(showing articles 17941 to 17960 of 22919)11/20/18--14:00: _Iiponga yoombashu t...11/20/18--14:00: _Ka tu li ompinge nA...11/20/18--14:00: _Land reform unlikel...11/20/18--14:00: _Extinction looms11/20/18--14:00: _Omaruru finances un...11/20/18--14:00: _Chances for El Nino...11/20/18--14:00: _Surviving Black Friday11/20/18--14:00: _The Benefits of sus...11/20/18--14:00: _Rainfall welcome, b...11/20/18--14:00: _Kahimise fails to p...11/20/18--14:00: _We're not anti-Aawa...11/20/18--14:00: _Africa news in brief11/20/18--14:00: _Namibians feel unsafe11/20/18--14:00: _Civil society cruci...11/20/18--14:00: _Councillors defy Sh...11/20/18--14:00: _Unfit and disgusting11/21/18--05:59: _Pangolin suspects g...11/21/18--14:00: _Mbaeva aching for s...11/21/18--14:00: _Tantalising curtain...11/21/18--14:00: _Japan says ready to...older | 1 | .... | 896 | 897 | (Page 898) | 899 | 900 | .... | 1146 | newer11/20/18--14:00: Iiponga yoombashu tadhi pi otayi faalele oomwenyoIiponga yoombashu tadhi pi otayi faalele oomwenyo Katrina Immanuel (9) pamwe nomumwayinamati Thomas (8) oya pi itaya vulu okudhimbululwa sha landula sho ombashu moka ya li ya lala koongulasha dhOsoondaha yayaka omulilo molukanda lwedhina Omdel moHenties Bay.Pahapu dhaDetective Chief Inspector Daniel Gurirab gwopolisi yomoshitopolwa shErongo, he yuunona mboka okwa dhigi e wu patela mombashu omanga mwa li mu na okalehita ka tema.“Omulilo ngoka ogwa lopotwa lwopotundi onti 03:20, nomakonaakono otaga tsikile okumona kutya oshike sha etitha omulilo,” Gurirab a popi.Ookadhimamulilo pamwe nopolisi oya thiki pehala lyoshiponga muule wethimbo efupi ihe inaya vula okuhupitha uunona mboka.Moshiningwanima shimwe natango, oombashu dhi li hamano odha pi po ongulohi yEtitano, lwopotundi onti 23:00 momukanda Oletweni moSwakopmund.Inaku lopotwa hewa omuntu eehamekelwa moshiponga shoka ihe omaliko gaakalimo yomoombashu ndhoka oga hanagulwa po.Pahapu dhaGurirab omulilo ogwa tameke mombashu yimwe na ogwa taandele koombashu dhilwe naashoka sha etitha omulilo ngoka kashi shishiwike natango.Omutenya gwEtitano, oombashu dhontumba odha pi natango momudhingoloko gwaTutaleni moKuisebmond mOmbaye. Inaku lopotwa eehameko lyomuntu. Natango okwa lopotwa omulilo gwa hanagula po ehala lyooflat lwedhina Union Court mOmbaye.Omulilo ngoka okwa li dha dhimwa meendelelo omanga inagu taandela. Otaku fekelwa kutya ogwa etithwa kuupyakadhi wiikwamalusheno.11/20/18--14:00: Ka tu li ompinge nAawambo – LPMKa tu li ompinge nAawambo – LPMLMP otaka hwahwameka woo uuthemba waanaskola Ongundu yoLPM otayi ka gandja evi kaantu muule womasiku 100 mombelewa na otayi ka shunitha woo pevi omwaalu gwiimaliwa hagu longithwa kepangelo moondjambi dhaaniilonga. Ongundu yoLandless People's Movement (LPM) oya holola kutya yo itayi yelekwa noongundu dhilwe dhompilameno ngaashi Congress of Democrats (CoD) oshowo Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), ndhoka dhiitopola koSwapo omolwa uufukedhi neisimaneko lyawo yene.Shoka soha popiwa komuleli gwaanysha mongundu ndjoka Duminga Ndala, ngoka a popi kutya yo itaya mbandamekwa kaayambidhidhi yoSwapo, mboka taya popi kutya ongundu yawo oyi li ompinge naantu yomuhoko gwAawambo.“Itandi zimine omanyano ngoka taga ningwa kutya LMP ongundu yAaNama nenge AaDamara. Otu na omihoko adhihe. Ngame ngoka tandi popi ondi omupopi gwelaka lyOshiwambo naashoka otashi holola nale sha.”Okwa tsikile kutya omapopyo ngoka omambandameko owala taga longithwa kuSwapo ta gandjwa oshiholelwa shetotepo lyongundu yoSwapo kuAndimba Toivo Ya Toivo; ngoka a li e yi ithana petameko kutya Ovamboland People's Organisation (OPO), nonando okushi shi kutya moNamibia omu na aantu yalwe yomihoko dhilwe, ihe okwe yi luku owala OPO nomonena otayi ithanwa kutya aniwa ongundu yaantu ayehe.Ndala okwa popi kutya ongundu yawo oya totwa sha landula shoBernadus Swartbooi a tidhwa miilonga onga omupeha minista gwomavi, kOmupresidende Hage Geingob, oshowo eikutho mo lye mongundu yoSwapo, nomapulo ge kombinga yevi lyuuthiga.Ndala okwa popi kutya otaya ka ninga okongresa yawo muApilili nenge Mei gwomvula twa taalela moka tamu ka hogololwa aaleli naakalelipo yongundu momahogololo. Okongresa ndjoka otayi ka kala oshituthi shuule womasiku gatano moka tamu ka kundathanwa woo iinima yilwe ngaashi uunamapya. Oshizemo shomutumba ngoka unene kiikundathanwa otashi ka longithwa mokutunga po ekotampango lyongundu yawo.Ekandulepo lyomikunduLPM ota pangele okukagandja evi kaakwashigwana muule womasiku 100 mombelewa nokushunitha pevi omwaalu gwiimaliwa yepangelo tayi longithwa moondjambi dhaaniilonga yepangelo.Otaya ka tula woo miilonga opo aaniilonga ya kale taya yi moopenzela moomvula 55, uuna ya hogololwa nokusindana po omahogololo gaayehe ngoka taga ningwa momvula yo 2019.“Omukalo ngoka opo nale guli, epangelo olyo owala itali longitha omukalo ngoka. Nandi tye kutya kansela gwoLPM okwa yi mombelewa she okugandja owala ombaapila yuumwene wevi. Evi opo nale Ii li lya metwa na otali ka wapalekwa owala nale. Osha pumbwa owala omadhilaadhilo omawanawa,” Ndala a popi.Omunyasha ngoka okwa popi kutya ewawa lyaanyasha mongundu yawo otali pangele mokukondjela uuthemba waanaskola momusindalongo gwoosekundoskola, nokuhulitha po elongitho lyomambo gaazaizai noondjokonona dhawo nokutula miilonga omambo gAafrika.Okwa tsikile kutya ngashiingeyi otaya ngongo po ekotampango lyawo ndyoka tali ka kala lya pwa moshiwike twa taalela na otali ka kondjela uuwanawa nuuthemba waanaskolaNdala okwa tsu omuthindo kutya oyiinekela mehololo lyomaiyuvo lyamanguluka, konima sho a pulwa kombinga yoshilyo shawo Hennie Seibeb ngoka a li a shanga epulakata lya shangwa “Voetsek Hage” na okwa tula ethano ndyoka komapandja gomakwatathano gopamalungula.Nonando ongaaka okwa popi kutya moshilongo ngaashi Namibia, omalaka geli ngaaka otaga e ta omalimbililo.“Otu li moshilongo molwa aantu ye wete kutya omupresidende nasimanekwe nonando ota ningi oshinima shi li mondjila nenge sha puka. Ihe oshili ooshoka kutya otu na iinima yimwe twa pumbwa okutala kuyo. Epangelo lyetu otali tukwata koonkondo kehe esiku omolwa elelo lyankundipala nuulingilingi.”Omalimbililo omanene gaNdala ongaaka kutya Seibeb ota pangulilwa omapopyo ge ngoka nomalaka, ihe oluhepo nokwaahena iilonga taku popiwa.