ocean Infinity in January to resume the hunt for the plane, a year after the official search in the southern Indian Ocean by Australia, Malaysia and China was called off. No other search is scheduled.

Australia, Malaysia and China agreed in 2016 that an official search would only resume if the three countries had credible evidence that identified a specific location for the wreckage.

Malaysia said last week an Ocean Infinity ship Seabed Contractor operating underwater sonar drones had searched more than 96 000 square kilometres of sea. The search area deemed by experts to be the most likely crash site was only 25 000 square kilometres, roughly the size of Vermont.

Ocean Infinity did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The Boeing 777 vanished on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing. The original search focused on the South China Sea before analysis revealed the plane had made an unexpected turn west and then south.

Australia coordinated an official search on Malaysia's behalf that scoured 120 000 square kilometres and cost Aus$200m before it ended last year.

Danica Weeks, an Australian resident who lost her husband on Flight MH370, urged Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to call on the new Malaysian government to be more transparent about what they knew about the mysterious disappearance.

"There've been so many theories and rumours and ... we don't know what is true and what isn't," Weeks told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

"I want Julie Bishop to say to the Malaysian counterparts now: what do you have? Where is the investigation at?" she added.

The director of the official seabed hunt that ended last year, Peter Foley, told an Australian Senate committee hearing last week that he still hoped that Ocean Infinity would be successful.

"If they're not, of course, that would be a great sadness for all of us," Foley said.

NAMPA/AP

Kenya’s NYS rotMillions stolen, probe kicks off Reports indicate that Kenya’s National Youth Service paid US$1 million for a car tyre and US$10 million for beef over a year, indicating that each recruit would receive 66kg of beef daily.

Kenya's top prosecutor said on Monday he would charge 54 suspects over the theft of US$80 million from the national youth agency, the latest in a string of graft scandals to erupt in the country.

The latest scandal at the National Youth Service (NYS) involves the alleged fraudulent payment of millions of dollars for goods and services, often to family and friends of powerful politicians.

Police arrested the director of the National Youth Service (NYS), Richard Ndubai, and the principal secretary in the youth ministry, Lilian Omollo, as well as 18 others in dawn raids on Monday.

Another 34 suspects still being sought were named in a statement by Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Mohamed Haji.

"My office is preparing to have the suspects arraigned in court to answer to the charges," he said in the statement, adding the complicity of banks in the fraud would also be probed.

The NYS is a paramilitary training institution that has been at the forefront of President Uhuru Kenyatta's plan to combat high youth unemployment.

Enrolment is voluntary, and sees youths receive a stipend while receiving technical training and working on government projects.

With a budget soaring to some US$250 million a year, the NYS has been plagued by Kenya's endemic corruption, with a first scandal breaking in 2015 after the theft of US$7 million through inflated pricing and fictitious payments.

Investigators and media initially reported US$90 million had been stolen.

But Haji said on Monday the fraud pertained to bills totalling US$80 million - an amount disputed by top NYS officials.

Kenyan media have reported how the NYS paid US$10 million for beef in one year - meaning each recruit would have had to consume 66 kg of beef a day.

In another example a car tyre was purchased for US$1 million.

According to the prosecutor's office, charges will include abuse of office, stealing public funds and forgery, amongst others.

Corruption scandals have in recent days also hit electricity utility Kenya Power - where families and friends of employees were found in an audit to have bagged multi-million dollar contracts.

Fraudulent payments of US$30 million have also been uncovered at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

In 2017 Kenya fell to 143rd out of 180 countries in Transparency International's annual corruption index.

In March, a damning report from the auditor general showed government could not account for US$400 million in public funds.

Kenyatta has vowed to combat corruption, a refrain weary Kenyans have heard from multiple presidents.

In an editorial in the Saturday Standard, a columnist referred to a 1968 headline in which government vowed to "crush" corruption.

"Since independence government in Kenya has not been about service ... The foremost reward of winning an election would seem to be the opportunity to steal," wrote columnist Barrack Muluka.

"We have sung the anti-corruption song for far too long, we can only be tired of it."

NAMPA/AFP

The feisty new RS 18 is Renault's hottest Clio yetBringing F1 to the road Race technology, superlative performance and unique F1-inspired design … Renault enhances its hot hatch range with the launch of its new Clio RS 18 F1 edition.

The Renault Sport Clio is one of the most popular hot hatches, with its proven track record as one of the best handling and most rewarding cars on the market. In May 2018, the new Clio R.S.18 F1 arrives in South Africa.

The RS 18 bears the same name as the Renault F1 race car competing in the 2018 F1 Grand Prix. It also features the same iconic colour scheme as the Renault Sport F1 Team car – black with yellow accents.

The new model’s exclusive styling is also reflected in the Renault Sport decals added to the door panels and the roof.

The blacked out badging and rear diffuser contrasted by the yellow details on the side strips, front blade and wheel caps make the overall look even more radical. The doorsills on this limited edition model also reveal a unique number for that added acclaim.

Hot hatch performance

The feisty Clio R.S. 18 is powered by a 1.6L Turbo-charged engine, featuring a lowered and stiffened Trophy chassis – front suspension featuring hydraulic compression stops, and an Akrapovic exhaust system.

It uses a Launch Control feature enabling simulation of an experienced racing driver. This electronic intelligence allows the driver to experience the exhilaration of a standing start.

‘Launch Control’ is activated with paddles at hand, right foot on the accelerator and left foot on the brake. Once the left foot is raised from the aluminium pedal, the New Clio R.S. explodes off the line, with dynamic gear changes.

From track to road

The Clio RS18 displays the ultimate in Renault Sport technology with an impressive range of track oriented features that demonstrate the prowess of the direct F1 technology transfer to this exclusive model.

It offers three modes - Normal, Sport and Race. According to the mode, RS Drive alters the mapping of the gearbox, ESC behaviour, steering and the sensitivity of the accelerator pedal. Multifaceted and versatile.

