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Broken equipment threatens lives

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Broken equipment threatens livesBroken equipment threatens lives There is a crisis at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, where many diagnostic machines are out of order and red tape is causing delays in replacing or repairing them.

The equipment at the only referral hospital catering to patients from all the northern regions and southern Angola is overused because of the high demand.

The CT scanner, fluoroscopy, mammogram, digital X-ray and C-Arm medical imaging devices are among the equipment that has been out of order for quite some time, the hospital's medical superintendent, Dr Korbinian Vizcaya Amutenya, has confirmed.

An elderly woman who was referred to the hospital for diagnosis from the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital on 28 August was sent back home untreated because of a broken CT scanner.

According to this pensioner's family her condition is getting worse.

“Every time we take her to the hospital we are told that there is nothing they can do pending the scanner results. We do not know until when she will be like this,” said a family member.

Amutenya confirmed that the CT scanner was among many machines that are not functioning, but he said the scanner only broke down last week.

“Appart from the CT scanner, there are also other machines that are not working. The fluoroscopy, the mammogram, digital X-ray and we just received the C-Arm last week. These are some of the equipment that is not functional at the moment. We have already put in requisitions and the ministry is aware,” Amutenya said.

“We have to put in requisitions through the procurement management units so that we can procure those items. This equipment is not manufactured here, it is manufactured in foreign countries and has to be produced according to our specifications, and this is taking long.”

Amutenya said depending on patients' situations, they refer patients who need imaging studies to Windhoek or to private hospitals.

“There is equipment in Windhoek and we always send patients there. If it is an emergency we can send patients to private institutions, however at private institutions it's costly and especially during this dry period one will not wish to go that route. However sometimes we are forced to do so by the situation because we cannot compromise on people's health,” he said.

Amutenya says machines are breaking down because the Oshakati hospital is a referral hospital for all the district hospitals in the Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto, Kavango and Kunene regions. Angolan healthcare services also refer patients there.

It is reported that the hospital provides healthcare to more than 950 000 people.

“All these patients are coming to us, but the equipment that we have is not commensurate with the demand. For example, the CT scanner that broke is designed to make only about 200 000 sorties before replacing the tube, but because of the demand, when ours broke it had made more than 500 000 sorties,” Amutenya explained.

“We are supposed to have at least two or three scanners so that they can operate smoothly, but since we are in a resource-limited setting we have to work with what we can afford.”

ILENI NANDJATO

Loved and hated, Pik Botha dies

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Loved and hated, Pik Botha diesLoved and hated, Pik Botha diesMixed legacy for South African politician Many remember the late Pik Botha for his contribution to Namibia's freedom while others say he exploited the country for the benefit of the whites. For all the things they have done, good or bad, politicians eventually have to account after death.

These were the last words of Pik Botha to Namibian Sun during an interview in July this year when he shared his memories of the late Theo-Ben Gurirab.

Three months later he himself died at the age of 86.

While he was known as one of the few liberal and sensible senior National Party politicians, Botha also has a rather stained history which affected southern African black people badly.

Botha was nonetheless hailed for his negotiating skills which eventually cemented the way for Namibia's independence in 1990.

As many praised him for his wisdom to realise that apartheid was no longer sustainable and negotiations with ANC and Swapo had to be considered, others thought he was “no angel”.

Workers Revolutionary Party political secretary Hewat Beukes said Botha would be remembered as an enemy of poor black Namibians.

“He was instrumental in maintaining the apartheid and colonial status quo. He ensured that the white commercial farmers, the capitalists and the mining companies maintain their properties while black people continue to languish in poverty,” said Beukes.

Botha spent a great deal of his political career as a staunch defender of the apartheid system, and his death will be greeted by older Namibians with mixed feelings. The Popular Democratic Movement's (PDM) Nico Smit said he remembers Botha as a real diplomat who understood and sympathised with the idea that Namibia's people longed to run their own affairs, free from colonial interference and manipulation by South Africa.

“Botha clearly understood the bigger picture in southern Africa during the 1980s, namely that the continued denial of independence to Namibia was destabilising South Africa and could not be indefinitely sustained.

“On the other hand, the mainly white Afrikaans-speaking Namibians who saw Namibia's future as closely linked to that of South Africa will remember Botha as a traitor to their cause, someone who wanted to send them off into an unknown and possibly dangerous future,” Smit said.

He added that few people in Namibia would dispute the fact that Botha was one of the main supporters of and fighters for the independence of Namibia in a South African cabinet that was largely conservative under the leadership of President PW Botha.

“The fact that he managed to hold onto his job for so many years, he was South Africa's longest serving foreign affairs minister, under such circumstances is evidence of his strong character and persuasive personality,” Smit said.

Judging from social media commentary and media reports it is clear that Botha made as many enemies as he made friends.

Known as one of the most recognisable faces of the brutal and ugly regime of apartheid, Botha managed to vindicate himself and eventually served as mineral and energy affairs minister under President Nelson Mandela.

Namibian diplomat Tuliameni Kalomoh said he became convinced that Botha was not a hardliner.

“But the political environment at the time did not allow him to express himself about his views on self-determination for black people,” he said.

Kalomoh also believed that it was in fact Botha's wisdom that prevailed and ensured that negotiations eventually started for freedom for both Namibia and South Africa.

