Namibian Sun

Salvation through agricultureLessons for Namibia Low agricultural productivity has consistently been cited as one of the main challenges in Namibia’s agriculture sector. Our interventions have focused more on the role of agriculture than the role of social protection - Dr Elina Amadhila, lecturer, Unam

NDAMA NAKASHOLE

Because of negative issues such as low rainfall, poor households often opt for low-risk livelihood strategies that lead to low returns.

University of Namibia lecturer Elina Amadhila said at a public lecture on Tuesday evening that Namibia’s agriculture sector needs to become more profitable.

The lecture, titled ‘Agricultural Finance Interventions as Instruments for Social Protection: A Comparative Assessment of Developing Economies’, was organised by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and funded by the Forum for Experts on Social Protection (FESP).

Amadhila, a development finance PhD holder, said that despite Agribank and the agriculture ministry helping the sector financially, issues such as drought, low output price and lack of tractors continue to hamper the sector.

According to Amadhila, the transformative function of social protection is missing in Namibian agriculture, as there is poor investment in human development.

“Our interventions have focused more on the role of agriculture than the role of social protection,” she said.

Because of that, there is a need to adopt innovative lending techniques that would benefit financial institutions and farmers, she said.

She said Namibia could learn a lot from Brazil and Indonesia. Both are developing countries that have been registering similar trends in the general economy as well as agricultural employment between 2005 and 2013.

Brazilian lesson

According to Amadhila, market failures and chronic rural poverty in Brazil have prompted government intervention in domestic food markets to connect smaller markets to bigger productions.

The Brazilian government also provided unsubsidised loans at market interest rates against a note issued by the farmers. This, according to her, is something that Namibia too can embrace.

This product offering commits farmers to delivering a specified amount of product, or an equivalent payment, on a future date to a buyer.

“With this method of payment, farmers are more likely to invest, improve their technology, or seek out new buyers to deliver their products to,” she said.

In 2004, Brazil started a federal crop-insurance programme.

“The government has always intended that the environmental risks to crops should not lead to large-scale credit default by farmers,” she said, adding that the Brazilian government supports farmers through economic subsidies for the purchase of agricultural insurance policies. This, she said, is all aimed at promoting social protection.

Since Namibia’s lending expertise is weak, Namibia can learn from Brazil in that sector, she said.

Asian lecture

Amadhila added that unlike Namibia, Indonesia invested heavily in irrigation and actions were taken such as improving agriculture infrastructure and expanding planting areas.

“A guaranteed price for rice producers in Indonesia stimulates farmers’ output as it leads to a protected farming sector and securing of farmers’ incomes,” she said.

Something else that Namibia can learn from Indonesia is agricultural insurance, for which the Indonesian government allocates billions of US dollars.

Indonesia also passed a Farmers Protection and Empowerment Act, which supports its developing agriculture sector.

“Indonesia’s Bank Rakyat Indonesia, which focuses on small-scale and microfinance-style borrowing, provides a good example to show that rural finance can be profitable when it does not rely on subsidies, as long as the government intervention is directed towards improving the legal and regulatory framework, adopting appropriate governance arrangements and having management principles and operating procedure for interventions that reflect a new and more promising approach to rural finance,” Amadhila said.

FES Namibia head Heiner Naumann said at the same event that social protection interventions could reduce risks and might encourage and enable farmers to enter into new production patterns.

“Maybe there are chances to enlarge production patterns in the agricultural areas by innovative approaches. Why should Namibian farmers not begin to harvest energy? The success story of renewable energies should not stop at the farm gates,” he said.

Namibia's shameForgotten in their hopelessness At Omundaungilo, a San community has become a symbol of the fact that not everyone is remembered in the Namibian house.

About 18 months after Namibian Sun first lifted the veil on the living conditions of a forgotten San community in Ohangwena, their hopeless and impoverish plight remains unchanged.

People as old as 103 have simply given up and lie motionless under makeshift shelters. When Namibian Sun visited the community this week, the same conditions that had been exposed in February 2017 were still prevalent, including most residents wearing the same dirty, worn clothing and suffering the same indignities.

This is despite a promised high-level intervention by the office of the vice-president, which does not seem to have materialised.

Following the February 2017 article on the living conditions of about 900 San people at Omundaungilo, which included the spotlight being shone on the destitute elderly of Oshipala village, a deputy director responsible for marginalised communities, Gerson Kamatuka, described the conditions as “unacceptable”.

Most of the elderly are either blind or suffering from an assortment of chronic illnesses. Many of the residents, including children, do not receive any form of government grant and continue to suffer in total isolation from the rest of the so-called Namibian house.

“We do not see officials here. We are only used to seeing those people who bring us drought-relief food. Sometimes they take their time and they find us starving here,” says Nashikoto Hamukanda, whose identity document indicates that she is 103 years old.

A few metres from her lies the helpless and bedridden Namatembu Haixuxua, who spends her days and nights curled up under a shelter exposed to the elements. Haixuxua is believed to be much older than her neighbour.

Some of the elderly residents have died since Namibian Sun's last visit. Among them was Shaambeni Mushati, who was also bedridden and chronically ill.

During a visit last year by a high-level government delegation, which included Ohangwena governor Usko Nghaamwa, the authorities had promised to appoint a regional planner to conduct several follow-ups on the plight of the San community.