“Shotango otu na okuyoolola pokati kaHennie nehwahwameko. Hennie oku na uuthemba wemwene nonando aantu yamwe itaye shi popile, ekotampango lyaNamibia olya gandja uuthemba wokuholola omaiyuvo getu twa manguluka. Kehe gumwe oku na uuthemba okupopya shoka a hala okupopya.”LPM okwa ninga eindilo muSepetemba noElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) opo a vule okuninga ongundu yopolotika.Omukomeho gwomahogololo moECN, Theo Mujoro okwa koleke kutya eindilo ndyoka otali talika.11/20/18--14:00: Land reform unlikely to influence S&P ratings decision – analystsLand reform unlikely to influence S&P ratings decision – analystsDecision on Friday Developments in land reform will unlikely be a factor ratings agency Standard & Poor's will consider for SA's credit rating, according to analysts. I would not understand justification if they (S&P) mentioned land- Thabi Leoka, Independent Economist The rating agency is expected to deliver its ratings decision on Friday. Previously S&P kept the rand denominated debt rating at BB+ -the first notch of sub investment grade, and kept the foreign currency rating at BB - which is two notches below investment grade.11/20/18--14:00: Extinction loomsExtinction loomsWild horses on their last legs Namibia's wild horse population has plummeted from around 300 to a mere 80 horses since 2013. The environment ministry has been urged to take immediate action before Namibia's entire population of wild horses is decimated.The number of wild horses of the Namib has plummeted from around 300 to a mere 80 horses since 2013.According to a statement by the Namibia Wild Horses Foundation, the past five years has been extremely harsh for the wild horses, with severe drought and predation by a pack of spotted hyaenas that had moved into the area decimating their numbers.“The lives of the horses are still in danger,” the foundation said.According to biologist Dr Telané Greyling, who has studied the wild horses for more than 20 years, and who works closely with the foundation, not a single foal has survived since 2012, making the youngest horse six years old.“In 2013 alone, the hyaenas killed about a 100 horses, of which 50 were foals,” she said.The long-awaited rainfall this year brought new hope and allowed the foundation to stop feeding the horses after 27 months of drought, in which the public generously donated both feed and funds to keep the horses alive.According to the foundation, the pack of hyaenas also moved onto adjacent farmland, leaving the horses in peace. The first foals were born and it started to look as if the wild horses finally stood a chance.“Unfortunately, the respite was short-lived. The hyaenas returned with a vengeance, killing three of the four foals born since September, once again threatening the century-old population.”According to the foundation, tracks and drag marks were found leading to the hyaena den over the weekend - a clear indication that the last foal had been taken by the hyaenas.“The pack will now, once again, predate on the adult horses, targeting mainly the mares until not a single one is left.”The foundation says it strongly believes the horses are teetering on the brink of extinction. It says even with the last good rains, there is no chance of foals surviving, as long as the hyaenas are around. It added the hyaenas have already resumed targeting the adult horses.“The population is already depleted, with only 33 mares remaining and the genetic integrity of the population is at risk.”According to foundation chairman Mannfred Goldbeck, they are waiting anxiously for the environment ministry to respond to their request regarding the custodianship of the horses.“We need to implement measures urgently to safeguard their future. We have been trying for several years to engage with the ministry, without success. The situation is now an emergency. We urge the ministry to commit to a plan of action so that we can save the remaining population.”The foundation has been in dialogue with the ministry since 2015.“The ministry has been reluctant to manage the hyaenas, as it has a non-interference policy regarding the wildlife in national parks, yet it wants the horses to remain in the Namib Naukluft Park, where without intervention their future is certainly doomed,” the foundation said.It said the ministry is also unwilling to grant the foundation custodianship of the horses, which would enable it to find suitable land elsewhere and relocate the horses to ensure their survival.“This unwillingness to manage the situation or to pass on custodianship means certain death for the population.”According to the foundation it desperately wants to help the horses, but their hands are tied, unless the ministry grants them custodianship.The wild horses of the Namib are among the top ten tourist attractions in Namibia. They have been the subject of numerous documentary films and are used to promote Namibia as a popular tourist destination. They are an important part of Namibia's history and heritage. The loss of this population will do untold damage to brand Namibia.“If the ministry does not act, the world will look askance at Namibians, who let their population of wild horses die on their watch, when simple solutions were readily available. The future of the wild horses is in your hands and time is fast running out. The clock is ticking. The situation is critical. The Namibian wild horses are on the brink of extinction.”11/20/18--14:00: Omaruru finances under scrutinyOmaruru finances under scrutiny The National Council's Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Economy on Monday interrogated the Omaruru municipality over a disclaimer audit opinion received from auditor-general Junias Kandjeke for the 2015/16 financial year.A key finding by the auditors was a net loss of over N$4 million, in addition to an accumulated loss of N$22.2 million.A disclaimer opinion is given to institutions when auditors are not able to obtain sufficient evidence to carry out an audit.During the 2015/16 financial year, the municipality failed to meet a host of financial obligations.Moreover, the municipality's current liabilities exceeded its current assets by over N$8 million, casting doubt over its ability to continue operating.