The engine delivers 162kW/280Nm, is mated to a EDC 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox and benefits from ground-breaking technology modelled on the DLC (Diamond-like carbon) derived from Formula 1. Fuel consumption is rated at a claimed 5.9 litres/ 100km.

Features

Aside from the breath-taking design, sporty features and exclusive equipment devoted to racing, the functional interior is packed with additional innovative technology, synonymous with much of the Renault model range. Renault enhances its local hot hatch range with the launch of its new Clio RS 18 F1 edition Onboard navigation on offer via the 7” touchscreen, with a range of other easy-to-use one touch functionalities - Multimedia, radio and telephone systems with Bluetooth connectivity.

It also boasts the new Clio RS 18 F1 edition Cruise Control-speed limiter, whereby regulated cruising or maximum speed can be selected, with steering wheel mounted controls to allow for speed adjustment.

It has rain sensors, automatically regulating the frequency of your windscreen wipers according to how heavily it is raining, and light sensors, enabling the headlights when the sensors detect a certain level of darkness.

It also sports the Renault Hands-free Card Key for convenient remote entry, and in support of the easy Stop/ Start functionality.

History of Renault RS

The latest addition to the Clio performance range, RS 18 F1, was preceded by numerous derivatives which were legendary in their own right, to name but a few - The first RS model, the Renault Clio Williams (1993) that was designed to celebrate the success of the Renault-powered F1 team at the time.

More powerful Renault Sport models emerged post the Clio Phase 2’s revamp, in the guise of the incredible Renault Sport Clio V6, with the 3.0-litre V6 engine housed in the rear of the vehicle, with increased power output (252bhp), making it the fastest model to this day.

The limited edition Renault Sport Clio 182 Trophy launched in 2005 was also deemed legendary amongst Renault Sport enthusiasts.

The long line of iconic Clio R.S. models was boosted with the local introduction of the Renault Sport Clio 200 & 200 Cup, which proved their worth in every road test entered.

The Clio 20th Anniversary model, which was launched in 2010 in celebration of Clio’s 20th year of being, was distinguished by its Pearl White paint, black alloys and black roof, a striking and extremely coveted limited edition indeed.

The much celebrated Clio RS model line-up was further complemented through the Clio R.S. Red Bull, another extremely admired limited edition, with its distinct colour scheme and much larger 18” wheels.

Clio, a Renault success story

Having achieved in excess of 13 million sales since launching globally in 1990, the Renault Clio is undoubtedly the world’s all-time best-selling French car. A success story that has continued with the fourth-generation Clio. This iconic model is sold in more than 100 countries worldwide, and made its debut into South Africa back in 2000.

The Clio 4 model has gained strong on-road presence in South Africa with over 25 800 units sold since its introduction. – Wheels24

More stylish XC40 SUVs headed for SAVolvo in demand In South Africa, the XC40 is following the global trend of high demand. The XC40’s success has surpassed even our highest expectations. - Håkan Samuelsson, CEO: Volvo Cars

Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, has received almost 80 000 orders for the new award-winning XC40 small SUV and is expanding production in Europe and China in order to meet demand.

Production will be expanded at its Ghent manufacturing plant and Volvo Cars will add XC40 production capacity at its Luqiao plant in China in the first half of next year, underlining the popularity of this year’s European Car of the Year.

In South Africa, the XC40 is following the global trend of high demand. According to Volvo Car South Africa MD, Greg Maruszewski: "Our initial allocation of 350 vehicles sold out before many even arrived in the country, so we have increased our XC40 volume to 700 units for the year. The XC40 is making a big impact in the local SUV segment."

Capitalise

In addition, the company has also announced that it will capitalise on the popularity of its new smaller models with the introduction of new models on its Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), replacing the current V40.

“The XC40’s success has surpassed even our highest expectations,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars. “The small SUV segment is the fastest-growing segment in the industry now, and with these additional CMA-based models we expect to benefit further from that growth.”

The coming new models based on CMA will include fully electric vehicles and will be sold globally in all major regions. More product details will be disclosed at a later stage.

The XC40 was launched in late 2017 to global acclaim and was the first ever Volvo to win European Car of the Year in March of this year.

The new XC40 is the first model on Volvo Cars’ new CMA vehicle architecture. Co-developed with Geely Holding, CMA provides Volvo Cars with the necessary economies of scale for this segment.

In March, Volvo Cars announced it will produce cars for its new sister brand Lynk & Co at the Ghent plant. Like the XC40, the first Lynk & Co model is based on CMA. – Wheels24

McLaren's 15 000th supercar rolls off the line

McLaren celebrated the manufacture of its 15 000th car at the McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, Surrey, just seven years after production first began.

The 15 000th car, a 570S Spider in Curacao Blue from the company’s Sports Series family, represents a further significant milestone for the British sportscar and supercar brand, and comes less than 18 months after the 10 000th car was completed in December 2016.

The introduction of a second production shift in 2016 to meet rising global demand for McLaren vehicles has seen production double from around 10 cars a day to 20, with over 90% of vehicles built in Woking exported to more than 30 markets around the world.

McLaren achieved record sales in 2017, selling a total of 3 340 cars. Demand has been stimulated by the launch of two new products, the 570S Spider within the Sports Series and the 720S within the Super Series.

Around two-thirds of sales in 2017 came from the Sports Series and one-third from the Super Series. A new Ultimate Series model, the McLaren Senna, has recently entered production and the first of just 500 customer cars will shortly be completed.

Mike Flewitt, chief executive officer for McLaren Automotive said: "Reaching 15 000 cars built is a significant milestone for McLaren Automotive and comes under 18 months after we hit 10 000 vehicles, showing how demand and production have increased.

"The Sports Series has been pivotal to driving this growth, with the 570S Spider now the most popular of the range. The fact we are now able to produce 20 cars a day is of course a great testament to the hard work and dedication of every one of our workforce, who should feel justifably proud and part of this great team effort."