“I promise you that the time will come when Omundaungilo will be a better place,” Kamatuka promised at the time.

When approached for comment this week, he said: “My heart is broken. I can tell you in Namibia we are facing many challenges.”

Rusia Hamukanda (27), who lives with disabilities, says the last time the officials visited his village was in February last year. “We are just here suffering and nobody is caring for us, not even the councillor. Sometimes we go for days without eating,” he said.

Ikanda declined to comment and referred Namibian Sun to Kamatuka. Kamatuka referred Namibian Sun to the regional development planner, Tomas Puleinge, who did not provide comment at the time of going to print yesterday.

Last year the deputy minister responsible for marginalised communities, Royal /Ui/o/oo, was personally mandated to look into the living conditions by then vice-president Nickey Iyambo.

The deputy minister could not be part of the high-level visit because of an urgent meeting in Windhoek.

However, Kamatuka, Nghaamwa, regional councillor for Omundaungilo Festus Ikanda and several regional council officials, accompanied by journalists, went ahead with the visit.

Nghaamwa told Kamatuka that the San needed to be educated in order to be integrated into modern society. He said some were being exploited by people who offered them employment. It was also decided at the time that a kindergarten would be established at Omundaungilo, but this has not materialised.

ILENI NANDJATO

Over 1 600 fines issued in 20 days

A N$3.5 million road-safety campaign on two of Namibia's deadliest routes has resulted in more than 1 600 fines totalling nearly N$1.6 million being issued.

More than 60 traffic officers were assigned to the campaign on the B1 and B2 national roads.

The police and partners involved in the operation are confident it has made a substantial dent in traffic violations so far.

They hope it will strengthen road-safety awareness and significantly reduce accidents.

“So far the operation is going very, very well. Lawlessness has been reduced, people who ignore traffic regulations are now fewer,” the head of the Nampol traffic unit, Deputy Commissioner Amalia Gawanas, told Namibian Sun this week.

She said 64 Namibian Police traffic officers, in addition to nearly a dozen officers from local authorities and five from the Roads Authority (RA), have been deployed between Noordoewer and Oshikango on the B1 road, and from Okahandja to Walvis Bay on the B2, since 1 August.

To date, 1 687 summonses totalling about N$1.5 million have been issued and 9 619 drivers have been screened for alcohol.

In total 48 arrests were made on the spot of which 33 were for driving under the influence of alcohol. The police also stopped more than 2 100 taxis of which 90 of their drivers tested positive for alcohol.

However, not all of them were over the legal limit.

She said those who tested positive but were still under the limit were given strict instructions not to drink at all when driving and were given time to sober ups before continuing their journey.

In total, 26 people have been arrested for offences ranging from falsified licence discs to inconsiderate driving.

WORRISOME

Road-safety campaigns seem to have had some success. The latest statistics released by the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund show that crashes have dropped by 12%, injuries by 20% and fatalities by 31% compared to the same period last year.

Between January and 19 August this year, 342 people were killed and 3 663 injured in 2 292 car accidents.

Over the same period in 2017, 453 people died and 4 257 were injured in 2 434 crashes.

Mona-Liza Garises of the MVA fund says the high annual death toll remains worrisome and requires drastic measures.

With an average 700 deaths each year, Namibia's roads are among the top 10 most dangerous in the world.

Gawanas says the current campaign can be traced back to a 2016 cabinet instruction to get the carnage under control.

Despite an injection of N$3.5 million from the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), the campaign will end on 6 September because of money constraints, Gawanas says.

She urges all Namibians to get on board to help the authorities tackle lawlessness on the roads.

“When you receive a motor vehicle licence to drive, you have a big responsibility to other road users. During this campaign those people on the roads are doing their utmost. But motorists should be aware that it's not just about police visibility. It should be each and everyone's responsibility to make our roads safe,” she says.

“We are doing our utmost to curb this situation. However, we do need other stakeholders to come on board, so that we can join hands to fight the road carnage.”

Gawanas says the police are focusing not only on catching traffic offenders, but also on education.

Led by Nampol, the joint task force includes the NRSC, the MVA Fund, the Roads Authority, the Private Sector Road Safety Forum, municipal traffic departments in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Henties Bay, Keetmanshoop and Otjiwarongo, and the works and transport ministry.

JANA-MARI SMITH

STOP THE CARNAGE: Eight people, including three children, were burnt beyond recognition in a car between Otavi and Otjiwarongo this month. PHOTO: NAMPA

Recession, Zambia hurt Capricorn’s financials

Capricorn Group’s operating profit for the year ended June 2018 is 2% less compared to its previous financial year.
Results released on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) this afternoon show the group made a profit after tax of about N$934.4 million, 1.8% more than its 2017 book-year.
A dividend of 60c per ordinary share was declared, 8c less than the previous financial year.
Read the full report tomorrow in Market Watch.

