11111 Media Monitoring on Urban Development in Namibia

Media Monitoring on Urban Development in Namibia is a service provided by Development Workshop Namibia (DWN), a Namibian NGO with a focus on sustainable urban development and poverty reduction. DWN is part of a world-wide network of Development Workshop (DW) organisations with centres in Canada, Angola and France, and offices in Vietnam and Burkino Faso. It was founded in the 1970s by three architect students in the UK and has been funded by non- governmental organisations, private citizens, and national and international development organisations.

In Namibia, DWN’s activities focus on urban related research, effective urban planning for the urban poor, solutions to informal settlements, water & sanitation, and projects specifically targeting disadvantaged segments of the urban youth. Through 40 years of engagement on urban issues mainly in Africa and Asia, the DW network of organisations has acquired significant institutional knowledge and capacity and is well integrated in regional and international networks.

The Namibian media provide an important source of information on urban development processes in the country, highlighting current events, opportunities and challenges. The media further provide insight into the different views and perceptions of a variety of actors, be it from government, non- government, private sector, and individuals that reside in Namibia’s towns and settlements.

It is therefore hoped that DWN’s Media Monitoring service will provide insights into those different views, with potential use for a variety of institutions and decision-makers that work in the urban environment in Namibia.

The Media Monitoring service is currently provided on a monthly basis and monitors the following newspapers: The Namibian, Republikein, Namibian Sun, New Era, Windhoek Observer, Confidente, and Informante. Compiled by: The articles are grouped into following categories: Esleen Guriras & Alina Nambuli 1. Urban Planning, Land & Housing Edited by: Ester Veiko & Beat Weber 2. Urban Infrastructure and Services Produced by: 3. Livelihoods and Urban Economy Development Workshop Namibia 4. Environment & Human Health Address: The text of the news articles has not been altered and thus 18 Nachtigal Street PO Box 40723, Ausspannplatz reflects the opinion of the respective media outlets, and not Windhoek, Namibia that of DWN. We hope you find this service useful and 081 627 92 53 interesting. DWN is keen to improve the service and [email protected] welcomes suggestions and comments.

Yours sincerely,

With support from: Development Workshop Namibia Namibian Chamber of Environment

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Index

1 URBAN PLANNING, LAND AND HOUSING ...... 4 1.1 City looking for street to name after Winnie ...... 4 1.2 Environment gets N$4,7m city land...... 5 1.3 Tjivikua, wife get rocky township ...... 5 1.4 Rocky Crest plots ready in 18 months...... 6 1.5 Klazen disappointed that mass houses still empty ...... 6 1.6 Poor planning costs taxpayer millions ...... 7 1.7 Woman in suicide bid after shack demolition ...... 8 1.8 Average house-building costs up 4% ...... 9 1.9 Klazen rebukes Swakop, Henties over empty mass houses ...... 10 1.10 One brick at a time...... 10 1.11 Shikongo's dream home 'halfway' ...... 11 1.12 Rent board: AR issues another threat ...... 12 1.13 Shack dwellers get new houses ...... 13 1.14 AR gives Tweya ultimatum over rent control ...... 13 1.15 Nkurenkuru gets housing developments ...... 14 1.16 N$87m for Eenhana ...... 15 1.17 Government outsourcing of flats sparks panic ...... 15 1.18 Landless residents feel like refugees ...... 16 1.19 Housing initiative for poor 'inspires' – Mushelenga ...... 16 1.20 AR turns up pressure ...... 17 1.21 Otjinene receives 47 new houses ...... 18 1.22 Henties landless set ultimatum ...... 18 1.23 Rent battle intensifies ...... 19 1.24 ’n Huis vir Helena ...... 20 1.25 300 houses to be built at Rocky Crest ...... 21 1.26 Otjinene Buy-a-Brick homes handed over ...... 21 1.27 Namibians deem land, housing delivery provisions insufficient ...... 22 1.28 Geduld met grondnood op – Kazapua ...... 23 1.29 Development in Rocky Crest ...... 23