The McLaren Production Centre was designed by Foster + Partners and took 14 months to build from breaking ground to 18 July, 2011 when the first car, a McLaren 12C, was approved for shipping. – Wheels24

Kassie

McLaren Automotive timeline

2010 – McLaren Automotive founded as an independent company

2011 – McLaren Production Centre (MPC) opened in Woking

2011 – 12C Coupe launched

2012 – 12C Spider launched

2013 – McLaren P1TM, the world’s first hybrid hypercar, launched

2014 – 650S launched

2015 - 570S, 540C, 675LT and McLaren P1TM GTR launched

2016 – 675LT Spider launched, 10,000 cars built, Track 22 business plan launched

2017 – 720S, 570S Spider and McLaren Senna launched

2018 – 15 000 cars built milestone, MCTC set to open in Sheffield to produce carbon fibre chassis

Mazda celebrates 50 million cars built in Japan

Mazda has announced that cumulative production in Japan reached 50 million units on May 15.

The company held a commemorative ceremony at its Hofu Plant in Yamaguchi prefecture.

Representative director, president and CEO Masamichi Kogai, executive officers and union representatives attended. The 50 million-unit milestone comes 86 years and seven months after Mazda produced its first three-wheeled truck in October 1931.

Mazda began its journey as an automaker in 1931, when it started producing three-wheeled trucks in Hiroshima. In 1960 it commenced production of the R360 Coupe micro-mini, marking a bold entry into the passenger car market.

Vehicle manufacture started at Hofu Plant in Yamaguchi in 1982, and domestic production duties have since been shared between the Hofu and Hiroshima Plants. The production techniques and flexible production systems developed at these plants have helped Mazda to grow its business.

Mixed production lines capable of producing different models on a single line enable manufacture of multiple models at low volumes, a breakthrough in the traditional tradeoff between product variety and competitiveness and volume efficiency.

In the forefront

In 2016 and 2017, the company took steps to increase its production flexibility for crossover models and create a framework capable of responding quickly to changes in demand.

The domestic plants take the lead with Mazda's global car-making; production techniques and technologies established in Japan are then rolled out to overseas facilities.

Mazda aims to sell 1.66 million cars this fiscal year, the final year of its Structural Reform Stage 2 medium-term business plan, and plans to establish a global production framework capable of manufacturing two million units annually by fiscal year ending March 2024.

Mass-production of vehicles featuring next-generation technologies and design is slated to start in 2019. The company will continue expanding its production framework in an effort to get cars to customers as quickly as possible.

Mazda will continue to build a strong brand through a variety of initiatives. Manufacturing plants in Hofu and Hiroshima will continue to evolve and act as parent factories that embody the kind of technical prowess that does justice to Japan's proud history of Monotsukuri, and rapidly deploy technologies and skills to overseas plants.

Aspiring to create a world in which cars can co-exist sustainably with people, society and the earth, Mazda is committed to enriching people's live through various touchpoints, including the manufacture of high-quality cars, and become a brand with which customers feel a strong emotional bond. – Wheels24

Cultivating a prickly pear Farming in Namibia is not for the fainthearted. Farmers of all races, colours and ethnic groupings have known this for decades and decades. The age-old rule is: you are farming in a desert country. Everything must be used very sparingly and no excesses are tolerated.

All extras gained must be saved for the future, to tie you over for when you the next drought comes. This can also be applied in a much wider, general context, as a rule for living in Namibia, but seems to only count for those without connections and not for the poor and downtrodden.

If you are well-connected and have government farmland, but you think it's not good enough for you, you can simply ask for more land for mahala.

This seems to be the favourite modus operandi for anybody related to and with connections.

In the case of the Namibian Defence Force, you can go about acquiring land - paid for with taxpayer money - and then hide behind national security or whatever excuse is the flavour of the day.

Another way to go about it, as the connected and political elite in this country, is to take out loans from state banks, spend the money on impressing side chicks, and still have the audacity to demand leniency when asked to pay the money back.

You must also learn to feign outrage when creditors come knocking and voice your disdain. It is then that you must march and parade, waving placards to stop any attempt to hold you accountable.

However, for most Namibians, sitting in their shack or rented flats for which they are paying extortionist prices, with no electricity, ablution or running water, life is indeed getting harder.

They are sitting further and further away from the table where favours are handed out like sweets.

And of course, when they vent and demand the lowering of rental costs or house prices, they are accused of threatening peace and stability.

Our people are dying for a small piece of land to call their own, but the powers that be seem intent to cultivate a prickly pear that will wound us all.

Shot of the day

LOVE: A couple poses for a wedding photographer at the promenade on the Bund along the Huangpu River, seen against the skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai on a hazy and polluted day on 29 May 2018. Photo: NAMPA /AFP

Company news in brief

Swiss Re, SoftBank halt minority stake talks

Swiss Re and SoftBank have halted their discussions about a potential minority investment by the Japanese group, the Swiss reinsurance company said on Monday.

Swiss Re had been entertaining the deal involving SoftBank amid industry-wide pressure in recent years from falling prices and intense competition, hoping a new partner might open new streams of revenue from the fast-growing and unsaturated insurance market of Asia.

-Nampa/Reuters

Telkom to step up mobile push

Telkom SA, South Africa’s biggest landline provider, will sharpen its focus on mobile and data services, its CEO said on Monday after reporting an 18% drop in full-year earnings.

Telkom, which also provides information communications and technology solutions, said headline earnings per share for the year to March 31 fell to 597 cents from 731.4 cents the previous year, hit by a higher tax rate and labour costs.

-Nampa/Reuters

Tongaat's profit falls

South Africa’s Tongaat Hulett posted a 37% fall in full-year profit on Monday, weighed down by higher-than-expected sugar imports by the country and low international prices of the sweetener.

Diluted headline earnings per share (HEPS) fell to 534.8 cents (US$0.4296) in the year ended March 31, from 852.7 cents in the previous year.

This was in line with the company’s guidance. HEPS is the main profit measure used in South Africa which strips out certain once-off items. The company, which has also operations in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, said its sugar operations in South Africa were hit by imports and its storage.