Chinese government awards scholarships to 39 Namibians

Thirty-nine Namibians have been awarded scholarships by the Chinese government to study in China.
Announcing the awarding of the bursaries today China’s Ambassador to Namibia, Zhang Yiming said this is not the first group of students to benefit from these scholarships.
“Since 2016, the Chinese government has provided short-term training opportunities for Namibia and nearly 40 government-sponsored scholarships every year,” Zhang added, noting that the two countries’ cooperation has led to fruitful achievements.
The ambassador urged the students to learn hard and perform well as promoters of China-Namibia cooperation.
“You were born in Africa, will study in China and you have the unique advantage of mastering eastern and western cultures. Therefore, you have the responsibility to play pioneering roles in promoting the understanding of our people and enhancing the friendship of our two countries,” he said.
Director of the Chinese Embassy’s Political Section, Feng Deheng, told Nampa the beneficiaries’ fields of study include engineering, medical science, international trade and economy and telecommunication.
Also speaking to this news agency was the chairperson of the Namibia China Alumni Association, Rodney Sikopo, who expressed concern about Namibians not making use of opportunities available in terms of international scholarships.
“People making use of such opportunities are mostly from the Khomas region and the northern regions,” he said, adding that people from regions such as Kunene, Hardap, //Karas and Otjozondjupa are not applying.
He urged the relevant education authorities to sensitise local communities about the opportunity, which he said will ultimately benefit the country.
The beneficiaries are expected to leave for China at the beginning of September.
NAMPA

Zimbabwe grabs Cossasa spoils

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Zimbabwe are the overall winners of the 2018 Confederation of School Sport Associations of Southern Africa (Cossasa) Ball Games, which was held in Windhoek.

Zimbabwe collected 11 gold, one silver and one bronze, scooping a total of 13 medals. Hosts Namibia came second with seven gold, 12 silver and one bronze medal (a total of 20 medals), followed by Lesotho with one silver and one bronze.

Namibia Schools Sports Union (NSSU) national coordinator, Solly Duiker, said the event was a great success, considering they did not have enough funds.

During the welcoming ceremony on Thursday, Cossasa president Johnson Madhuku said organisers and officials should be exemplary examples to the youth.

He urged officials to be role models in their interactions and during their officiating duties.

“Some of these teams travelled over 3 000 kilometres for this competition and without these young athletes this competition will not be possible,” he said.

Windhoek mayor Muzee Kazapua said in a message delivered on his behalf that the City has prioritised youth development as one of the focus areas in its transformation strategic plan of 2017 to 2022.

“I would like everyone involved in youth development to continue with this programme that empowers our youth to ensure a better tomorrow for our countries and the world at large,” he said.

The games took place on Friday and Saturday at various venues for football, basketball, netball, hockey, volleyball, cricket, tennis and rugby.

Namibia hosted Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and eSwatini. –Additional info by info Nampa

Feast of goals at Skorpion Zinc Cup

NFA

Otjozondjupa’s Ulpianus Amseb was leading the top-scorer stakes ahead of the final games at the 2018 Skorpion Zinc Under-17 Cup, which took place at the Omulunga Stadium in Grootfontein over the long weekend.

Before going to print, //Karas advanced to the final and were waiting for the match between Erongo and Omaheke to see who they would face.

Amseb scored four goals and was spurred on by a ferocious home crowd that saw Otjozondjupa win their opening three games.

//Karas duo Dandre Both and Djorkaef Stein, as well as Omaheke’s Simon Elago were on three goals each ahead of the climax of the competition.

Armando Isaacks from //Karas scored two goals to help his side become the first to reach the semifinals after day two, while Omusati’s Erastus Ambambi two goals were not enough to keep the defending champions in the competition.

Also on two goals were Norbert Tjizao from Oshikoto, Shiyamba Shiyamba from Kavango East and Owen Damaseb from Khomas.

A total of 20 goals were scored in the eight matches played on Friday. The teams scored 45 goals on two day.

Welwitschias withdraw No money to support visiting Currie Cup teams The Welwitschias withdrew from South Africa’s Currie Cup first division late on Friday evening.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

The Welwitschias, who were due to play the Down Touch Griffons on Saturday at the Hage Geingob Stadium in their opening Currie Cup first division match, have withdrawn from the competition.

The home side had agreed to pay for the travelling expenses of South African sides, in line with common rugby practices, but could no longer afford to do that, prompting their decision to withdraw.

According to TimesLIVE, South Africa’s rugby unions are feeling the financial pinch and cannot afford to play games in Windhoek at their own expense. The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) claimed it had sourced funds and had an estimated N$900 000 budget for the Welwitschias’ three home Currie Cup games.

NRU chief executive Mervyn Green said global governing body, World Rugby, would assist financially‚ but this funding has clearly since fallen through the mat.

On Friday the NRU did an about-turn and told SA Rugby they are pulling out of the tournament.

“It’s unfortunate that the Namibian team had to withdraw from the Currie Cup first division‚ but our decision was that they have to pay for teams to travel to Windhoek for their home games‚ which they agreed to do‚” SA Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux said.

“We’ve since been informed that they can’t do that anymore and that the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias will withdraw from the competition‚ which means that all remaining teams will now have a bye on the weekend where they were scheduled to play the Namibians.”

TimesLIVE also reported that SA Rugby had declared huge financial losses in their last two annual audits and cannot continue to play the role of benefactor to the entire region and continent, when their own unions are all in varying degrees of financial strife.

The news website also reported that for years SA Rugby has funded matches in Namibia‚ as well the Welwitschias’ trips to the neighbouring country. It has also assisted the continental body‚ Rugby Africa.