“What measures has the municipality put in place to reduce its financial losses?” Peter Kazangominja, the committee's chairperson asked.Municipality CEO Alfons Tjitombo said its revenue collection was very poor due to the absence of political office-bearers.“The municipality got new councillors at the beginning of January 2016 and with the new transition, the implementation of revenue collection was delayed for that financial year,” Tjitombo said, adding the municipality has now improved its revenue collection.According to the AG's findings, the municipality's investments were understated by N$4.7 million, its provision for bad debts by N$2.9 million, while the opening balance for the development fund was also understated by N$634 716.About the investment account, Tjitombo said these were capital project monies received from stakeholders. He said the funds had been ring-fenced to ensure there was no misappropriation.However, the movement of credits and debits during the period in question was not taken into consideration when compiling the financial statements, which resulted in the understatement, Tjitombo explained.As remedial action, the municipality resolved to do monthly summaries and recordings of the movements of funds in investment account.Regarding the overstatement of bad debt, the CEO said: “Bad debt for the municipality is debt that is not recoverable and we did calculations accordingly, which resulted in an overstated amount of N$4 805 233 according to the auditors. The amount of N$1 956 031 as recorded by the auditors is acceptable to the municipality.”The municipality was also asked to sit down and formulate its own method to calculate its bad debts.Tjitombo maintained that most of the financial systems were not in place during the period in question, and that he only arrived at the municipality in May 2017.He also pleaded for local authorities to be capacitated with the necessary human resources, particularly in their finance departments, in order to meet the required accounting standards.11/20/18--14:00: Chances for El Nino growChances for El Nino growFood security may be compromised further Current predictions are that average to below average rainfall will be received in the sub-region, with many areas entering the season water-stressed. The probability of an El Niño event has increased to between 75% and 84% during the coming rainfall season.El Niño is typically associated with below average rainfall and above average temperatures in the southern half of the region, while northern hemisphere usually receives above average rainfall. However, local and regional climate drivers can sometimes change this typical outcome, which deviations are captured in seasonal forecasts.This is worrying as most parts of southern Africa, including Namibia, are experiencing a slow start to the rainfall season, with below average early rainfall received early in the season.Seasonal forecasts suggest high chances for normal to below normal rains in many areas this year, with implications for crop production.According to the Food Security Early Warning System Agromet Update, the region received below average rainfall between September and early November, with the negative anomalies being most pronounced in central Angola, Lesotho, central and eastern Madagascar, central Mozambique, eastern South Africa, and central Zimbabwe as well as Namibia.In most areas, early seasonal rains received in October and early November typically facilitate agricultural land preparation and planting.The report however points out that due to the below average early-season rains experienced this year, it is likely to delay land preparation and planting in some areas, and in regions where farmers have already planted, cause early season moisture stress for crops.“Despite the low rains received in most areas, the situation is not yet a serious cause for concern, as planting rains are generally received in November, particularly in most southern and central parts of the region,” says the report.The report warns that extensive delays of the onset of rain can compromise the season quality, resulting in crops failing to reach maturity before the growing season ends, either due to the cessation of rains, or due to the onset of cold conditions that are not conducive to the growth of cereal crops.Furthermore the below average rainfall received in many parts of the region in the last few weeks has resulted in a slow re-greening of vegetation, including pastures, in many areas in the southern half of the region.In several areas in the southern half of the region, vegetation was below average at the end of October and will require close monitoring, especially those areas where livestock is an important source of food and livelihoods.These areas include parts of Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.Close monitoring of pasture conditions throughout the season will be important in light of the forecast for normal to below normal rainfall.The SADC seasonal rainfall forecast released at the Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) in August predicted that most parts of the region are likely to receive normal to below normal rainfall between October 2018 and March 2019.Rainfall to date, combined with short-term forecasts, suggests that many areas are unlikely to receive planting rains until at least late November, potentially delaying planting.Meanwhile according to the latest dam bulletin of Namibia’s dam the total capacity of the country’s dams now stand at only 36.6%. In comparison to the same time last year the dams were 45.7% full.11/20/18--14:00: Surviving Black FridaySurviving Black FridayBe money wise This Friday is Black Friday, a huge shopping event which sees people all over the world getting discounted products as retailers' slash prices. Before you head out the door this weekend with a strong cup of coffee, some patience for crowds and comfortable shoes, plan ahead with these five tips to keep you and your money safely on budget, says Elzita Beukes, FNB communications manager.2. Write it down. Whether you prefer spreadsheets or compulsively making lists put your plan in writing. That includes at least a rough outline of who you plan to spend on and how much you plan to spend. Keep your plan with you either on your phone or in a notebook - so it's easy to reference while you shop.