-Nampa/Reuters

Indian trader group objects to Walmart-Flipkart deal

An Indian trader body has raised objections to Walmart Inc’s US$16 billion acquisition of e-commerce firm Flipkart, though lawyers and sources said the complaint to the country’s antitrust regulator is unlikely to threaten the deal.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) filed an objection to the US retail giant’s buyout of roughly 77% of Bengaluru-based Flipkart, the body said on Monday, adding that the deal would create unfair competition and result in predatory pricing.

-Nampa/Reuters

Britain could sell 10%stake in RBS

Britain could sell a 10% stake in Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) as soon as this week, Sky News reported on Monday, citing banking sources.

The British government still holds a 71% stake in the bank after stepping in with a taxpayer bailout during the financial crisis.

-Nampa/Reuters

Culture lays a strong foundation

Uukwambi chief Herman Ndilimani Iipumbu has urged fellow Namibians to embrace the importance of identifying themselves with their respective totems, while adding respect for culture lays a strong foundation.

He said a nation without culture is pliant to change and ends up adapting to whatever comes, which could be good or bad for it.

Iipumbu, who identifies with the omutundu (zebra) totem, made the remarks while addressing the official opening of the Oshakati Totem Expo on Sunday.

He said totems and cultures are being practiced worldwide.

The 2018 expo started on Friday and sees 15 totem groups (omapata) showcasing their sacred object or symbol, which serves as an emblem for them, while over 250 exhibitors are offering various products and services.

“As leaders of traditional authorities, we are feeling proud that there are activities conducted at national level to revive our cultures and traditions, especially by teaching the youth and children. “We believe that a nation without culture is a lost nation. All these modern items we adore too much are produced by other nations in the world, in accordance with their cultures and traditions and that is why we are depleting our own cultures,” Iipumbu said.

He said totems are natural objects or animals that are believed to have spiritual significance and which are adopted as an emblem. He said people must know their totems and the norms attached to them.

Urban and rural development minister, Peya Mushelenga, who identifies with the omukwanangobe (cattle) totem said the Oshakati Town Council has gone the extra mile by choosing totems as a stepping stone towards restoring cultural identity in societies.

He commended the town council for opting to host the totem expo, where businesses also have the opportunity to showcase their products and services.

“These practices make people appreciative of their heritage. It provides them with a broader component of the people with whom they are related to by blood.

“The Oshakati Totem Expo further aims at closing the gap between cultural values and modern practices, as we know that most of our young people can easily get lost in cultural conglomeration, particularly those that are made up of imported cultures,” Mushelenga said.

He said he was informed that the number of exhibitors at this year's expo has increased from 190 to over 250.

Mushelenga said next year he would like to see more exhibitors from all over the country taking part, in order to stimulate economic growth and development.

The expo also shares cultural teachings through oshungi (storytelling sessions), where various cultural experts are invited to share their cultural knowledge.

ILENI NANDJATO?

ROOTS: Uukwambi chief

Nama will be own liberators - KooperGovt warned to include affected communities in genocide talks Using the first-ever Nama Cultural Festival as a platform, Kaptein Petrus Simon Moses Kooper has warned government that sidelining the Nama and Ovaherero from reparation negotiations with Germany will have serious consequences.

The Nama will be left with no other option but to be their own liberators, if the Namibian government does not include them and the Ovaherero in the ongoing genocide reparation talks with Germany.

Kaptein Petrus Simon Moses Kooper of the Kai//Khaun Nama clan of Hoachanas said this during his address at the first-ever Nama Cultural Festival held over the weekend in Keetmanshoop.

He said if the Nama and Herero are not allowed to negotiate with the German government, which is allegedly willing to include the affected tribes at the table, they will be left with no choice but to launch their own self-help reparation programme to satisfy their needs.

He said the consequences of the German genocide continue to define the very existence, poverty and marginalisation of the Nama and Ovaherero.

“Therefore nobody else but ourselves shall define the package for reparations for losses that our ancestors and we have suffered and continue to suffer,” Kooper said.

The festival was attended by over 3 000 Nama from Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, as well as government dignitaries. Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, deputy gender minister Lucia Witbooi, deputy sport minister Agnes Tjongarero and //Karas governor Lucia Basson were at the festivities.

North Cape provincial government member Sandra Beukes, who is also the former mayor of Pella in North Cape, as well as a delegation under the leadership Chief Charles Cooper of the !Kharakhoen Nama clan in Botswana and representatives of the Nama clan in Tsabong, also in the neighbouring country, were also in attendance.

Kooper said the destiny of future generations of the Nama will remain in their hands, as a people and as traditional leaders.

Kooper said the German government has an obligation under international protocols and conventions to deal directly with the Nama and Ovaherero.

“If for reasons unknown to us you can pay reparations for our losses through a proxy and on terms not agreed with us, know from this day on that you are doing that at your own risk.

“Because our demand for reparation will continue and will in no way be cancelled by dealings with an unauthorised agent. Sida di a, //oba da ni! (it is ours, we will die for it!),” Kooper said.

He further said the Nama and Ovaherero genocide groups have taken Germany to court in the United States and this was necessitated by the fact that they could not represent themselves at the genocide reparation negotiation table.

He argued the Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA) is focused on comprehensive reparations, in the interest of the dignity of the tribe, while those who want to represent them are “focused only on money”.

“Our demand for restorative justice for the genocide is not a privilege or enrichment, but a necessity,” he said.

Kooper stressed the United Nations Convention on Genocide highlighted the acts punishable under genocide as the “killing of members of a specific group; causing serious bodily and mental harm to members of the group, as well as deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”. Other measures intended to prevent births within the group and the forcible transfer of children.

“This is the basis on which the Nama and Ovaherero are joined. They suffered the same consequences during the German colonial era in this country,” Kooper said.

According to him the extent of losses suffered was a direct consequence of the intent and written policy perpetrated by imperialist Germany, to wipe them off the face of the earth.

FRED GOEIEMAN

Two charged with fraud of N$1.2m Two men briefly appeared in the Magistrate's Court in Windhoek for having defrauded the finance ministry using the name of the European Commission and a forged account number to process a payment of N$1 230 993.78.