But when South Africa was in line to be named the preferred bidder for the 2023 Rugby World Cup‚ Rugby Africa gave its vote to France‚ so there is understandable aggravation in terms of a cash-strapped SA Rugby continuing to fund rugby in the region.

Rugby lover Paul Smith said that it was unfortunate that the Griffons match could not take place and that Namibia had to withdraw from the tournament at a time the players need to take advantage of every competition to remain fit.

Eight teams were set to compete in the Currie Cup first division tournament, which included the Welwitschias.

The Namibians were hoping to improve on their past performances.

The Griffons were looking to build on their performances last season, which saw them winning the competition. -Additional reporting by TimesLIVE

Prominent lawyer Chris Brandt commits suicide

Prominent Windhoek lawyer Chris Brandt this morning shot himself at his home. According to eyewitness reports, Brandt shot himself at the gate of his home in Luxury Hill. A neighbour heard the gunshot and was the one who alerted the security company G4S who in turn, called the police. The police are currently still on the scene.
Brandt was due to appear in the High Court this morning to defend an application by the Law Society for his temporary suspension as a legal practitioner, pending disciplinary procedures.
In papers before the court, the Law Society alleges that Brandt admitted to making "unauthorised transfers from his trust account to his business account since January 2018 to cover salaries and overhead expenses."
The police investigation continues.
Read the full report in tomorrow's Namibian Sun.

Namene Helmich

Body found that of Cheryl, 9

Deputy Commissioner Abner Agas, the crime investigations coordinator for the Khomas Region, has just confirmed that the mutilated body found near the Shanghai mini circle near Khomasdal, is indeed that of Cheryl Avihe Ujaha, 9, who went missing over the long weekend. Agas, who briefed media at the scene over the lunch hour, further confirmed that some of the child's body parts could not be found and further, that the body was partially boiled. No marked decomposition had taken place, he added.
Ujaha's family is on the scene, which is grim and sombre.
Investigations continue.

Ogone Tlhage

Erongo to host Debmarine netball champs

The second edition of the Debmarine Namibia Senior Regional Netball Championships will take place in Erongo at the Tamariskia sports field in Swakopmund this coming Friday and Saturday.

The tournament, sponsored by Debmarine Namibia, was inaugurated last year in Windhoek, where the Khomas Region triumphed with a 41-29 scoreline against Erongo.

Netball Namibia vice-president, Rebekka /Goagoses, said this year's event will take place in Swakopmund, as they want to show that netball is not only played in Khomas.

“We are excited, along with the regional executive of hosts Erongo, under the leadership of Juanitha Witbeen. Swakopmund, in particular the Tamariskia sports field, will be bursting at the seams with exciting netball from all 14 regions this coming weekend,” she said.

/Goagoses, who is also responsible for marketing, sponsorship, public relations and competitions at Netball Namibia, said no national team players will be called up to represent their regions at the tournament.

“An opportunity has been created and we are still pleading with the regions to look at raw talent - skills which need to be nurtured for the future.

“We are not calling up players who are already in the national team structures; we want to give opportunities to other players to be discovered during these games,” said

/Goagoses.

She said men's netball teams will also be in action in a curtain-raiser match.

The winners of the championships will walk away with N$30 000 and gold medals. The runners-up will take home N$15 000 and silver medals, while third-place finishers will receive N$9 000 and bronze medals.

“Last year's winners, Khomas, are ready, while last year's runners-up, Erongo, will believe they can lift the trophy this time around. They are relying on their home support and believe they have what it takes to take the trophy away from the defending champions,” /Goagoses added.

Friday's games are as follows:

Erongo vs Hardap at 18:30

Khomas vs Omaheke at 19:15

Saturday's games will be played on a round-robin basis.

POOL A: Omusati, Khomas, Erongo, Ohangwena, Hardap, Kavango East and Omaheke

Pool B: Kavango West, //Karas, Oshana, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, Kunene, Oshikoto and Kavango West.

-Additional info by own reporter

NAMPA

//Karas crowned Skorpion kingsOmaheke bends the knee in cup final There were thrills and spills galore during the Skorpion Zinc U-17 Cup that concluded on Monday.

The //Karas Region defeated Omaheke 3-1 on penalties to win the fifth edition of the Skorpion Zinc Under-17 Cup at the Omulunga Stadium in Grootfontein on Monday afternoon.

The teams played to a goalless draw during normal time, as both regional teams failed to capitalise on their chances.

During the subsequent penalty shootout, Mekere Nganjone was the only Omaheke player to convert his spot-kick, while Armando Isaacks, Marcel Maans and Ibrahim Appolus scored for //Karas.

Otjozondjupa beat Erongo 1-0 in the third/fourth-place playoff to take bronze.

Ulpianus Ameb scored the only goal of the match to take his tournament tally to eight, which was good enough to scoop the golden boot award and N$3 000.

Kavango West received the tournament's fair play award, taking home N$2 000.

Anton Kanyetu was named the match official of the tournament and also took home N$2 000.

Omaheke's Vejora Katjatenja walked away with the best goalkeeper award and pocketed N$3 000.

The most valuable player of the tournament was Dandre from

//Karas, who walked away with N$4 000.

The Otjozondjupa and Erongo regions received N$7 000 each for finishing third and fourth respectively, while Omaheke received N$15 000 as the tournament runners-up.

//Karas received N$25 000, along with their gold medals.