“The most important way to ensure that you're taking advantage of Black Friday is to plan ahead. Make sure that you work out a specific budget to avoid entering the new year with more debt and regrets,” said Beukes.11/20/18--14:00: The Benefits of sustainable investmentsThe Benefits of sustainable investments Claire HobbsIn many first world economies, the effects of global warming continue to manifest as a business reality. In response to this crisis, the Namibian banking sector, in support of the Millennium Development Goals, is mandated to play a vital role in accelerating the local market's transition to a lower-carbon energy future.Bank Windhoek and the Capricorn Group's commitment to sustainability means taking a long-term, holistic view that considers the perspectives of all stakeholders. Our sustainability framework provides the structure and processes through which we create enterprise-wide awareness and ensure aligned thinking and practices. In other words, our sustainability strategy is based on addressing sustainability holistically, encompassing environmental, social and economic issues.The Namibian economy is confronted with key sustainability challenges, namely: climate change, poverty, health issues and resource shortages such as water, energy and food. In addressing these global and local concerns, Bank Windhoek plans to utilise its business lines, such as banking, investment and asset management, micro and property finance to address these key sustainability challenges. To assist in alleviating such challenges, Bank Windhoek has in their past financial year financed in excess of N$200 million worth of sustainability projects in the form of solar PV plants, thereby reducing the country's dependence on fossil fuels to generate electricity. Projects such as these also go a long way to enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of production using alternative, more sustainable energy sources, reducing our carbon footprint and mitigating climate change, all while contributing to the economy and employment creation.A formal definition of sustainable banking is still being developed. At this stage, it is widely understood that sustainable banking involves carrying out banking operations and business activities with mindful consideration toward environmental and social impacts.Invaluable enablersWhile this is currently the accepted definition, banking and financial services in Namibia are poised to become invaluable enablers in the value chain of sustainable projects that reduce our dependence on the finite supply of fossil fuels as we look toward cleaner, more natural and infinite supply of alternative sources of energy. This move is critical since inadequate financing solutions have been identified as one of the major setbacks hampering the robust development of the sustainable energy sector in Namibia. This is due to both limited access to and the high cost of credit.The Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Energy Finance (Sunref) a Agence Française de Développement's (AFD) green finance label, recently made funds available to Bank Windhoek and two other local commercial banks.This initiative was a great learning journey for the bank's staff and clients involved in related renewable energy projects, and this experience encourages bank Windhoek to continue to expand its green lending activities. For this reason, Bank Windhoek aims to obtain additional sources of funding for its green lending activities where the proceeds will be used solely to finance eligible green projects and assets throughout Namibia.The Namibian economy has many potential projects that are technically viable. Nevertheless, the financial feasibility of many projects falter in the face of enhanced due diligence and project preparation requirements, which are a crucial part of the evaluation process.These are just some of the risk factors involved with financing sustainability projects.• Claire Hobbs is Bank ­Windhoek's chief treasurer11/20/18--14:00: Rainfall welcome, but devastatingRainfall welcome, but devastating The north-western parts of Namibia, extending along the western escarpment into eastern areas of the Hardap Region, received welcome, but devastating and exceptionally high rainfall during the month of October.11/20/18--14:00: Kahimise fails to prove urgencyKahimise fails to prove urgency Suspended City of Windhoek CEO Robert Kahimise's bid to have his suspension overturned by the Windhoek High Court on an urgent basis has failed.Kahimise now has to wait his turn before a labour commissioner to argue against his dismissal at a date not yet set, but likely to be in late December or mid-January. High Court Judge Collins Parker yesterday ruled that Kahimise's argument that his suspension was unprocedural and was causing financial hardship and reputational damage did not meet the requirements for an urgent application.Parker informed Kahimise to wait for the labour commissioner to hear his dispute. Parker agreed with arguments made by advocate Philip Barnard, acting on behalf of the City, that no substantial arguments in favour of urgency were provided. Barnard described Kahimise's application for an urgent court date as “nothing but an attack to avoid a disciplinary hearing” and “a fight for the sake of a fight”.He pointed out that in Kahimise's founding affidavit, the CEO listed two properties, two overdrafts and four vehicles, in addition to other expenses, and said Kahimise is a “man of means” who would not be declared insolvent in the space of two months.Barnard said Kahimise could sell one of his cars, or some livestock, to tide him over until his labour dispute hearing. Nevertheless, Barnard said financial hardship does not constitute grounds for urgency.