The men, Jason Pickard, 32, and Joseph Iindongo, 33, who were arrested on Thursday, made a brief appearance before Magistrate Ndapewa Celma Amadhila yesterday morning.

Prosecutor Bernadine Bertolini, given the serious nature of the offences of fraud, forgery and uttering of forged instruments and theft, as well as the fact that the value involved is in excess of N$1.2 million, opposed bail.

“The investigation in the case is still in its infancy and the state fears that if granted bail the accused will interfere with ongoing investigations and/or state witnesses in the matter,” Bertolini argued.

It is alleged that the two, on 16 April 2018, at the finance ministry in Windhoek pretended to ministry employee Brumhilde !Gaes that account number 60003016918 held at Standard Bank, belonged to the European Commission and thereby induced her to process payment in the amount of N$1 230 993.78. The account allegedly belongs to Allu J Cash Loans.

They are charged with forging the banking details and documents of the European Commission.

The state further alleges they offered those forged documents to !Gaes, and the two are also charged with theft in connection with the incident.

Trevor Brockerhoff, appearing in defence of Pickard, noted the state's objection but told the court the amount mentioned is only a potential loss, adding that the actual loss is only N$30 000.

Amadhila postponed the matter to 5 June for a formal bail application and to allow Iindongo to secure the services of a lawyer.

FRED GOEIEMAN

Tricks for small-town tourism boom unveiledConference a well of knowledge The Tourism Networking Conference held yesterday, as a prelude to the annual Namibia Tourism Expo, was a great success and speakers shared their experience and knowledge with delegates. The CEO of the Official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape (WESGRO), Tim Harris, yesterday said small towns need to use what exists in their towns and market these as tourist attractions.

Presenting his topic of 'Small Town Tourism' at the Tourism Networking Conference that precedes the annual Namibia Tourism Expo, Harris further said that small towns need to sell their unique setting points to aspiring visitors. According to him, small towns can use social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter to market themselves. He said for them as a small entity, they find social media to be the right platform for this purpose.

He said being part of events is also another way that small towns can use to boost tourism. According to him, their agency uses very rigorous criteria to choose events that they sponsor and are part of.

He also encouraged small towns to create partnerships, making an example of 'From the Cape to Namibia'.

“Tourists don't see borders,” he said, adding that when tourists come from Cape Town to Windhoek, they are looking forward to experiencing attractions the region has to offer.

Harris also encouraged small towns to measure their success and monitor their progress. “We are very disciplined about reviewing whether our projects are working,” he said.

He said social media helps a small entity like theirs with a small budget to measure if a project is working or if it needs to be killed, using tools such as users' feedback.

Eenhana town council CEO Walde Ndevashiya, whose town is one of the small towns competing for the Small Town of the Year title at this year's expo, called on the tourism industry to support efforts by small towns.

He said very little support is given to these towns, adding that they invest in different products but little interest is shown in them.

“At the north we had the Omagongo Festival, we have the annual Totem Expo happening at Oshakati and in my own place we have the Omaludi Festival that celebrates the showing of cattle, but little interest is shown. I think the whole industry needs to come out and support the small towns,' he said.

Namibia's opportunity

In her official remarks yesterday, deputy tourism permanent secretary Seimy Christoph-Shidute said since Namibia's election to the United Nations Word Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) governing body late last year, the country attended the first council meeting last week and some priority areas adopted during the meeting were innovation and digital transformation.

Other areas include investment and entrepreneurship, education and employment, and safety and the environment.

She said although the government sits on the UNWTO Executive Council, there will be roundtables created and she called on the private sector to participate to ensure Namibia benefits from this opportunity before their four-year tenure ends in 2021.

Digital tourism

Lenny Kunga, Visa's senior director for merchant sales and solutions for sub-Saharan Africa, who spoke on instruction of expo partner FNB Namibia, said tourism is one sector that intensely deals with e-commerce.

He gave an example of a person in Russia or China who may want to visit Namibia and before they book their hotel in the country, they want an option to pay at home.

According to him, people want convenience and said Visa, through its system used by banks such as FNB Namibia, is providing that platform.

According to him, the inability to offer options such as paying online may hamper the benefits of tourism.

However, he said people want transactions security too, which he said Visa is constantly monitoring.

“From a security perspective, we always have constant monitoring,” he said.

In his welcoming remarks, Old Mutual Namibia's marketing executive Ndangi Katoma highlighted that the company is pleased to support the tourism networking conference that interrogates small things that matter, “to enable us as a country to enhance our tourism offering, from conservation, service delivery, small town tourism, responsible tourism to technology, because these all do matter”.

Eco Awards Namibia's Hazel Milne listed their basic criteria, which looks at issues such as management and conservation, among many others.

Ndama Nakashole

Kapika denies Baynes bribes

Hakuminue Kapika, who lost his Ovahimba chieftaincy in 2014, amid allegations he was bribed to make an about turn on the US$1.3 billion Baynes hydroelectric project, has vehemently denied he was paid or that he personally travelled to China.

One of the allegations levelled against Kapika was that he had visited China, presumably to be convinced of the benefits of hydroelectricity.

Kapika denied last week he had been taken to China and that he had received any bribes from prospective developers linked to the Baynes project. He did, however, acknowledge that some of his “followers” have been to China.

“We do not want to be left behind; we want development,” Kapika said, while calling on those in the traditional community who are against to the dam project to abandon their opposition.

“I do not know if there is anyone who will not want this project. I want it to go ahead,” Kapika said.

He also pegged all future developments in the Epupa constituency on the hydropower project.

“We must stand on our own feet; the dam must be built,” an aging Kapika said while on a short visit to Windhoek with a small delegation.

“It is a tool to attract our children back. They do not have to run away to look for development.”

Kapika was removed as head of the Kapika Royal House in 2014 because of his U-turn to support the controversial project.

He has contested his removal and in the same year denounced his then DTA membership to join Swapo.