The four-day tournament saw 56 goals being scored in 30 games, which thrilled those in attendance at the Omulunga Stadium in Grootfontein.

“We are happy with the fact that the tournament was a success and all thanks to the hosts for organising such a great tournament.

“The tournament brought plenty of entertainment and I also have to laud Skorpion Zinc for making all this possible,” Namibia Football Association (NFA) president Frans Mbidi said.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Mourinho calls for respectSpurs pile more misery on Man Utd The response by the fans, and Mourinho, came after a dominant first 45 minutes from the hosts before Spurs took control with two goals in two minutes just after the break.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho called for respect after suffering the heaviest home defeat of his career as Harry Kane and a Lucas Moura double moved Tottenham joint top of the Premier League with 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

A second consecutive defeat piles even more pressure on the Portuguese coach as United now trail Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea by six points and stand four adrift of champions Manchester City just three games into the new campaign.

The odds on Mourinho losing his job have been slashed in recent weeks as on top of adverse results, he has clashed with the club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward over a lack of signings.

However, he rallied on his critics by citing his record of winning the Premier League three times over two spells at Chelsea.

“I won more Premierships alone than the other 19 managers together. Three for me, two for them. Respect!” a fiery Mourinho raged at reporters on exiting his post-match press conference.

Mourinho stood in front of Old Trafford's Stretford End at the end of the game to applaud the home fans, who didn't boo his side at full-time despite the result.

“Today I had the proof the best judges are the supporters,” added Mourinho.

United, though, were left to rue a series of missed chances by Romelu Lukaku, particularly when the Belgian fired wide with an open goal on 15 minutes.

Tottenham hadn't even scored in losing on their four previous trips to Old Trafford under Mauricio Pochettino.

Yet, the Argentine's half-time words of wisdom made a huge difference as Spurs came out a different side after the break.

David de Gea had already denied Kane and Dele Alli had seen a goal-bound effort deflected wide by the time Kane rose highest from Kieran Tripper's corner to loop a header into the net.

Hugo Lloris kept his place in the Spurs goal and retained the captain's armband despite being arrested for drunken driving in the early hours of Friday.

And Pochettino's faith in his skipper was rewarded when Lloris denied Lukaku again with a brilliant save to keep Spurs in front.

A minute later, they doubled their advantage when Christian Eriksen's cross was swept home by Lucas.

“It is a massive victory for us and I am very proud of the performance,” said Pochettino. “It is difficult to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford. They were better in the first half but we dominated from then on.”

Mourinho encroached onto the pitch to bellow encouragement to his charges. But the damage had already been done and the final reckoning could have been even more embarrassing for the hosts.

Lindelof, on for the injured Jones, was handed a reprieve when De Gea denied Alli after a short back pass by the Swede before Kane headed wide when unmarked from another corner.

Lucas did rub salt into United's wounds six minutes from time when he outpaced Lindelof before firing into the far corner.

Mourinho was goaded with chants of “you're getting sacked in the morning” by the travelling Tottenham fans.

Woodward is not expected to bite the bullet quite so soon. But with United already facing an uphill battle just to make the top four nevermind challenge for the title, time is running out for Mourinho to get the 20-time champions of England back on track.

NAMPA/AFP

Ekandjo a pula ehulithe po lyuulingilingiAaniilonga aanashili taya kanithilwa aniwa iilonga nokupiyaganekwa Ina tumbula edhina lyehangano omunambelewa omukuluntu mehangano lyoMTC okwa popi kutya aantu yamwe otaya ulikwa ya ninge aakomeho yomalelo gomahangano opo ya piyaganeke nokukutha miilonga aaniilonga mboka taya longo noshili.

Tim Ekandjo, okwa popi kutya aaniilonga aanashili otaya piyaganekwa nokukuthwa miilonga opo ku gandjwe ompito dhiilonga kaaniilonga mboka kaye na oshili.

Ekandjo okwa popi ngaaka pethimbo a gandja oshipopiwa she, sho kwa patululwa pambelewa Omuliko gIipindi mOndoolopa yaNgwediva.

Ekandjo okwa nyana mboka ye na oonkondo na ohaya idhopo miinima yomalelo gomahangano, ta popi kutya shoka itashi popilwa moshilongo shuundemokoli. Omunambelewa ngoka okwa tsikile kutya ope na mboka ye Ii omalelo gomahangano ihe ohaya idhopo miikumungu yiilonga yakehe esiku momahangano naaniilonga ohaya lundulululwa okuza poonkatu dhawo dhiilonga nenge taya kuthwa mo miilonga.

Ekandjo okwa popi woo kombinga yuulingilingi mboka tawu hololwa olweela kehe esiku, ta popi kutya iilonga mbyoka oya pumbwa okuhulithwa po.

“Oto a dha omuntu a tulwa melelo lyehangano owina opo a piyaganeke iinima nokutidha aaniilonga aanashili,” Ekandjo ta popi. Okwa longitha woo ompito ndjoka okupopya kombinga yohole yomaliko. Okwa popi kutya shoka oshi li ngashiingeyi omuthigululwakalo moshigwana shaNamibia. Okwa popi kutya aantu nando ya likole omaliko ogendjigendji kombanda yevi nokukala ye na ohokwe yomaliko ngoka, gumwe ote ga thigipo uuna a hulitha. Ekandjo natango okwa popi kombinga yAaNamibia mboka ya pika AaNamibia yakwawo. Okwa gandja oshiholelwa shetseyitho ndyoka a mono, moka aniwa ongundu yaakiintu aaluudhe yahala iilonga yomagumbo ihe oya hala owala okulongela iilumbu.