2 URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES ...... 25 2.1 City halts township's sewerage plans ...... 25 2.2 Meesterplan vir Windhoek se water ...... 25 2.3 Waterpype lek in Windhoek ...... 26 2.4 Erongostreeksraad beplan ontsoutingsaanleg ...... 26 2.5 Kragpale veroorsaak moles ...... 27 2.6 Master plan for WHK water ...... 27 2.7 Katima residents to protest against town council ...... 28 2.8 Clean-up of Opuwo to become mandatory ...... 28 2.9 Hotel donates N$5 000 towards repair of Dias bridge...... 29 2.10 Rain catches Walvis Bay unaware ...... 30 2.11 Vivo Energy and Hangala Properties break ground on N$136 million building ...... 30 2.12 In sak en as ná brand ...... 31 2.13 Innosun’s Namibian Wind Farm Lifted by Johnson Renew ...... 31 2.14 Strangers become friends here ...... 32 2.15 Temporary upgrades for Hosea Kutako airport ...... 33 2

2.16 Mixed bag for service delivery ...... 34 2.17 DBN releases additional N$150 million for ErongoRED ...... 34

3 LIVELIHOODS AND URBAN ECONOMY ...... 36 3.1 Stricter rules for food bank recipients ...... 36 3.2 Usakos oil storage facility to create 1 600 new jobs ...... 37 3.3 Lüderitz street vendors face eviction...... 38 3.4 Flood, shack fire victims get construction materials...... 38 3.5 Help keep the capital warm ...... 39 3.6 NTY voting begins on Monday ...... 39 3.7 Slaughterhouse gets N$400 000 facelift ...... 40 3.8 Opuwo trade fair to market town to investors ...... 40 3.9 Oshikuku signs MoU with trade association ...... 41 3.10 Informal employment comprises 70% women ...... 41 3.11 NTY2018: Wie gaan die kroon dra?...... 42 3.12 Mushelenga wants more visitors at Oshakati Totem Expo ...... 42 3.13 Financial boost for Karibib Travel & Tourism Fair ...... 43 3.14 Omuthiya Youth Parliament aims to address unemployment...... 43 3.15 300 SME evictions halted for now ...... 43 3.16 Tricks for small-town tourism boom unveiled ...... 44

4 ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH ...... 46 4.1 Land gerat vir Operasie Skoonmaak ...... 46 4.2 Ongwediva launches clean-up campaign ...... 46 4.3 Rehoboth maak skoon ...... 47 4.4 Stormweer gooi kusdorpe met modder...... 47 4.5 Opuwo initiates post clean-up campaign ...... 48 4.6 Aanloop tot die groot skoonmaak ...... 49 4.7 Call to hold clean-up campaigns bi-monthly ...... 49 4.8 Geingob leads national clean-up ...... 50 4.9 Hospital spotless after clean-up ...... 51 4.10 Residents asked to dispose of waste properly...... 52

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1 Urban Planning, Land and Housing