In 1986 Botha earned the ire of the National Party and President PW Botha when he predicted that South Africa might one day have a black president.

Pik Botha later went on to join the African National Congress (ANC) in 2000. In a BBC interview in 2013, he praised Mandela for “his capacity to forgive”.

Botha's son, Roelof Botha, said he was extremely proud to have been his father's son.

“He was so proud of the contribution he had made to the independence of Namibia and the freedom in Angola,” said Botha Junior.

Namibia's vice-president, Nangolo Mbumba, expressed the government's sympathy with the family.



JEMIMA BEUKES

V-Power and NamPol register first wins

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V-Power and NamPol register first winsV-Power and NamPol register first wins NAMPA

V-Power Angels and Khomas NamPol collected their first three points of the season after recording victories in the Namibia Football Association (NFA)’s Skorpion Zinc Women’s Super League on Saturday.

The second round of the season in the Women Super League took place at the NFA Technical Centre in the capital.

V-Power and NamPol, who only collected a point each after their goalless draw in the opening round of the league, displayed dominance on Saturday, beating their opponents convincingly in a one-sided match.

Khomas NamPol showed a dominant display when they took on Galz & Goals who started their campaign with a six-goal win over Omaheke Queens last week.

NamPol gave the youthful girls a taste of their own medicine as the police team dominated the match that ended 3-0 in their favour.

V-Power Angels also showed dominance, beating Omaheke Queens 4-0 after an impressive display in the second half.

This weekend saw the five fixtures registering 23 goals compared to 17 goals that were scored in the opening fixtures last weekend.

In other fixtures also played on Saturday, Tura Magic continued with their dominance as they handed Unam Bokkies their second defeat of the season. Tura Magic were in a class of their own and comfortably won the match 5-0.

Right Way were held to a 3-3 draw by Swakopmund-based Namib Daughters.

Girls Football Academy also registered their first win of the season after handing NUST Babes their second defeat of the season with a 3-2 score line.

The NFA Skorpion Zinc Women’s Super League will continue next weekend.

Pick n Pay Cycle Classic comes alive

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Pick n Pay Cycle Classic comes alive  Pick n Pay Cycle Classic comes alive Miller among the winners The Pick n Pay Cycle Classic was the centre of attraction in Windhoek over the weekend as Mark Pritzen dominated the male category. South Africans Mark Pritzen and Genevieve Weber won the men’s and women’s 100km titles of The Namibian Cycle Classic on Sunday morning.

Pritzen was followed by Namibian Braam Vermeulen in second place and Alexander Miller in third.

In the 100km women’s category Irene Steyn was second and Anneke Steenkamp third.

The 60km men’s race was won by Justin Vosloo, while the women’s race was won by Many Huysamen.

Vosloo was followed by Vianni Links in second and Stefan van Doorn in third.

In the 100km women’s category Anje Tietz finished in second place and Tania Wiese in third place.

MTB challenge

Alex Miller (right) won the 50km mountain-bike race on Saturday, with Danzel de Koe in second place and Xavier Papo finishing third.

The Classic proved once again why it is one of the most popular cycling events for riders.

Because of the improved route the longer distances attracted even more entries than the shorter distances.

In the 50 km race for women, Irene Steyn (Mannie's Bike Mecca) crossed the finish line first, ahead of Hester Prince (Hollard) and Courtney Liebenberg.

Due to illness, one of the stronger women riders, Michelle Döman, entered for the 30km race, where she finished second after Monique du Plessis.

The action started at 07:00 on Saturday morning when the three mountain-bike races over 50km, 30km and 20km took place at SKW and continued on to the LJG trails on Farm Windhoek.

The running and walking events started at 07:30, with the various routes taking the athletes through Olympia and Kleine Kuppe, back to the finish at SKW.

Below are all the results of the MTB challenge:

Africa in brief

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Africa in briefAfrica in brief World Bank criticises Kenya's approach

The World Bank urged Kenya to cut spending on public sector wages and other recurring items to reduce its debt load, instead of slashing development spending as that is restraining economic growth.

In a bi-annual economic update on the country, released on Thursday, the bank raised its estimate for Kenya’s 2018 economic growth to 5.7%, from a previous forecast of 5.5%.

While that would be faster than a 4.9% expansion in 2017, the Washington-based lender said Kenya was growing below its potential, likening it to a car driving at only 60 kilometres (37 miles) an hour.

“Kenya can be a Ferrari doing 150 kilometres per hour but it has to do certain things,” said Allen Dennis, the World Bank’s senior economist for Kenya.

Kenya’s total debt stands at 57% of GDP, the bank said, barely down from 57.5% a year ago.

Under pressure from the International Monetary Fund, the Kenyan government reduced its fiscal deficit by two percentage points in the financial year that ended in June, to 7% of gross domestic product, and has set a target of 5.8% of GDP this fiscal year.

-Nampa/Reuters

South Africa gets US$35 bln in investment pledges

South Africa has investment commitments of US$35 billion as part of plans by President Cyril Ramaphosa to attract US$100 billion over the next five years to revive the country’s flagging economy, his economic adviser told Reuters on Wednesday.

Ramaphosa has appointed a team of investment envoys - bankers, former ministers, business people as well as economist Trudi Makhaya, his economic adviser - to scour the world’s financial capitals for new investors.