“In this case, a slight reduction in an opulent lifestyle can hardly be called an exceptional circumstance and grounds for urgency,” he said.He further argued that after Kahimise was suspended without pay he was still receiving his allowances, but the City had backtracked meanwhile and agreed to pay his full salary during his suspension.In a 14 September letter to Kahimise, the city council said considering his “alleged financial position” Kahimise would be paid for the duration of his suspension.The advocate said the allegations against Kahimise warranted an investigation and were not “a trifling matter”, as he held an important public post funded by ratepayers.He also argued that Kahimise's argument that the suspension was causing irreversible harm to his reputation was not grounds for urgency, as every suspension and dismissal would then need to be heard on an urgent basis.Kahimise's lawyer, Patrick Kauta, argued that the 5 November meeting which decided to suspend him was unlawful, rendering the decision null and void. According to him, that was sufficient grounds to have the matter heard on an urgent basis.Further, he argued that Kahimise had not been given sufficient time to defend himself and was never given reasons for his suspension.Kauta said his client would suffer reputational and financial damages if an urgent interdict to lift his suspension was not granted and that his fundamental rights were infringed.11/20/18--14:00: We're not anti-Aawambo - LPMWe're not anti-Aawambo - LPMYouth leader says CoD, RDP were 'greedy' The LPM promises to deliver land to people in its first 100 days in office and cut the civil service wage bill as humanely as possible. The Landless People's Movement (LPM) is based on solid principles and cannot be compared with the Congress of Democrats (CoD) and Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), which broke away from Swapo because of “greed and self-importance”.This is according to LPM youth leader Duminga Ndala, who said they are not fazed by Swapo supporters who label the LPM as a non-Aawambo party.“I reject those critics saying that the LPM is a Nama or Damara party only; we have a mixture of different races in our party. Personally I am Oshiwambo-speaking, which must count for something,” she said.“That line was just a propaganda tool used by Swapo. Look at the formation of Swapo by Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo; he called it the Ovamboland People's Organisation (OPO). He knew at that the time there were other people in Namibia, but he deliberately called it OPO; but today it is a so-called multi-cultural political organisation.”Ndala emphasised that although the party was born from the dismissal of Bernadus Swartbooi as deputy land reform minister by President Hage Geingob, as well as his subsequent resignation from Swapo and the quest for the restitution of ancestral land, it has now evolved into a dynamic party.Ndala added that with the LPM in charge it would not be business as usual.“We will have a congress around April or May next year where we will elect our official leaders to prepare for the elections, we now only form part of the interim leadership.”Ndala said the congress would be part of a five-day “festival of ideas” that would include the presentation of papers on a range of topics, such as agriculture.This research would ultimately inform the party's manifesto, which would be launched subsequently.The LPM promises to deliver land to people in its first 100 days in office and cut the civil service wage bill as humanely as possible, by imposing 55 as the age of retirement, should it win 2019 general elections and the local authority elections the following year.“The model is already there; it is just that the government is not using it. Let us say an LPM councillor becomes a mayor; what she does is she just declares and allocates title deeds. The land is already measured and you can service it afterwards. It just needs decisive leadership,” Ndala said.She added the LPM youth wing was working on a student command element that would fight for student rights and ultimately push for an overhaul of the secondary school curriculum, in order to replace Eurocentric content with African authors and history.“Right now we are drafting the constitution, so it will be launched next week. It will fight for student rights. We are also looking at decolonising the Namibian curriculum and replacing it with one that is in touch with African realities; one that speaks to us.”Ndala added that they had started registering students from different universities. “It will be an independent body, but under the auspices of the LPM.”'Voetsek Hage'Ndala emphasised that the LPM firmly believes in freedom of expression, when asked about the party's stance on Hennie Seibeb's radical utterances on social media, and him chanting “Voetsek Hage” at a recent protest.She admits, however, that in a conservative country like Namibia, radical slogans may be a concern.“We live in a society where people feel you must respect the president regardless of whether he is right or wrong. But the reality is that there are better things to concentrate on. Our government keeps raping us on a daily basis, through maladministration and corruption,” she said.Ndala believes a bigger concern for her is that Seibeb is persecuted for his word choice, but the levels of poverty and unemployed enjoy no priority.“Firstly, we need to make a distinction between Hennie and the movement. Hennie has his constitutional right; while there are some people who do not agree, our Namibian constitution provides for freedom of expression. Everybody has the right to say whatever they want to say,” she said. The LPM filed its application for registering as a political party with the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in September.ECN chief electoral officer Theo Mujoro confirmed the application was being considered.11/20/18--14:00: Africa news in briefAfrica news in brief IMF says optimism in South Africa's economic recovery fadingIvory Coast inflation rises to 0.8%Consumer price inflation in Ivory Coast rose to 0.8% year-on-year in October, up from 0.5% in September, data from the National Statistics Institute showed on Monday.Food and soft drink prices in the world’s top cocoa producer rose 0.5% year-on-year, while housing and utilities prices jumped 3.1%. Transport costs rose 1.2%.Ivory Coast’s economy accounts for around 40% of the eight-nation West African CFA franc currency zone.Deputy mines minister Polite Kambamura said gold producers that sell their output to a central bank refining subsidiary would now keep 55% of their sales in dollars, up from 30% previously.11/20/18--14:00: Namibians feel unsafeNamibians feel unsafeLaw and order failing in Namibia Namibians polled by an international organisation say they don't feel safe walking the streets. Namibia is ranked as one of the worst countries when it comes to law and order.The global polling group Gallup has published the results of its latest poll investigation of crime and policing in 142 countries.Overall Namibia ranked 119th, with a law and order score of 65. This ranking made Namibia the 23rd worst in the world and fourth worst in southern Africa.Gallup conducted over 1 000 face-to-face and telephonic interviews, with a total of 148 000 responses.The group asked people about the level of crime in their area, how safe they felt walking the streets and how much confidence they had in the police force.Gallup then compiled the results into scores and created an index ranking each country by its overall law and order score.