Kapika acknowledged having had an altercation with Founding President Sam Nujoma, who initially mooted the idea of a hydroelectric dam at Epupa Falls.

He said in 2013 they agreed that such a dam could be built further downstream, in order not to deface the “artwork of God” at Epupa Falls, and the two men then reconciled.

He said the graveyards on the site where the dam is planned will be relocated to “proper burial sites”.

Kapika and his delegation, consisting of senior councillor Vulhama Tjintunda and councillor Murengua Tjiposa, also made an appeal for investment into the Epupa constituency and the Kunene Region.

Mortal threat

The picture they painted of the state of the region was a bleak one.

They said the region's people face a “mortal threat” to their livelihood and wellbeing.

Despite good rains across many parts of the country, the Kunene Region is still faced with severe drought conditions that have reportedly decimated livestock, due to poor grazing.

They said young lives go to waste due to the abuse of alcohol “and other unbecoming behaviour” - fuelled by poverty and a sense of hopelessness.

Kapika said the younger generation are mostly unemployed, due to a lack of development.

“We have literally become destitute in our own land. We feel neglected and forgotten because we cannot even afford to take our wives and children to clinics, because there are no health facilities for kilometres around us. The odd and distant clinics are not adequately stocked and are poorly managed,” Kapika said.

They also complained about poor road infrastructure and the poor telecommunications network, a lack of potable water in many areas and alarming rates of malnutrition.

They appealed for investors to invest in the region, particularly in small leatherwork businesses, gardening and irrigation projects, as well as skills training.

Similarly, they say they continue to suffer unsustainable losses year after year, because they do not have a market from which to sell their cattle. They said although schooling is free, the education infrastructure is dilapidated and there are no hostels to accommodate their children.

The group further complained that the Ovahimba is not benefitting from tourism.

“Foreign visitors pay to come here [the Kunene region] but the money remains in Windhoek and we are instead reduced to curiosities to be admired by foreigners for scraps of leftover food, pocket change and a photo opportunity,” they lamented.

They said the Okonguati settlement has the potential to become a town, but is instead is teetering on the brink of collapse because of a lack of political will.

Money crisis delays project

Former energy minister, Obeth Kandjoze, who has since been moved to economic planning, said late last year the Baynes project will commence as soon as funds are available.

He told Nampa the project had been delayed by the “recent economic crisis”.

“We are just waiting to recover financially so that the project can resume,” he said at the time.

The power project, which is strategically important to both Angola and Namibia for tackling power supply deficits, is expected to produce about 600 megawatts of electricity.

Like the Ruacana power station, the new dam will function as a mid-merit peaking station so that national bulk electricity supplier NamPower can avoid buying imported power during peak hours.

Ondonga rebellion deepensEight councillors desert traditional authority Only six of the traditional authority's 21 gazetted councillors remain.

The Ondonga community has been hit by a new rebellion within its ranks, with eight councillors deserting the traditional authority in support of the seven councillors dismissed by King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas in July last year.

The traditional authority consists of 21 gazetted councillors - 11 senior and 10 ordinary councillors - but according to secretary Nepando Amupanda the authority currently only has six gazetted councillors, after eight decided to desert it, as a sign of sympathy with their dismissed comrades.

Amupanda said he reported the eight councillors to King Elifas, after they decided to align themselves with the dismissed group.

“After the king dismissed seven of his gazetted councillors, we were left with 14 councillors. Eight of the 14 decided to desert the authority to sympathise with the others. They do not have a case with the king, however, they only disappeared from us,” Amupanda said.

He added he is not bothered by the deserters, as he is only taking care of the authority's offices, as he was duly appointed by the king to do.

“We are here representing the king, who appointed us. In fact we were not working together with those people; we are all new in the office. We are not a faction, but we are the main body recognised by the king,” he said.

The officially gazetted senior Ondonga councillors are Wibard Lindker for Uukwanambwa, Josef Akawa for Omulondo, Josef Asino for Oniiwe, Naemani Amalwa for Oniimwandi, Anneli Sakaria Mbumba and Kamati Mushaandja for Epale, Secilia Namene for Oshuushe, John Walenga for Ondangwa, Johannes Shondili Amutenya for Onalusheshete, Kamanya for Amuteya and Peter Kauluma for Ongula yaNetanga.

The ordinary councillors are Fillemon Nambili for Uukwanambwa, Kodhi Amoomo for Omulondo, Kleopas Iindongo for Oniiwe, Jeremia Nashandi for Oniimwandi, Tonata Ngulu for Epale, Neema Iindongo for Oshuushe, Tomas Nakanyala for Ondangwa, Kashona Malulu for Onalusheshete, Esra Naikaku for Amuteya and Petrina Armas for Ongula yaNetanga.

In July last year King Elifas expelled traditional authority chairperson Peter Kauluma and secretary Asino, Walenga, Kamanya, Malulu, Ngulu and Nambili.

Businessmen Erastus Mvula and Paavo Amweele replaced Walenga as the senior headmen responsible for the Ondangwa district, while Rainhold Nepolo was named to replace Asino in the Oniiwe district.

Naeman Kambala took over from Kamanya in the Amuteya district, while Amupanda took over from Peter Kauluma in the Ongula yaNetanga district. The replacements are not yet gazetted and have not assumed any authority roles.

According to Amupanda, only Amalwa, Amutenya, Akawa, Namene, Iindongo and Kodhi remain with the traditional authority, after the others deserted it.

The infighting within the traditional authority is linked to the succession battle for the Ondonga kingdom. The dismissed councillors are backing Shuumbwa Nangolo, who was nominated by the Ondonga king as his heir apparent in September 2012.

It emerged earlier this week that justice minister Sacky Shanghala has suspended the Ondonga Traditional Authority Community Court (OTACC) and is probing its affairs.

He has also ordered Amupanda to give the dismissed councillors access to community court property. The dismissed councillors are currently operating from Onethindi as OTACC justices and assessors.