“There is about US$35 billion that has been pledged,” Makhaya said. “We’ve had US$10 billion committed from Saudi Arabia. About US$10 billion from the UAE, and around US$15 billion committed from China when you’re looking at government to government deals.”

-Nampa/Reuters

Foreign holdings of Egyptian treasuries at US$14 bln

Foreign holdings of Egyptian treasuries stood at US$14 billion at the end of September, Deputy Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk was cited as saying on Thursday, a decline of nearly 20% from the end of June, according to Reuters calculations.

Holdings stood at US$17.5 billion at the end of June. Appetite for emerging market debt had already weakened when it declined further following currency crises in Turkey and Argentina in August. These triggered an exodus of foreign investors from Egypt who must also be repaid.

Kouchouk’s remarks were published in the online newsletter Enterprise.

The government cancelled four consecutive local currency T-bond auctions last month after bankers and investors demanded high yields on the debt.

-Nampa/Reuters

Sudan's annual inflation climbs to 68%

Sudan’s inflation edged up to 68.64% in September year-on-year, from 66.82% in August, the state statistics agency said on Thursday.

Inflation jumped to more than 50% in January, when subsidy cuts triggered food price increases that kindled unrest. Since then inflation has continued to accelerates steadily despite attempts to slow price rises with strict limits on cash withdrawals.

-Nampa/Reuters

Angola secures US$2 bln in financing from China

Angola has secured US$2 billion in Chinese financing from the China Development Bank for infrastructure projects on President João Lourenço’s first visit to Beijing, Angola’s state newspaper Jornal de Angola reported on Wednesday.

Details of the terms of the financing were not released. The finance ministry did not immediately respond to a request to confirm the information.

China is increasingly flexing its financial muscle in Africa, funding massive infrastructure projects across the continent.

Angola, Africa’s second largest oil producer, is in the process of trying to diversify its economy since a fall in the price of crude in 2014 plunged it into recession. Inflation is running at more than 20% per year and at least one in five of workers are jobless.

Lourenço, who took power a year ago after the 38-year rule of Jose Eduardo dos Santos, has promised to oversee an “economic miracle” by opening up the country to foreign investment and prioritising sectors such as agriculture and tourism. So far growth has remained sluggish.

-Nampa/Reuters

Erongo sport is growing: Karumendu

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Erongo sport is growing: KarumenduErongo sport is growing: KarumenduSport officer praises sponsors Some companies in the Erongo Region have committed themselves to the development of sport in the region. JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA



Erongo regional sport officer Berthold Karumendu says the region’s sport has grown from strength to strength because of the involvement of the business community.

The region has hosted many sport tournaments and events this year.

The Dome in Swakopmund has become a popular venue for hosting top-class sport events.

“I do believe that our region is making strides as far as dominating the hosting of valuable sport events is concerned.

“It has to do with the businesses that have shown commitment towards developing sport in this country.

“One of the great things is that our towns are suitable and always fit to host events of top calibre,” Karumendu said.

Smaller towns in the region like Karibib and Omaruru have also been praised for hosting marathons.

Karibib recently hosted the annual QPR Navachab half-marathon, which Karumendu described as a success.

Omaruru hosted a street mile over the weekend.

“It is up to us as the community of Erongo to do more in order to continue improving our sports.

“I believe that there are more corporate companies in the region that could join us in the development of sport.”

Karumendu also commended all the athletes who have made the events in the region possible.

“People come from different regions just to participate in sport activities hosted in this town.

“That is something very special and they must know that this region is very grateful for always hosting them.”

Football never on time

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Football never on timeFootball never on time Year after year Namibia has experienced the same problem of a delayed Namibia Premier League (NPL).

This is a serious problem that hampers the development of the beautiful game in the country.

Allow me to call it a virus that has no cure because it keeps happening over and over again.

Many of the leagues around the world are approaching their second round already, while the Namibia Premier League is yet to start.

There usually is confusion prior to the start of the premier league.

It is so hard to think that even with sponsors on board and money available, a group of administrators struggle to get football started on time.

One can understand if things like this occur in one season, but a repetition of the same problems and delays is a systemic illness.

Because no premier league football is being played, the national team has had to pay the price.

Often coach Riccardo Mannetti has had to select players who hardly kicked a ball for months to represent the nation in matches against players that are active.

Yes, the national team does have players that ply their trade outside Namibia, but it is equally important for the coach to have those that play domestically in order to blend a good team.

The delay of the league has also affected many vendors trading at the stadiums.

The enthusiasm of loyal fans is also destroyed by the lack of premier league matches.

The strange fact about all this is that it happens even when there are new leaders in the NPL.

These mistakes are repeated over and over again and that is an outrage to people who love the beautiful game.

It is a bitter pill to swallow, but something is really wrong with the way Namibian football leaders operate.

A great example which has cost a delay this season was allowing the Military School to play in the first division, knowing that it is owned by the Namibian Defence Force, which also owns Mighty Gunners.

They must have known that if the Military School is promoted, they would definitely have to be in the same league as Mighty Gunners.

All this was ignored and when the time came for the Military School to be promoted, they realised that two teams with the same owner can't play in the same league.

Now that is something you will not see anywhere else but in this country.

We are already lucky that we still have sponsors for the league even if its administrators have often let us down.