1.1 City looking for street to name after Winnie The Namibian|02/05/2018

The City of Windhoek said it is urgently looking at naming a street after the late South African political icon, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. The city's spokesperson, Scheifert Shigwedha, confirmed this last week during a media briefing. “The city council leadership is considering, as a matter of urgency, to rename a street in Windhoek in honour of the late liberation stalwart, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela,” he said. This comes after The Namibian reported last month when President Hage Geingob told the crowd of mourners in South Africa at her funeral service that a street has already been named after the late political hero. “I also, not me alone, but Namibian people also named a street in her honour,” he said at the service. The urgent attention by the city comes 12 years after former Swapo Party Youth League secretary Elijah Ngurare asked the municipality to name a street after Madikizela-Mandela. City councillor Fransina Kahungu told The Namibian yesterday that the street renaming committee is looking for an appropriate street to name after the struggle heroine. Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua also said yesterday that Madikizela-Mandela deserves a street to be named after her. Meanwhile, the City of Windhoek announced the renaming of several streets in Windhoek after fallen heroes and heroines. According to council documents made public last week, Bach Street in Windhoek West is to be renamed after the late Herero paramount chief Kuaima Riruako. The request for the street renaming came from Nudo's representative in the council, Joseph Kauandenge, whose initial request for Shanghai Street was turned down as the name reminds the Namibian people of the role the Chinese government (people) played during the liberation struggle. “After a thorough investigation done by the street and place naming/ renaming secretariat on the subject matter in collaboration with the proponent and family members, Bach Street in Windhoek West was chosen as an appropriate street,” the documents stated. Riruako was also involved in the reparation discussions on the genocide of the Ovaherero and Nama people between 1904 and 1908. Klaagliedere and Kronieke Streets in Katutura will be merged and renamed after Bishop Asaria Kamburona, or a short version of his name. The request was made by the vice chairperson of the Protestant Unity Church, Abel Kazondunge, who stated that bishop Kamburona made contributions that stretch across pre- and post-independent Namibia. “Bishop showed steadfast commitment towards the liberation struggle of the Namibian nation,” he stated. Klaagliedere Street comes from the Bible, and it has a negative connotation, referring to the fall of Jerusalem and the sins committed by those people. “The late bishop was a resident of the identified Kronieke Street, and the name proposed will easily be associated with him and stay by the inhabitants of that area,” the documents stated. The council approved that a street in Academia Extension 2 that was left without a name be named after the late Nicodemus Kavikunua. Kavikunua, who is recognised as a national hero, fought against the German colonisation and genocide. The late Anna Mungunda was initially chosen for the street, but she already had a street named after her in Katutura. She was a protester against the forced eviction from Windhoek's Old Location in 1959, where she set the high-ranking administrator's car on fire and was shot in response. Among other streets to be renamed is Feld Street in honour of the late Seretse Khama, who was the first president of Botswana from 1966 to 1980. Additional streets which will be renamed are Bismarck Street in honour of the late Simeon Shixungileni, and Delfos Street for the late Fillemon Nduvu Nangolo. Tuin Street in Shandumbala will be named after the late Juuso Katangolo. According to the street and place naming/renaming committee, the naming and renaming of streets and places after persons who made an impact on the development of the city is a way of etching the country's history, both pleasant and not so pleasant, in the memories of the people.

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1.2 Environment gets N$4,7m city land The Namibian|02/05/2018

The City of Windhoek has approved the sale of land to the environment ministry for N$4, 7 million, despite outstanding technical issues. The land in question is Erf 87 in the Lafrenz Industrial area in northern Windhoek, measuring 4 452 square metres, which the ministry applied for in 2016. The plot was initially zoned as a 'public open space', and is currently occupied by vendors. According to minutes of last month's council meeting seen by The Namibian, the environment ministry wants to build the Khomas regional office, offices for the game capture unit, and storage facilities for trucks and heavy equipment for the scientific services directorate there. Despite approving the sale, the minutes said the plot does not have any “stormwater system crossing” and municipal sewer connections. Therefore, the ministry would be required to construct sewer lines, and accommodate a surface stormwater run- off line. The minutes further state that the land was subdivided into two portions, and would now be closed off to the public after it was rezoned. Portion A – measuring 640 square metres – would be developed into a market to accommodate vendors, while the remainder of the land, measuring 3 800m2, would be sold to the environment ministry. The council then approved the sale of the land for N$4, 7 million, or N$1 200 per square metre. The council documents show that approval was granted to avoid further delays because the ministry was in an urgent need of office space. According to the documents, the scientific services directorate within the ministry is currently accommodated at rented offices that are “too expensive”. The vendors' market would be constructed with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the land to the ministry, the minutes showed.