Ekandjo okwa popi kutya aaluudhe ihaya simaneke aaniilonga yawo aaluudhe na ohaye ya talako onga aapika, unene tuu ngele ohaya longo momagumbo.

“Aagandji yiilonga aaludhe ohaya vulu nokukutha mo okakalata kotiivi yoDStv uuna taya zi mo momagumbo ya fa haya futithwa iimaliwa ya gwedhwa po ngele omuniilonga oha tala otiivi.” Omupeha presidende, Nangolo Mbumba, ngoka a li omupopi a simana pepatululo lyomauliko ngoka okwa dhimbulukitha AaNamibia ayehe kutya ye na oshinakugwanithwa shokuyambidhidha eliko lyoshilongo unene pethimbo mpoka eliko tali shongola.

Mbumba okwa popi kutya Namibia ita vulu we okwiikolelela owala koonzo dhe dhopaushitwe nonkalo yeliko ngashiingeyi oya pumbwa okukala, edhimbulukitho lyetu.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Swapo a pulwa a gandje ombili

Omunongononi gwopolotika, Ndumba Kamwanyah okwa pula ongundu yoSwapo yi gandje ombili koonakuninga iihakanwa yomamonitho giihuna ngoka ga ningwa kongundu ndjoka pethimbo lyekondjelomanguluko moLubango.

Kamwanyah okwa popi kutya oshikumungu shoka itashi zi po sigo uuna Swapo a tokola okulundulula omukalo ngoka tiihumbata nago moshikumungu shoka, molwaashoka ooluhupe yomiyonena ndhoka natango oye li momwenyo na otaya tsikile nokugandja omahokololo gawo ngoka taga kala moshigwana sho yamwe ya shanga nokuli omambo.

“Swapo ota kambadhala okuulika kutya omamonitho giihuna ngoka oshinima shopashigwana ihe hasho, shoka iilonga ya longwa kuSwapo a longele iilyo ye yimwepo.”

Kamwanyah okwa popi ngaaka ta yamukula komapopyo ngoka ga ningwa komupresidende Hage Geingob mehuliloshiwke sho a popi kutya ooluhupe yomiyonena ndhoka dha ningilwa moLubango, mbyoka taya popi ngashiingeyi kombinga yomiyonena ndhoka oye Ii aanapolitika ya lulilwa mboka ya ndopa.

Oiva Angula omasiku ga piti okwa pititha embo lye tali ithanwa 'Swapo Captive - A Comrade's Experience of Betrayal and Torture', moka apopi kombinga yondjokonona ye mondholongo ya Swapo uule woomvula ne netata, moka a kala nokumonithwa iihuna.

Sho a popi pethimbo lyepatululo lyomutumba gwoSwapo Central Committee moRundu moshitopolwa shaKavango East mOlyomakaya, Geingob okwa popi kutya mboka taya popi kombinga yomamonitho giihuna gomoLubango oshowo mboka taya popi kombinga yoshikumungu shevi, otaye shi ningi nomatompelo gopaumwene.

Geingob okwa popi kutya aanapolotika mboka ya ndopa otaya ningi kehe shimwe opo ya dhane nomadhilaadhilo gaakwashigwana. Okwa popi kutya shoka otashi vulu okweeta uupyakadhi moNamibia mwakwatelwa niita yopashigwana ngele inashi talika omeho mbala.

Pethimbo lyoshipopiwa she, sho kwa dhimbulukiwa Esiku lyOmapendafule moRundu, Geingob okwa kunkilile mboka taya hadha ondjokonona opo yeshi shulithepo molwaashoka otashi vulu okukala shi na iilanduli iiwinayi.

Okwa popi kutya aantu inaya dhimbwa woo kombinga yedhiminathanepo ndyoka lya tulwa miilonga koombinga adhihe mbali ndhoka dhali tadhi kondjithathana.

“Mboka yali taya longele kumwe nomutondi na oyali taya kambadhala okuya moshipala emanguluko lyetu, oya dhiminwa po ngaashi omulandu gwedhuminathanepo tagu utha, nasho twa pitikwa okukutha ombinga momagohololo ngoka ga kwatelwa komeho kIigwana yaHangana, momvula yo 1989,” Geingob a popi.

Nonando ongaaka, Kamwanyah okwa popi kutya omapopyo gaGeingob, itaga nawapaleke onkalo ihe otaga nayipaleke onkalo.

Okwa popi kutya omukalo ngoka Swapo ta vulu okuungaunga nago oshikumungu shoka, okugandja owala ombili koonakuninga iihakanwa yomiyonena ndhoka.

“Swapo na gandje owala ombili. Inaya tegelela oonakuninga iihakanwa ye ya dhiminepo owala ngaaka molwaashoka atuhe otushi shi kutya ngele wa pula edhiminepo oshi li etokolo lyomuntu mwene ngoka to pula ekuthiminepo opo ekudhiminepo nenge ahowe.