I can just imagine how difficult it would have been to attract any other sponsors if it were not for MTC and FNB that pledged their commitment towards the league.

I believe it is time our leaders put things right or give way to people prepared to make things work.

I hope that this will be the final delay the Namibian Premier League will experience.

Leaders of the beautiful game must stick to their promises and not just brainwash us with beautiful words when taking over office.

It is time to talk less and do more in leadership positions.

We have to remember that this beautiful game has many stomachs it has to feed and not just the egos of those who are in power.

jesse@namibiansun.com

Why don’t you come to the party?

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Why don’t you come to the party?Why don’t you come to the party? The minister of finance Calle Schlettwein, during his meeting with the private sector at the close of last week, said that the taxpayer must come to the party otherwise civil service delivery, also in health and education, must be cut.

It is estimated that Schlettwein’s tax reforms will inject around N$500 million into the state coffers.

The Namibian consumer is under immense pressure – seen in almost every report, whether building plans or private sector credit extension, car sales and real estate.

On Friday, Namib Mills announced a price increase in all their products – staples for the Namibian family. Utterly beyond their control.

Namibia and its citizens are now paying the price for decades of doing nothing. We are still at the mercy of decisions made elsewhere, by whomever, and probably individuals that know nothing about Namibia.

We are reliant on imports – for almost everything.

We are reliant on peace in oil-producing areas so that we can afford fuel.

We are reliant on South Africa’s politics to ensure that our currency has any value at all.

We are also reliant on labour security and balance in South Africa to make sure we have electricity.

We are reliant on the economies of strong countries so that we can give effect to HIV and Aids treatments.

We export raw materials only to reimport a refined product of what we have produced.

We are reliant on rain to produce any kind of food.

We are at the mercy of those role players who are not in our country.

And now, the cash-strapped Namibian citizen is expected to fund the already over-burdened civil service, which, by the way, has not yet been cut.

We are expected to fund benefits, fuel, rates and taxes and what not, of our ministers and former presidents.

The state wants the citizen to come to the party. When, we ask, will the state take a step forward towards us?

ID for Chinese quite common

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ID for Chinese quite commonID for Chinese quite commonMinister defends Namibian-Chinese Home affairs minister Frans Kapofi said there is nothing wrong, or illegal, about issuing Namibian citizenship to Chinese nationals. Home affairs minister Frans Kapofi has defended Chinese nationals with Namibian identification documents, saying the criticism against the Chinese is unfair and borders on xenophobia.

This is despite the fact that hundreds of Namibia's first people remain stateless, without the basic right to an identity.

Kapofi reacted to the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) campaign against the easy access to national documents by Chinese people while hundreds of marginalised Namibians still have no national documents.

“Naturalisation is allowed in our law. Namibians should never feel threatened by one or two Chinese who have naturalised in the land of the brave,” he said.

Kapofi said he saw the ID document that has been circulating on social media and confirmed that it was issued 20 years ago in 1998, because the Chinese national lived and naturalised in Namibia.

However, the ID document circulated by Job Amupanda is that of Yiu Wash Yeung born in Hong Kong in 1963.

The document was issued in 2015.

Namibians also criticised the national identification document of now controversial Chinese businessman Jack Huang, who also faces serious fraud charges.

There have also been a number of claims that Huang has a Namibian diplomatic passport despite being surrounded by controversy.

The minister admitted that there is more than one Chinese national with documents but said it is not uncommon.

“Let us not politicise things that are not political.”

Kapofi also rejected the issue that marginalised Namibians are struggling to obtain national documents.

“We know about those [Namibians] that do not have ID cards, but one Chinese ID card cannot be distributed amongst the hundreds of people you are referring to,” he said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Govt seeks more loans

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Govt seeks more loansGovt seeks more loansBrics bank to fund Baynes, Caprivi rail link The Namibian government has prepared a presentation for loans from the New Development Bank, locally known as the Brics Bank. It appears that the Namibian government is preparing an official pitch to obtain funding from the New Development Bank, more commonly known as the Brics Bank, for the construction of the Baynes hydropower project as well as the Trans-Kalahari Rail link (TKR), the Grootfontein – Rundu – Katima Mulilo rail link and the deepening of the Port of Lüderitz.

The bank, founded and funded by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is headquartered in Shanghai, China, with its first regional office in Johannesburg.

The government's debt at the end of March 2018 stood at just over N$78 billion, slightly more than a third of the country's gross domestic product, which is at N$191

billion.

In a brief presentation seen by Namibian Sun, the projects are listed as priority projects. Communications minister Stanley Simataa said in September that the government was eyeing the development of the projects in its quest to make Namibia a logistics hub for southern Africa.

In the document, the government says the purpose of the project is to open a rail trade route from Walvis Bay to countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Botswana.

“Currently, all cargo from Walvis Bay destined to and from land-locked countries is transported by road, and this is causing damage to the infrastructure, high maintenance costs and accidents,” the document says.

A feasibility study of the Grootfontein-Rundu portion was carried out in 2010, and the government is currently engaged with route alignment and design, including the rail traffic and cargo interchange at Grootfontein.







Ironically, the TKR project features despite the fact that no significant headway has been made to bring that project to fruition.