“Gallup sees strong relationships between people's answers to questions about their own security and their own experiences with crime and law enforcement and external measures related to economic and social development,” the group said.“These relationships illustrate how high crime rates can often suppress social cohesion and negatively affect economic performance.”The lowest ranked countries on the index are Liberia, Gabon, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Venezuela. The top performers are Singapore, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Uzbekistan.While the Gallup poll is a perceptions index, an overview of what Namibians think and experience, the increasing crime rate in the country is well documented.This month the police said they had recorded 49 000 criminal cases between March and August this year, with murder, robbery and car theft on the rise.According to the police, crime has been rising for the past five years. More than 22 800 cases were reported between March and May this year, while between June and August, the police recorded more than 26 400 cases.According to police statistics cellphone theft increased by 29.5%, murder by 9.5%, robbery by 36.2%, theft of motor vehicles by 34.4% and stock theft by 21.4%.On the plus side, there has been a 49% decline in common assault, a 7.9% drop in assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and a 2.2% drop in rape cases over the past five years.The regions most affected by crime over the last two months were Khomas, Otjozondjupa, Erongo and Oshana.Meanwhile, the Numbeo Crime Index, which is also based on survey responses, ranks Namibia as one of only three African nations in the top 20 most dangerous countries. South Africa, Namibia and Nigeria are all ranked ahead of war-torn nations like Afghanistan and Syria in this index.According to Gallup, the majority of people expressed fair confidence in their police and felt secure in their countries.One in eight respondents (13%) said they had property stolen from them or another household member in the past year, and 5% said they were assaulted or mugged.11/20/18--14:00: Civil society crucial for democracyCivil society crucial for democracy For a nation that is trapped in victimhood when it comes to fighting corruption, holding leaders accountable or simply advocating for the rights of ordinary people, the impact of a having a robust civil society cannot be overemphasised. Just like the media, civic organisations must become the last line of defence in terms of fighting for the interests of the voiceless, as thousands of Namibian families still languish in abject poverty. We have in the past highlighted how lethargic civil society has become, not only in terms of generating public discussion and advocacy around issues of crucial importance, but also when it comes to tackling the evils of corruption in both the private and public sectors. It is sad that so many civil society organisations are now rendered dormant and unable to discharge their mandates and agendas effectively, because of a lack of funding. By their very nature, civil society and the media play a crucial role in any democracy, including through monitoring the conduct of government officials and fighting for social justice. An effective media and civil society also influences government policies in favour of poor and marginalised communities. Civil society can therefore not sit idle and allow corruption and other forms of social injustices to manifest itself in the country. In South Africa, civil society has strengthened that country’s democracy, whether we like it or not. They have an admirable system of checks and balances, which is unparalleled on this continent. Back home, glaring cases of corruption have disappeared into thin air, with well-connected politicians and officials getting away scot-free in the process. We must therefore embrace pressure groups advocating for social justice, because the fight today is about ensuring accountability, economic justice and improved service delivery in all the sectors of our economy.A thriving civil society contributes immensely to this battle.11/20/18--14:00: Councillors defy ShaningwaCouncillors defy ShaningwaTired of being 'dictated to' The Swapo SG is facing a backlash over a directive that the party's Rundu councillors must keep their current office-bearers in place. A group of Swapo councillors at Rundu are planning to boycott today's town council office-bearer elections due to uncertainty over whether mayor Verna Sinimbo will accompany her husband to India, where he is to serve as ambassador.They have also indicated that they will defy Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa's instruction that the council leadership should remain as is.The councillors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they would only take part in the elections if all issues were ironed out pertaining to Sinimbo, and if Swapo would allow them to follow party procedures instead of directives from the SG.President Hage Geingob recently appointed the mayor's husband, permanent secretary Gabriel Sinimbo, as the country's new ambassador to India.