This comes after a meeting Shanghala was supposed to have held with two Ondonga factions ended up only being attended by one faction, after a grouping led by Amupanda was informed the meeting would take place last Thursday night.

It was, however, held in the morning.

After the meeting Shanghala went to the traditional authority offices at Oluno, where he met with Amupanda.

After his visit, Shanghala wrote a letter on the same day informing the two factions that the community court operations have been suspended and the ministry is investigating its affairs.

Shanghala further stressed that due to Ondonga infighting the community is confused and the workload at the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court has increased as a result of the cessation of activities by the OTACC.

He said if the traditional authority is no longer interested in the community court, then he is prepared to publish a notice in the Government Gazette revoking its existence.

ILENI NANDJATO

Aggrieved LHU workers up in armsWant to reopen severance negotiations Retrenched workers at Langer Heinrich Uranium claim that the negotiation of severance packages was not handled correctly.

Employees of the Langer Heinrich Uranium (LHU) mine have expressed dissatisfaction with how negotiations were handled when the majority of them were laid off recently when the mine was mothballed.

The placard-carrying employees marched from the Mondesa taxi rank to the LHU head office in the industrial area of Swakopmund. The local branch chairman of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN), Paulus Iipumbu, handed over a petition listing their grievances to the mine management.

“The Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine branch executive committee of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia, duly mandated to negotiate on behalf of the majority of those employed at your establishment, herewith registers its disappointment and dissatisfaction with the manner in which the company has approached this really serious and equally sensitive issue of care and maintenance decision. Despite having an active recognition and procedural agreement the company instead elected to address a memo to the union and has not necessarily attempted to engage the union prior to this decision.

“The company is negotiating in bad faith, it is therefore that we demand that the company's negotiation team be changed to individuals that conduct themselves ethically and have a bilateral interest at heart,” the petition read.

“Prior to this decision of mine closure, several rumours were circulating around the mine of possible retrenchments or imminent closure of the mine and the branch executive committee did request in writing to discuss this matter during late last year and it was you, Michael Introna (the managing director), during your engagements with the workers who promised that job security was guaranteed at LHU.

This had thus created the expectation of job security.

“Today we stand here, Michael Introna, all 317 of us joined by our wives, children, mothers and fathers. Address us. We have acquired cars, houses and study loans for children,” said Iipumbu.

The union demanded that the company's negotiating team be changed to accommodate individuals “who have the interest of the workers at heart”. It wanted to resume negotiations on the company's offer of severance payment.

Managing director Michael Introna received the petition and promised to respond as soon as possible.

ADOLF KAURE

Scramble for fishing rights starts

The floodgates have opened after the long-anticipated announcement of new fishing rights up for grabs and all Namibians, particularly the formerly disadvantaged, are encouraged to apply.

The minister of fisheries and marine resources, Bernhard Esau, made the announcement yesterday after the framework for the new fishing rights was published in the Government Gazette last Thursday.

Esau encouraged all Namibians, particularly the formerly disadvantaged, to apply for 96 new fishing rights in nine fisheries sectors. Some of the old 20-year rights expired last year while others lapse this year or next year.

The new rights are for hake, horse mackerel, monk, red crab, rock lobster, line fish, large pelagic, mullet and Cape fur seals. The deadline for applications is 31 July.

The formerly disadvantaged singled out by Esau are women, young people, people living with disabilities, liberation war veterans, and people living in economically marginalised communities.

The old rights holders are eligible to reapply, whether or not they have received letters from the ministry on the matter. Esau said this invitation would again be extended next year.

Fishing rights previously were issued in 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and in 2012.

All applicants must be a shareholding privately held company – a (Pty) Ltd.

Section 21 companies (or non-profit companies) or natural persons may be incorporated as shareholders in the (Pty) Ltd companies.

All shareholders must be issued with share certificates and there must be a shareholders' agreement accompanying applications.

Esau said the requirement that applicants must be privately held companies was aimed at addressing the scenario where vulnerable communities and individuals had in the past been used by some Section 21 companies, close corporations (CCs) or trusts as fronts for favourable consideration of applications.

He said once these companies had received their fishing rights, they often excluded such vulnerable communities and individuals from dividend sharing.

Section 21 companies, CCs or trusts are not obligated to issue share certificates.

“If you include a trust in your shareholding structure, it should be operated by trustees who are beneficiaries themselves, democratically elected by beneficiaries,” Esau said.

He advised applicant companies to set up workers' trusts operated by trustees who are workers and are democratically elected by workers.

Applications by natural persons who are currently shareholders in rights not yet expired by 2019 have been purposefully excluded so that other Namibians who do not have fishing rights can have the opportunity to obtain such rights.

“If you have a fishing right do not apply for a new one, otherwise your application will automatically be disqualified,” Esau warned.

Companies listed on any stock exchange are also not eligible to apply under the 24 May government notice. Such companies may also not be shareholders in any of the applicants. This is to determine whether applicants are Namibians or not.

“If you already held a fishing right before, which has expired or is about to expire in 2018 and 2019, you are eligible to apply again and compete with all other Namibians for a fishing right,” Esau reiterated.

He said in these cases, companies should see if they have fulfilled the conditions of their existing or expired rights, as these will be key considerations in the evaluation of applications.

He said all applicants – irrespective of experience in the fishing sector – will be considered equally to protect jobs and investments, and to give opportunities to newcomers serious about the development of the sector.

Applications

All applicants must fill in nine forms and include bankable business plans.

All those wishing to apply will be trained in all 14 regions by ministerial officials on how to apply. Application forms will be available in all regions.

'Rights application officials' – similar to returning officers in the election process – in regional council offices will receive the applications and issue attestations to all applicants.

All applicants – and eventual successful applicants – will be published on the internet.

CATHERINE SASMAN

Crisis control at HoseaEmergency measures must be taken An interim plan may ask for the emergency provision in the Procurement Act to be activated, so urgent are the upgrades at the airport.

Should urgent measures to deal with the ongoing passenger congestion at Hosea Kutako International Airport not be implemented, the dilapidated runway at Eros Airport will also not be upgraded.