“The TKR is a bilateral project between the governments of Namibia and Botswana to construct a railway line of about 1 500km linking Botswana and Namibia to transport coal to the overseas market,” the document says.

Despite the inclusion of the project, Namibian high commissioner to Botswana Mbapeua Muvangua told Southern Times last year that an office had been set up in Namibia to accommodate three Namibian technicians and three technicians from Botswana, but they were still waiting on the latter to make their technicians available.

“Once the technicians are in the office, they have the mandate to form public-private partnerships with other investors,” he said, adding that the project required billions of dollars in investment, which needed the support of private investors.

The other project, the expansion of the Trans-Orange corridor, ties in with plans to deepen the port of Lüderitz by 18 metres to tap into the export of manganese from South Africa's Northern Cape.

Under this project, the government intends to extend the railway line from line from Keetmanshoop to the Northern Cape. Plans are in place to upgrade the 40km railway line between Sandverhaar and Bucholzbrunn and upgrading it to an 18.5-ton axle load, which would raise the permissible speed to 60km/h.

Another listed project is the planned 600-megawatt Baynes hydropower station to be built by the governments of Namibia and Angola. A social impact study has not yet been completed for the project. The study, which is supposed to be completed before the end of this year, is about where the dam and power station will be located. The dam, once completed, may flood the burial grounds of the Ovahimba, a concern which was picked up by human rights pressure groups in the late 1990s.

“What still needs to be completed is the social impact assessment, which relates mainly to negotiations with the affected communities for their relocation from the site earmarked for the project,” NamPower told Namibian Sun in December 2017.



Enter the chinese

The Chinese government is said to have made a tempting offer to finance the upgrading of Hosea Kutako International Airport, which will cost N$5 billion and upwards. This forms part of its pledged funding to Africa of US$60 billion for the construction of infrastructure projects.

The government had sought N$10 billion from the Chinese during the Forum for China Africa Cooperation (Focac). Finance minister Calle Schlettwein defended the loans, saying that they were competitive.

The Chinese government is believed to have offered a 90% loan, repayable at 2% interest, while the rest of the money would come in the form of a grant to the Namibian government.

Negotiations are said to be ongoing.



Other assistance granted

The German government also came to the party with a N$450 million loan for the construction of the Windhoek-Okahandja dual carriageway, as well as a N$482 million loan for the refurbishment of the Mariental-Keetmanshoop road. The money was provided through its KfW development bank.

The government had in the past sought assistance from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to the tune of N$10 billion.



OGONE TLHAGE

Fears of economic depression

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Fears of economic depressionFears of economic depression The possibility that Namibia has moved from a recession into an economic depression was raised by Namib Mills' CEO on Friday during the announcement of a series of price hikes.

“I don't know what you are in if you have nine downturns,” Namib Mills CEO Ian Collard said.

According to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) Namibia saw a -0.2% growth in the second quarter of this year, culminating in the country's ninth consecutive quarter of negative growth.

On Friday, Namib Mills announced price increases for a number of products.

Wheat flour prices are up 20%, rice by 14%, pasta by 16%, yeast by 15%, mahangu by 12% and sugar by 16%.

Klaus Schade of the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN), said in response to the increases that prices were being raised for wholesalers and retailers.

Depending on the shops' price models, there is a likelihood that the shelf prices could differ for consumers.

“Given the increase in fuel prices, shops could increase the transport margin and add higher transport costs to the announced price increases,” he said.

Figures released by the NSA last week show that annual transport inflation reached 12.9% in September, up from 9.7% in August, and 3.9% last year.

IJG Securities noted that this is the first time since June 2014 that transport inflation figures have reached double digits again.



Consumer basket

Schade said the average consumer spends nearly 15% of their monthly expenses on food.

Approximately 5% of the food basket is made up of bread and wheat products, while 2% is spent on wheat flour, pasta, mahangu and rice.

The latest inflation figures show September's inflation rate for bread and wheat products was at 3.8% - the highest to date this year.

In August, inflation for these products was 2.6% and in September 2017 the number was -2.4%.

The inflation rate for sugar, jam and confectionary last month was -2.5%.

The month before, it was -1.9% and in September 2017 it was 7.2%.

Overall food inflation last month was 2.6%, compared to 2.7% the previous month and 3.8% last year.

Namibia's overall inflation rate was 4.8%, the highest this year, but still lower than the 5.6% of September 2017.

Schade expects that should Namib Mill's latest price increases be passed onto the consumer, overall inflation could rise by 0.3 percentage points.



Transport

Following housing, water and electricity, transport is the third heaviest item in the consumer basket.

Out of every N$100 disposable income a consumer has, N$14.28 is spent on transport.

Inflation for the operational transport equipment, a subcategory which includes fuel, was 13.3% in September.







This presents the third consecutive month that the inflation rate has reached double digits.

Shade warned that rising fuel prices could affect other food prices – especially items such as fruit which are imported over long distances from South Africa. The fruit inflation rate last month stood at 15.3%, the highest this year and up drastically since last year when it stood at -1.7%.

Namib Mills

Schade said the Namib Mills price hikes were not unexpected.

“Monthly average prices for white and yellow maize as well as wheat have increased on the JSE since the beginning of the year by 28%, 24% and 11%. Prices for delivery in December point at further increases.”