“We are all aware that the mayor's husband is going to India, and as we are talking to you, we don't know if she is going with him or not. We understand she is getting diplomatic training, so why is it that she might be staying?” the councillors asked.Sinimbo is said to be as a close ally of Shaningwa and the councillors feel the mayor's interest will always be secured because of their relationship.Sinimbo also made headlines last year when she was delegated by the party's Rundu rural district to attend the Swapo elective congress, when in fact she is a member of the Rundu urban district.She was subsequently elected onto the Swapo central committee. These and other discrepancies now form part of an unfolding High Court battle in which a grouping is seeking to have last year's elective congress declared unconstitutional, unlawful or invalid.The group also want the results of the Swapo top four and central committee elections set aside.The court battle comes nearly a year after an unprecedented bruising campaign and congress, which saw Geingob and his slate under the Team Harambee banner contesting against a faction that called itself Team Swapo.'Personal decisions'When contacted for comment, Sinimbo said she did not owe any fellow councillor an explanation, and only reported to Swapo.“Those are personal decisions. Why should one announce whether I am going or staying? That is for me and my husband and the party, so I don't owe any explanation to any councillor because we are all there on a party ticket. If there was any decision taken, it was communicated to the party,” Sinimbo said.She said the concerned councillors should seek clarity directly from her, if they so wish.Rundu has been making headlines recently due to its water debt, its filthiness and its inability to provide serviced land and houses to its residents, which the councillors are partly blaming on Sinimbo's “dictatorship leadership style”.“As much as we are all equal councillors of the Rundu town council, most decisions are influenced by the mayor; it's either her way or the highway. We cannot allow that to happen any longer,” the councillors said.Apart from concerns over Sinimbo's leadership, the concerned councillors also want to know which party rules and procedures gave Shaningwa the power to “dish out” directives.“In the rules and procedure book of the Swapo Party, nowhere does it talk about the secretary-general issuing directives; in fact, it gives us the guidelines for how office-bearers are elected. We are tired of being dictated to; we are on the ground and we know what is best for our town,” the councillors said.The councillors told Namibian Sun that they were only informed of Shaningwa's directive this week.They said Swapo Kavango East regional coordinator Otillie Shinduvi showed them a letter on her cellphone and read the content to them.It is believed that Shaningwa gave Shinduvi strict instructions that the letter should not end up in the hands of any third parties.When contacted for comment, Shinduvi said she was not in her office and was therefore unaware of today's election.She said all she did was inform the councillors about the directive and that they should pick a date to hold their office-bearer elections.“The office is not yet informed, we just gave them the directive and told them that they could come up with the date,” Shinduvi said.She said she was not aware of any unhappiness.Shaningwa confirmed she had issued the directive, but refused to entertain any further questions.“Swapo has given a directive and if there is any communication or diversion from the directive, then I don't think it should be dealt with through newspapers,” she said.11/20/18--14:00: Unfit and disgustingUnfit and disgusting Linus Shashipapo Secondary School principal Faustinus Shikukutu says they are still waiting for a promised government intervention to renovate the school at a cost of about N$100 million.Shikukutu said the deputy minister of basic education, Anna Nghipondoka, visited the school in March and left feeling sorry for the learners and teachers.“She insisted that we go have a look at where I stay and I remember her saying that she visited a number of dilapidated schools, but this one is just too much,” he said.“When we went with her to the girls' hostel block she remarked that being a mother, she would not allow her daughter to sleep in this block. After that she encouraged us to persevere and said that when she went back to the minister she would share what she saw, so our situation could be addressed,” Shikukutu said.Established in 1974, the school is one of the oldest in the Kavango East Region and its infrastructure is in a sorry state.Classroom ceilings appear to be ready to collapse at any time, while there are massive cracks in the walls. Roofing has also blown off and remains unrepaired since 2015.The school, which accommodates 630 learners, is also faced with an inadequate number of classrooms and teachers.The hostel has an unbearable smell. This is what the 480 hostel occupants have to endure on a daily basis.The teacher houses are in a dire state and health officials have declared them inhumane and unfit to live in.Linus Shashipapo Secondary School has a rich history, as a number of cabinet ministers, politicians and well-known businessmen and women have been taught in its classrooms.The current situation at the school saw learners holding a demonstration in January 2017.“After the demonstration, the regional council tried their level best to get money for various tenders to get the minor issues fixed and those were fixed successfully. However, we are still faced with a lot of challenges,” Shikukutu said.He explained that in 2015, surveyors visited the school and it was determined that government would have to fork out about N$150 million for renovations.Shikukutu said in April the surveyors returned and brought down the renovation costs to N$100 million, after removing some elements.Renovations were apparently expected to start in August.Shikukutu said it will be a challenge next year, because the number of learners is expected to increase from 630 to 900.“Next year will be a challenge for us, because the classrooms are not enough for the current intake.”Shikukutu said he was informed they would be offered tents to teach in.He said last year only seven grade 12 learners who wrote the grade 12 national examinations managed to qualify for university, while only 37% of the 90 learners who sat for the national grade 10 examinations passed.When contacted for comment, Kavango education director Fanuel Kapapero said it was unfortunate that the renovation project had not started yet.