An extensive plan to temporarily deal with the congestion at Hosea Kutako will cost about N$230 million and involve extensions at the current airport terminal. This will include the check-in hall, security screening points, the arrival hall and luggage-handling areas.

However, these measures will only be viable for five years after which a new airport terminal will need to be constructed, including a runway and a taxiway.

This will cost between N$4 and N$5 billion.

Albertus Aochamub, acting CEO of the Namibia Airports Company (NAC), yesterday said that interim measures aimed at eliminating the congestion at Hosea Kutako would be good for only five years.

“Therefore, the planning of a completely new airport needs to start and it needs to be decided whether a new runway is needed.”

He explained that the current terminal building, which was constructed in 1985 to handle 250 000 passengers per year, now handles about a million passengers a year.

According to him passenger volumes at the airport will double within the next ten years and that will mean more pressure on the facilities, with new airlines that are expected to fly to Namibia within the next couple of years.

A study was recently commissioned by the World Bank with regard to the expansion of Hosea Kutako Airport.

This also dealt with the issue of the congestion at the airport and found that it would cost about N$230 million to have a compliant airport for the next five years.

To construct a bigger airport terminal and a runway would cost between N$4 and N$5 billion, said Aochamub.

With regard to the funding of a new airport, several options are being investigated, including a public-private partnership.

Aochamub said the company had advertised for a consultant on eliminating the airport congestion and the bids would close on 22 June. This consultant will develop a roadmap for the interim measures and design a final document for the contractor.

A contractor may in all likelihood be appointed by September next year.

Aochamub said the Procurement Act makes provision for emergency work if lives are at risk. Cabinet has to decide whether this provision can be invoked.

“As we speak we are not in compliance with international best practices and the airport is a serious frustration to passengers,” he said.

“We are counting on the emergency provision in the Procurement Act being granted because that would allow us to work faster. If it is not granted, work would be slower and we would have to follow the steps of the Procurement Act.

“From a safety perspective we are not completely compliant. We have put in temporary measures, but there are lots of risks involved. The congestion at the airport has a bearing on the airport and its licence and international best practices.”

He emphasised that the interim measures to eliminate congestion at Hosea were also essential for Windhoek's Eros Airport.

“Eros is also not compliant and we have significant issues there.”

Regarding concerns about the mixing of general aviation and international passengers at Hosea, he said the line minister had suggested that all domestic passengers should be moved to Eros, but this was not a solution as it would compound the problem.

Although money has been made available in the budget for upgrading the runway at Eros Airport, Aochamub said this could not be done before Hosea was expanded and made compliant.

He explained that if the runway at Eros Airport was upgraded domestic flights landing there would have to be moved to Hosea Kutako and that would put even further pressure on the international airport.

“We have to fix Hosea Kutako first, move all domestic flights there and then fix the Eros runway. We have no other choice.”

With regard to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit that will be conducted at Hosea in November, Aochamub said the organisation completed a mock audit about two weeks ago and several areas were indicated where improvements should be made.

“If improved we will be in good shape.”

One of the issues raised were that domestic and international passengers are mingling at the airport.

Aochamub explained that passengers on domestic flights from hunting lodges, who have not been screened and cleared, come into contact with “sterile” international passengers.

He said the passengers from domestic flights could be carrying firearms or wildlife products and hand them over to passengers on international flights.

It was further explained that according to international requirements passengers should reach and clear the terminal within 45 minutes of disembarking. At Hosea it currently exceeds two hours.

Expansion plans include 12 extra check-in points in the departures section, for a total of 26. Eight security control positions will be added to the existing two, and three extra passport control positions will be added to bring the total to seven.

Twenty passport control positions will be added at arrivals, for a total of 30. One luggage claim section will be added and two control positions will also be added.

ELLANIE SMIT

State finally throws book at Valombola

The state is fighting tooth and nail to keep commissioner for refugees Likius Valombola off the streets, as it throws the book at him in his bail application following a road rage incident in which he allegedly shot and killed a student leader.

Valombola, the state is arguing in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court, is a flight risk and may abscond if granted bail.

It was also argued the seriousness of the crime is a factor the court should seriously take into account.

Investigating officer Sergeant Moses Shivolo testified during cross-examination by defence attorney Sisa Namandje that he is objecting to bail on the grounds that Valombola is a flight risk.

“As the Namibia's commissioner of refugees he has contacts with refugees and he might abscond,” Shivolo said.

Shivolo had no answer when Namandje put to him that Valombola was in travelling in the Kunene and Omusati regions when the police called him to come back to Windhoek and he had done so, which was not the actions of someone who wants to run away.

Shivolo also conceded he had initially testified he was objecting to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offence.

Valombola is alleged to have killed 27-year-old Helao Ndjamba - a former Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) national executive committee member - on May 19 in Katutura.

The 53-year-old home affairs official was re-arrested in Opuwo on 23 May after he was suspiciously released on a warning a few hours after his initial arrest, allegedly without appearing before a magistrate.

Ndjamba was shot twice in the forehead.

He died on Monday after spending days on life support at the Katutura hospital intensive care unit (ICU).

There has been a massive public outcry in the aftermath of the incident, with members of the public accusing the police of favouritism towards Valombola.

He was then re-arrested and is appearing before a packed courtroom.

The state alleges that Valombola had been aggressive prior to the shooting and had exited his car to confront Ndjamba with a gun in his hand.

It is further alleged that Valombola would not have been arrested if a picture of his car had not been taken at the scene, as he had sped away to avoid capture.

Valombola claims that at the time of the incident, a sedan had blocked his family's path as they drove in Ombili. His son was driving.

An altercation ensued and he claims to have fired warning shots because he feared for his life, but cannot recall whether the three men he fired on were armed.

He claims further he had no idea he shot someone.

Magistrate Antonious Shapumba will rule on the bail application tomorrow.

Arrie Husselman is the prosecutor, while Ruth Herunga is representing Ndjamba's family.

FRED GOEIEMAN