Collard on Friday said a number of factors influenced the price increases, including the weakening of the South African rand, to which the Namibian dollar is linked. He further said Namibia's economic policies were not supportive of growth.

Indirect taxes such as levies, including fuel levies, affect the cost of doing business in the country, making it “quite expensive”.

Such costs form part of the cost of sales, he said, and no business could afford to carry the costs over a period of extended time, as a company could face bankruptcy.

As a result, businesses have no choice but to pass the costs on to the consumer.

Collard said Namib Mills had made attempts to convince the government that the cost of business has to be kept low in order to protect consumers from unrealistic price increases.

“The economy is not at a good place at this stage,” he said.

Collard added that despite the gloomy news for consumers at the end of the year, there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

It is likely, he said, that there could be a price decrease on maize meal at the beginning of next year.

JO-MARÉ DUDDY AND JANA-MARI SMITH

Brave Warriors strike Mambas

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Brave Warriors strike MambasBrave Warriors strike MambasGroup K wide open Namibia's victory over Mozambique on Saturday has blown Group K wide open, setting up an interesting scenario for the remaining matches. JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA



The Brave Warriors came from behind to beat Mozambique 2-1 in Maputo on Saturday afternoon in their 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group K qualifier.

Deon Hotto once again proved why he is regarded as one of southern Africa's most dangerous players after scoring in the dying minutes of the match to seal a victory for his country.

It was a scrappy start from the home side, who conceded a goal in the first half through a headed ball through Sitoe.

After Mozambique took the lead, Brave Warriors struggled to keep up with the pace of the Mozambicans, who threw everything at the Namibians.

The home side dominated possession and had most of the set pieces in the first half.

The second half started similar to the first with Brave Warriors on the back foot.

Petrus Shitembi gave the Namibian team a lifeline when his close range finish drew the teams level at 1-1 with 20 minutes to go.

Brave Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti then unleashed Deon Hotto from the bench, replacing Absalom Iimbondi.

The Bidvest Wits midfielder started giving Mozambique's backline something to worry about as he ran rings around them.

With just a few minutes remaining, it appeared as if both teams had settled for a draw, but Deon Hotto had other intentions.

The midfielder moved direct into Mozambique's defence and unleashed a piledriver from 30 metres that flew through the jelly hands of the Mozambican goalkeeper in added time to break the home side's hearts and bring Namibia level on points with the rest in Group K.

Ahead of the match Namibia were the only side on a single point in Group K, with Mozambique, Guinea Bissau and Zambia on four points each.

The Brave Warriors' starting line-up: Virgil Vries, Tiberius Lombard, Denzil Haoseb, Riaan Hananub, Ananias Gebhardt, Petrus Shitembi, Ronald Ketjijere, Absalom Iimbondi, Willy Stephanus, Benson Shilongo, and Peter Shalulile.

Below is what the table looks like after three matches played.

Kondjashili retains Erongo Street Mile title

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Kondjashili retains Erongo Street Mile titleKondjashili retains Erongo Street Mile title Kefas Kondjashili of the Namibian police won the sixth edition of the Erongo Street Mile on Saturday morning, retaining his title for the second consecutive year.

Kondjashili, who finished in a time of 4 minutes and 13 seconds (4:13), beat competition from Reinholdt Tomas and Shaliaxwe Jeremiah, who finished second and third with times of 4:18 and 4:19 respectively.

Speaking to Nampa soon after the race, Kondjashili said the race was tough for him as it came shortly after he had competed in a marathon at Swakopmund last week.

“I was supposed to rest for at least two to three weeks but my coach decided that I must compete here and I did well. I led from start to finish. It was a bit hot but that is the reality of marathons,” he explained.

He called on the organisers to bring in more international athletes to compete with

Namibians.

The Nampol runner also said next year he wants to break the course record, but urged the organisers to revert to the original straight course, compared to the current U-turn format.

“When Mynhardt Kauanivi set the record of four minutes and six seconds, the race course was straight. Nowadays we have to make a U-turn at mid-race, forcing us to reduce speed and lose valuable time in our quest to break the record,” Kondjashili explained.

He further called on athletics officials to give Namibians more racing opportunities outside Namibia, saying marathon runners want to test their skills against international athletes.

In the senior women's section, Commonwealth Games champion Helalia Johannes proved why she is the queen of road races in Namibia, beating last year's champion, Lavinia Kauteka (née Haitope) and Anna Iipinge.

Johannes finished in a time of 04:40, while Kauteka was 14 seconds behind in a time of 04:54, and Iipinge clocked 05:01.

Johannes was competing at this event for the first time this year, just two weeks after breaking the record at the Cape Town Marathon, to cap a year in which she also won a Commonwealth gold medal.

The organiser, Berthold Karumendu, said the event attracted over 1 100 athletes, with 16 runners coming from Botswana.

NAMPA

Otjikoto’s gold production above budget

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Otjikoto’s gold production above budgetOtjikoto’s gold production above budget B2Gold’s Otjikoto Mine in Namibia delivered another quarter of solid production in the past quarter, producing 42 403 ounces of gold, the company said in its latest production report released on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) this morning.
Third quarter production exceeded budget by 4% (1 568 ounces), mainly due to higher than-expected mill throughput - 870 125 tonnes compared to budget of 831 781 tonnes and 873 516 tonnes in the third quarter of 2017.