Kamwanyah okwa popi kutya Geingob oye omuntu gomondjila okuninga omalunduluko molwashoka okwa hogololwa nokuninga omuleli gwongundu omolwa einekelo ndyoka aantu ye na muye kutya ota vulu okukandulapo iikumungu mbyoka ya taalela ongundu.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Councillors nabbed for corruptionMaltahöhe village council members charged Following months of speculation and accusations, the ACC has completed its probe and the members and staff were arrested. A probe by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into alleged bribery, witness tampering and money laundering by three Maltahöhe village council members, resulted in their arrest last week on multiple charges.

This follows after months of speculation and allegations.

The ACC said the arrests took place following the conclusion of their investigation into a number of allegations of misusing the power of office to commit crimes, which were levelled against three village council members, including Otto Michael Richard, an assistant accountant and the acting CEO of the village council.

The other two are Geronimo Tise, an artisan foreman and electrician employed at the village council and Markus Saal, a councillor and chairperson of the council.

The allegations were in connection with a N$2 million tender for the construction of a fire station at the town, and the purchase of a car and other items with the proceeds of an alleged bribe of N$150 000 from three contractors in exchange for the awarding of the tender.

Tise and Saal stand accused of “unlawfully laundering” some of the bribe, by spending N$88 000 on a car and other items from the alleged crime.

Further, the men are accused of attempting to defeat the course of justice by “attempting to persuade a witness to lie to the ACC and by attempting to persuade a witness to withdraw a statement made to the ACC.”

The three were arraigned on a number of charges on the contravention of sections of the Anti-Corruption Act.

Tise is facing charges related to the attempt to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, and both Tise and Saal are facing charges related to the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

Richard and Saal were arrested on Wednesday last week, followed by Tise's arrest the next day.

All appeared in the Maltahöhe Magistrate's Court and the case was remanded to today.

The men were each granted bail of N$40 000 with strict conditions. including not being allowed to leave the Hardap Region and having to report to the local police. Passports and travel documents were also confiscated.

STAFF REPORTER

Honda Quest open for entriesAn epic 10-day, 2 500km off-road expedition Only 30 participants will be selected for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure in South Africa's Northern and Western Cape.

Entries are now open for Honda Quest True Adventure 2018 – the ultimate adventure motorcycle competition, on the ultimate adventure motorcycle, the Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin.

Do you have

what it takes?

We are looking for true adventure riders of Southern Africa. Men and women of courage who are adventurous, don't shy away from physical and mental challenges, take the initiative and function as part of a team.

Quest is not a race or a rally, it is an adventure expedition, designed to test human endurance and adaptability. Finalists will be tested on their adventure motorcycle riding, mechanical skills, as well as their endurance, courage, and resilience against the African terrain.

What happens next?

After receipt of the entries, Honda Motorcycles Southern Africa, along with Specialised Adventures, will select 30 applicants to attend Quest Boot Camp taking place in Cape Town from 1-3 October 2018. At Boot Camp the instructors will select 14 finalists to participate in the Quest True Adventure 10-day, 2500km off-road expedition in the Northern and Western Cape starting on 19 October 2018.

Costs and logistics

Participation in the Honda Quest True Adventure 2018 is free, however travel to and from Cape Town for Boot Camp and Quest is not included.

Entrants should take note of the dates for Boot Camp and the actual Quest event, should they need to apply for leave from their work place.

The prize

Apart from the title of winning Quest True Adventure 2018, the winning team will each win the Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin that they used during the Quest True Adventure event.

How to enter?

Simply go to your nearest Honda dealer where you can complete your entry form. Alternatively, you can enter online at www.quest-trueadventure.com.

The closing date for entries is 17 September 2018.

Company news

Nestle, Starbucks wrap up US$7.15 billion licensing deal

Nestle and Starbucks said on Tuesday they had concluded their licensing deal for the Swiss food giant to market the US coffee maker’s packaged coffees and teas around the world.

The US$7.15 billion deal grants Nestle perpetual rights to sell Starbucks products such as Starbucks, Seattle’s Best Coffee and TeavanaTM/MC outside of the US company’s coffee shops, and will result in about 500 Starbucks employees shifting to Nestle.

-Nampa/Reuters

Toyota to invest US$500 million in Uber

Toyota Motor Corp will invest US$500 million in Uber Technologies Inc to jointly work on developing self-driving cars, the companies said on Monday, a bid by both to catch up to rivals in the hotly competitive autonomous driving business.

Toyota, one of the world’s largest carmakers, and Uber, the leading ride-hailing service, are widely seen as lagging the competition in developing self-driving cars.

Their deal deepens an existing relationship and reflects CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s strategy of Uber developing autonomous vehicles through partnerships, rather than on its own.

-Nampa/Reuters

Fidelity backs Facebook's privacy response

Facebook Inc’s second-biggest outside investor has offered backing for the world’s largest social media company as it faces public criticism for what people see on its service and how much user information is shared with third parties.

Comments by Fidelity Contrafund’s Will Danoff, who like other top mutual fund managers rarely voices an opinion about a holding, represent key support for management as some investors seek change at Facebook, but also drew criticism that he should take a tougher line.

-Nampa/Reuters

Bank of Spain's website hit by cyber attack

The Bank of Spain’s website has been hit since Sunday by a cyber attack which has temporarily disrupted access to the site, a spokesman for the central bank said on Monday.