“We expected that it would be implemented between April and now, but this has not happened,” Kapapero said.He said the funds for the project would come from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and that the tender process would take a bit longer because of the bank's requirements.He assured Namibian Sun that once all the necessary requirements were completed, the project would start.11/21/18--05:59: Pangolin suspects get bailPangolin suspects get bail Two men arrested on Monday in possession of two live pangolins at the Mururani border checkpoint were granted bail of N$5 000 each in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court.11/21/18--14:00: Mbaeva aching for start against ChiefsMbaeva aching for start against Chiefs Namibian goalkeeper Maximilian Mbaeva is likely to start for South African side Golden Arrows in their next Premier Soccer League (PSL) match, after having been on the bench for most of the season so far, a club source has revealed.Golden Arrows' next match will be against Kaizer Chiefs on 1 December at the Princess Magogo Stadium.It is understood that the Golden Arrows coach Clinton Larsen is unhappy with the way his regular starters have performed so far.Arrows are currently in tenth position on the log, after winning two and losing four matches so far this season.They have also drawn on six occasions.This has triggered the coach to consider those players who have been relatively inactive so far.“It is news to me, but I will be up for the challenge if the coach considers starting me in the next match.“For now, I would rather focus on training hard and being prepared for a start whenever I am required to play for my team,” Mbaeva said.He was a regular starter for Bidvest Wits, popularly known as the 'Clever Boys', in the South African premiership for almost two seasons, until he suffered a concussion towards the end of the 2016/17 season.Mbaeva made his debut for Arrows in August 2014 and went on to make over 80 appearances for the club.The 29-year-old goalkeeper's most appearances for Arrows in a season was during the 2014/15, when he played 30 matches in league and cup competitions.Mbaeva has also lost his first place in the Namibian national team to Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Virgil Vries.11/21/18--14:00: Tantalising curtain-raiserTantalising curtain-raiserCoaches Kasaona, Sibanda go head-to-head A delicious coaching contest is set to unfold over the weekend, as a curtain-raiser to the Dr Hage Geingob Cup decider. Former Brave Gladiators captain Mamie Kasaona's under-20 women's national side will clash with Thuba Sibanda's u-23s on Saturday, in a curtain-raiser for the Dr Hage Geingob Cup match between the Brave Warriors and the Black Stars of Ghana.The ladies' clash will be the perfect opener before the Brave Warriors try to defend their Dr Hage Geingob Cup title at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.The Warriors are the defending champions after beating Zimbabwe 3-1 in front of a packed stadium last year.“I cannot say that my team is the best, but they are determined to pull a surprise. It will be great preparation match for the Region 5 games which will take place in Botswana in December,” said Kasaona.She added she has a young team that is up for the challenge against their older opponents.The captain of the u-20s, Kylie van Wyk said she is confident that they will win the match. “We have been working really hard and are looking forward to the match as it will boost our fitness for the upcoming Region 5 games.”Sibanda said the fans can expect a great showcasing of women football. “My side is the feeder to the Brave Gladiators, so we have to do well,” she said.Her captain, Lovisa Mulunga, said their opponents are as hungry as they are for a win, and that it will not be easy for them, but that she hopes for a positive outcome.The u-20s won the curtain-raiser last year against the Brave Gladiators 1-0. Their aim is to cause an upset again this year.The officials for the curtain-raiser are Vistorina Shangula (referee), Olivia Amukuu (first assistant), Joel Paulina (second assistant) and Antsino Twanyanyukwa (fourth official).The event will be concluded with a music concert that will see the likes of Gazza, Tate Buti, Tee Dee, Exit, Tekla and Female Donkey performing.Tickets are available beforehand at N$30 each through Webtickets Namibia at Pick n Pay outlets countrywide and at NFA Football House in Katutura.11/21/18--14:00: Japan says ready to work for stability of Nissan-Renault allianceJapan says ready to work for stability of Nissan-Renault alliance Japan said on Wednesday it is ready to work for the stability of the Nissan-Renault global alliance. Nissan plays victim This follows the stunning arrest of common Chairman Carlos Ghosn, as the Asahi newspaper reported prosecutors are weighing bringing a case against the Japanese automaker.Nissan Motor Co has portrayed itself as a victim of Ghosn, one of the global car industry’s best-known leaders, who it accused of years of wrongdoing, including personal use of company money and under-reporting earnings. It plans to remove him from post on Thursday.Japanese prosecutors arrested Ghosn on Monday, saying he and representative director Greg Kelly conspired to understate Ghosn’s compensation at Nissan over five years starting in fiscal 2010 as being about half of the actual 10 billion yen (US$88.65 million).Ghosn has bestrode the alliance as chairman and chief executive of Nissan’s French partner Renault, and chairman of third partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp.The alliance “is a symbol of Franco-Japanese industrial success and we will continue to support it,” Japan’s top government spokesman said on Wednesday, calling for a “stable relationship” between the three automakers.Japan’s Nikkei business daily reported on Tuesday that Ghosn had received share price-linked compensation of about 4 billion yen over a five-year period to March 2015 but that it went unreported in Nissan’s financial reports.Shares in Nissan rose 0.8% on Wednesday after falling nearly 6% a day earlier. Mitsubishi Motors was down 0.6% after losing nearly 7% on Tuesday.