New MD for Rössing

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New MD for RössingNew MD for Rössing Richard Storrie has been appointed as the new managing director of Rössing Uranium Limited, effective 29 October 2018.
He joins Rössing from Rio Tinto Serbia where he successfully led the Jadar project over the last five years. The Jadar project in Serbia is a significant, world-class lithium-borate resource.
Storrie has over 20 years international mining experience and has worked for Rio Tinto in its top tier open-pit and underground operations in both developing and first world countries around the world.
Rössing’s current managing director, Werner Duvenhage, will ensure a thorough transition to Storrie before taking up the position of managing director at Rio Tinto Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) in South Africa.

Mambas look to bite back

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Mambas look to bite backMambas look to bite backMannetti pleads for 'character' After Saturday's Afcon qualifier victory, the Brave Warriors will once again have to tame the Os Mambas of Mozambique tonight. The Sam Nujoma Stadium will play host tonight to a sizzling encounter between the Brave Warriors and Os Mambas of Mozambique.

The stage has been set for this critical Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) encounter, after the Warriors beat Mozambique away this past weekend. They will be looking to capitalise at home, when the match kicks off at 19:00.

Both teams are looking to cement their positions in the Group K Afcon qualifier. Namibia will go into the match oozing confidence, after they defeated Os Mambas 2-1 in Maputo on Saturday.

History favours the home side, as they have never lost a match against Mozambique at home.

Mozambique, however, showed this past Saturday they can be a tough nut to crack, after they gave the Brave Warriors a tough time.

In terms of their head-to-head record, Namibia dominate their opponents with seven wins from 15 games.

Namibia has lost only three times against Os Mambas, with their five others matches ending in stalemates.

Guinea Bissau is currently leading Group K with seven points, followed by Namibia on four points.

Mozambique is in third place, also on four points, while Zambia is also on four points following a 1-2 defeat to Guinea Bissau on Sunday night.

All four teams have a chance of finishing top of the group and booking their place at the 2019 Afcon finals in Cameroon.

It is a group that could be decided on the last day of matches, given the current state of the log.

Namibia will now have to make their home advantage count and win tonight's match, which will bring them level on points with Guinea Bissau.

They will then also have to maximise their points from their last two qualifiers.

Brave Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti emphasised the importance of not getting carried away with Saturday's victory.

“Tonight, we have a different game from the one in Maputo. Mozambique is a quality side that can play and we have to respect them and take them very seriously, like we did in Maputo,” he said.

The mentor said the team will maintain their same intensity and approach.

He said the team's objective is to score at least 10 points in the group, which could guarantee them a place at Africa's biggest football showpiece next year.

Mannetti praised his players for coming from behind to beat Mozambique away.

“For the first time in a long time our national team have won away from home and we did it in style.

“Coming from behind, showing character and giving a great response that eluded us all these years was amazing and now we need to build on that.

“Whatever we do as coaches, it is about perfecting tactics and the fans need to respect our tactical approach,” Mannetti added.

Tickets for tonight's match are selling for N$50 at Computicket outlets and NFA Football House.

The final home game for the Warriors will be against Guinea-Bissau between 12 and 20 November.

Namibia's last match will be against Zambia in March 2019.

The group winners and runners-up will qualify for the 32nd edition of the Total African Cup of Nations, to be hosted by Cameroon from 15 June to 13 July 2019.

Namibia is seeking their third appearance at the tournament, after having qualified for the 1998 and 2008 editions.

Football commentator Isack Hamata said it is important for the team to get it right.

“There is nothing else we need to do here but to win this match at all cost. Mozambique have never beaten us at home and we can't allow them to make history in this important clash,” Hamata said.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Pirates youngster among top 60 prospects

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Pirates youngster among top 60 prospectsPirates youngster among top 60 prospects Orlando Pirates midfielder Augustine Mahlonoko is looking to follow in the footsteps of Lyle Foster as one of the top young prospects of 2018.

Foster, 18, left Pirates this year and is now playing for Monaco in the French top-flight.

Now for the second successive year, Pirates have a youngster listed in The Guardian's annual list.

The UK-based publication has run an article titled 'Next Generation: 60 of the Best Young Talents in the World', which features the 17-year-old.

The Vaal-born midfielder has been listed alongside other prospects such as Rodrygo from Santos.

Rodrygo is considered by many as the new Neymar, with the 17-year-old already agreeing to join Spanish giants Real Madrid when he turns 18.

Mahlonoko, who already plays for the first team and boasts the record of being the youngest-ever player to don the Pirates jersey, having played in Pirates' 1-1 draw against Highlands Park at only 16 years and 352 days, says it's an honour to be named alongside players like Rodrygo.

“It is wonderful to be mentioned among some of the best young talents in the world, but this doesn't mean that the work is done.

“This only tells me that I have the potential to achieve big things in my footballing career, but I need to put in the hard work, because without hard work nothing can be achieved,” said Mahlonoko.

Other players who have previously been listed in The Guardian top 60 list, and who have gone on to impress on the global scene include Gianluigi Donnarumma (2016), Martin Odegaard (2015), Timothy Fosu-Mensah (2015) and Christian Pulisic (2017).