The spokesman said that the attack has not had any effect on the bank’s services or its communications with the European Central Bank or other institutions and that there was no risk of a data breach.

“It is a denial of service attack that intermittently affects access to our website, but it has had no effect on the normal functioning of the entity,” the spokesman said.

-Nampa/Reuters

'Amazon effect' could have impact on inflation dynamics

More frequent price changes for goods and a rise in the consistency of pricing due to the growth of online retailers may be affecting inflation, according to an academic paper presented on Saturday to some of the world’s top central bankers.

“In the past 10 years online competition has raised both the frequency of price changes and the degree of uniform pricing across locations,” said Alberto Cavallo, an associate professor at Harvard Business School, who analyzed how so-called multi-channel retailers - those with brick-and-mortar and online outlets - such as Walmart Inc have reacted to the rise of Amazon.com Inc.

-Nampa/Reuters

Dry-land maize producers awardedZambezi farmers clean up Zambezi maize production appears to be growing in leaps and bounds and harvest forecasts exceed all previous years.

The National Communal Dry-Land Maize Champion Farmer for this year was awarded to Lifasi Munsu from the Sibbinda constituency in the Zambezi Region.

Munsu was awarded during a ceremony held last week at the Unam Multi-Purpose Centre in Katima Mulilo.

Lukatezi Kulobone from the Linyati constituency, also in the Zambezi, was the runner-up for the National Communal Dry-Land Maize.

Speaking at the event, the governor of the Zambezi Region, Lawrence Sampofu, congratulated the winners for their hard work.

Sampofu further encouraged crop farmers in the Zambezi Region to consult the agricultural extension offices in their respective constituencies to get assistance and obtain expert advice on the types of seed and fertilisers that are suitable for their farming land.

“We need to stop relying on neighbouring countries to feed us. The Zambezi Region has fertile soil and an abundance of water and could potentially serve as one of the bread baskets of Namibia providing food security for the country.”

Meanwhile Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) vice-chairperson, Dr Marina Muller, said Namibia currently imports most of its white maize grains through formal markets to feed the nation. She assured the nation that progress has been made with various initiatives by the NAB and the agriculture ministry to improve the situation in terms of production and market regulation.

“During the 2013/14 financial year Namibia imported 170 234 tonnes of white maize grains versus 36 694 tonnes produced locally. At that time it looked impossible that at some stage we may even reach 50% local production of what we consume.”

She however said that four seasons later, in 2017, Namibia managed to produce 76 660 tonnes of white maize grains and imported only 50 483 tonnes. According to Muller this shows that the potential is high for Namibia to maximise production and reverse the situation so that the country becomes self-sufficient in maize grains.

Reflecting on the event CEO of the NAB, Dr Fidelis Mwazi, highlighted the importance of smart agricultural methods and encouraged farmers, potential farmers and farmers unions in the Zambezi Region to take advantage of the climatic and soil conditions to maximise production in maize production. He further advised farmers to guard the market from forces that might affect Namibian grains access to the formal market.

“Let us not allow illegal maize grains to enter the region in a perceived way that it is locally produced because it leads to the region's loss of credibility and capacity to market the produce”, he said.

Since the establishment of the awards in 2008, the NAB annually hosts this event. The awards aim at encouraging producers to implement good farming practices in order to increase maize grain yield to ensure adequate produce for household consumption and surplus for the formal market.

The competition is scored using several operational elements including tonnage produced, production methods used, and inputs application. Crop and labour management, marketing, financial management and record keeping are also taken into consideration.

All dry-land maize producers from the five communal maize producing regions, the Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke, can participate in the competition through their agricultural extension offices. The Zambezi Region is projected to harvest 6 000 tonnes of marketable maize grains from the 2017/18 cropping season.

ELLANIE SMIT

Agricultural Outlook Conference in October

The Agricultural Outlook Conference will this year take place on 10 October to create an opportunity for the agricultural sector in Namibia to discuss issues and provide information on what can be expected in terms of the agricultural economy, prices and markets in the future.

The conference, hosted by the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) every two years since 2012, will take place at the Safari Hotel in Windhoek.

The main topic addressed this year is to develop ideas to fuel growth in the agricultural sector.

The NAU says that if the primary agricultural sector is not growing, no additional jobs can be created to benefit the rural economy.

“Thus, emphasis will be on identifying low hanging fruit in the livestock, agriculture, wildlife and other sectors that will spur future growth.” This year's theme is 'Ignite Growth in Agriculture - the basis for job creation and value addition'.

The programme will start with an opening address by agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb. Junius Mungunda will give a policy perspective of business aspects that affect the agricultural sector. A session will also take place for commodities such as large stock, small stock, agronomy, wildlife and tourism with speakers who will briefly identify key problems and what is needed to fire growth in these various commodities. This session will be led by several local producers and experts such as Dr Joggie Briedenhan, Pieter van Schalkwyk, Michael Iyambo and Dr Chris Brown.

Dr Helmke von Bach will also talk about the different drivers behind profitability and Arnold Klein will close the day with a glimpse in the future of how farming will look about 15 to 20 years from now.

It is an open day for any producer of any agricultural product as well as other role players in the agricultural sector. For any inquiries contact Rina Hough at the NAU office at 061-237838 or rina@agrinamibia.com.na. The cost for the day is N$650.

STAFF REPORTER