NAMPA/ANA

ASA, KZN affiliate clash

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ASA, KZN affiliate clashASA, KZN affiliate clash Athletics South Africa (ASA) and KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) clashed once more over the weekend, over the ruling to reinstate four athletes that too part in the Pietermaritzburg Spar Women's Grand Prix.

ASA overturned the KZNA decision to reinstate the disqualified athletes, who competed in the race held last month. The first four athletes across the line were disqualified straight after the race, as they had taken a wrong turn and subsequently ran 600m short of the full distance.

“The [ASA] council was also in unity, in that no authority, including KZNA, can overrule the decision of the race referee and the jury of appeal, as per the rules of the IAAF, CAA and ASA,” ASA said in a statement.

It also took exception to the fact that KZNA chose not to attend the meeting held in Johannesburg over the weekend.

“The 16 ASA provinces were in unison that they viewed the non-attendance of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics of the council as disrespectful, after the province sent a notice of recusal the day before.”

NAMPA/ANA

Biraghi saves Italy

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Biraghi saves ItalyBiraghi saves ItalyMancini secures first competitive win European champions Portugal lead the three-team group with six points from two matches. Cristiano Biraghi snatched a late victory to give new Italy coach Roberto Mancini his first competitive victory and keep the Azzurri's Nations League hopes alive, with a 1-0 win over Poland in their League A Group 3 clash in Chorzow on Sunday.

Defender Biraghi, 26, slid in the winner two minutes into injury time for his first goal for Italy in a game his team had dominated. The defeat ensured Poland were relegated to League B.

It was Mancini's first competitive victory since taking over as Italy coach last May, after the four-time world champions' failure to qualify for the World Cup.

“A new cycle has already begun,” said Mancini

“We dominated the game; we had to score the first goal, it would have been unfair to finish 0-0.

“All the lads are trying to do their best. It's a good win in a very good game,” he said

Fiorentina defender, Biraghi, made the sign '13' with his hands when he scored, as he dedicated his first goal to former Italy and Fiorentina captain Davide Astori, who died of a heart attack last March.

“I owe everything to him. I'm here thanks to Davide, who was a mentor for me,” said Biraghi, who was called up to Italy for the first time last month.

Mancini stuck with the same eleven he started with in last Wednesday's 1-1 draw against the Ukraine, with Federico Bernardeschi, Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Chiesa leading the attack.

Nicolo Barella, 21, was chosen to start over Lorenzo Pellegrini in midfield, after making his international debut in Genoa.

Poland opted for the strike partnership of Robert Lewandowski and Arkadiusz Milik over Genoa forward Krzysztof Piatek, who has scored 14 goals in ten competitive games for club and country.

Italy had the best of the first half, but once again demonstrated their difficulty to finish off their chances.

Jorginho rattled the bar within the first minute, with Federico Chiesa also hitting the woodwork after half an hour in the Silesian Stadium.

Poland could thank Wojciech Szczesny for keeping them in the game, with the under-pressure goalkeeper denying Alessandro Florenzi, Jorginho, Federico Bernardeschi and Juventus teammate Giorgio Chiellini in the first half.

Italy had a goal disallowed after 65 minutes, following a well-worked pass between Bernardeschi and Marco Verratti, with Insigne offside in the box.

Poland also had a couple of chances in the second half, with Kamil Grosicki denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma and Arkadiusz Milik curling over.

Just when it looked as if both sides would settle for a draw, off the last corner, substitute Kevin Lasagna, who made his international debut, steered in for the Biraghi to finish off.

“It had looked as if the match was jinxed,” said Biraghi.

“The minutes were going by and the ball wouldn't go in.

“When you create a lot and the ball doesn't go in, you start to get nervous, and you even risk losing.

“Instead we stayed calm and believed until the end. This victory is thanks to the group's never say die attitude,” he said.

The result ensures Italy stayed in the tier ahead of December's Euro 2020 qualifying draw.

Italy next host Portugal on 17 November, with Poland playing in Portugal three days later.

Bolt fumes over drug test notice

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Bolt fumes over drug test noticeBolt fumes over drug test notice Sprint legend Usain Bolt says he's stunned after being handed a drug testing notice, despite retiring from athletics and having no professional contract, as he bids to launch a football career in Australia.

The 100m and 200m world record-holder quit athletics last year and is yet to be offered a deal by Australia's Central Coast Mariners, where he is currently on trial.

“So guys, I've retired from track and field, looking to become a footballer but look at this,” Bolt said on Monday via an Instagram video, as he zoomed in on the notice.

The demand for the out-of-competition test to collect urine and blood appears to have been issued by Football Federation Australia.

“How am I going to get a drug test today? I'm not even a professional footballer yet. Seriously,” said Bolt.

“So I asked the lady, 'why am I getting drug tested when I haven't signed for a club yet?' and she said they told her I'm an elite athlete, so I have to get tested. Okay then.”

Despite his displeasure, it appears the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority guidelines mean he is eligible to be tested.

Their legislation defines an athlete as a “person who competes in sport” if “the sport has an anti-doping policy”.

The eight-time Olympic champion, who dominated sprinting after taking double individual gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, is now bidding to become a professional footballer.

He made his case on Friday by scoring two goals for the Mariners in a preseason friendly.

The superstar, a massive Manchester United fan, has been handed a chance to train with the A-League side for an indefinite period, in order to pursue his dream.

NAMPA/AFP
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