1.3 Tjivikua, wife get rocky township The Namibian|09/05/2018

The Windhoek municipality approved a plan by academic-cum-property developer Tjama Tjivikua to build a township that will accommodate 307 plots in Rocky Crest, despite environmental concerns. Tjivikua, the vice chancellor at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, received land through what is called public-private partnership deals with the municipality in which they get the land free from the city, put up services such as water, and then sell it. This type of deal has been criticised in the past by city executives for enriching property developers. Tjivikua is into this public-private partnership through Waterberg Investment, a company he co-owns with his wife Neveara Olivier and Angela Katjimune. The land, measuring 43 hectares (around 43 average football fields), is in Rocky Crest along the Western Bypass buffer, west of Pionierspark Extension 1. Council documents show that Tjivikua's company wants to service 307 plots. Of these plots, 254 will be for residential purposes. It also shows that there will be two business plots, three plots for a pre-primary school, church or kindergarten, and a community hall. There are concerns at the municipality, however, that Tjivikua's township will have a potential negative environmental impact. The municipality's strategic executive for water and technical services, Ludwig Narib, said Rocky Crest Extension 5 – the area where Tjivikua wants to build his township – “falls within the Pionierspark reservoir pressure zone”. The municipality rang the alarm bells in 2015 when it announced that pollution in the area where underground water reservoirs are located could be “life-threatening to the residents of Windhoek”. In fact, the municipality admitted that the city would be struggling with supplying water to the proposed new townships. The environmental commissioner, Teofilus Nghitila, however, approved Tjivikua's township. “Regular environmental monitoring and evaluations on the environmental performance should be conducted. Targets for improvement should be established and monitored throughout the process,” he stated. Nghitila is infamously known for approving the controversial marine phosphate mining process in Namibia, just to be told to back off later after a public outcry over the project. The township was approved to reduce pressure from the municipality due to the continued increase in the urban population, the document said. “Due to its [Rocky Crest] interface with Pionierspark, and the fact that it is the most visible of the Rocky Crest Extensions on the Western Bypass, the approach taken is to 5 raise its profile to upper-middle-class status,” the council documents said. According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, Windhoek's population was more than 340 000 in 2011. According to the council documents, the new township is one way in which the city will go ahead with plans to make Windhoek a 'Smart and Caring City' as envisioned by the new transformational strategic plan. Tjivikua's company is also required to provide municipal services within the township. The company is furthermore required to sign a development agreement following approval through the town planning process. It is unclear whether Tjivikua and his team have changed the project's other targets. The Namibian in 2015 quoted a document which showed the project would cost N$112 million, while the estimated income from selling the plots was N$175 million. At the time, profit was estimated at N$60 million, which means that Tjivikua and his partners stood to make over N$20 million from the deal. The other N$20 million profit would go to the municipality, while Old Mutual (the financier) will also get N$20 million as equal joint venture partners entitled to 33% of the profits each. The Namibian reported in 2015 how well-connected Namibians were scrambling for land in Rocky Crest. An opinion of the city's legal department in 2014 said: “It has become evident that various applications are received for PPPs because developers have realised that it is the easiest way to obtain super-profits by contributing only a lender's agreement provided by a third party (bank or another financier)”. Tjivikua's deal is among 12 public-private partnerships across Windhoek that were mostly dished out to well-connected Namibians. Previous beneficiaries of these types of transactions include Acacia Investments, headed by lawyer Patrick Kauta, and Sinco Investment Sixty One, which is owned by businessman Leake Hangala.

1.4 Rocky Crest plots ready in 18 months The Namibian Sun|09/05/2018

New plots that the City of Windhoek is servicing for middle-income buyers should be available within 18 months' time. The municipality is currently servicing a piece of land in the Rocky Crest suburb to the south west of the city. City spokesperson Scheifert Shigwedha said residential and business plots would be available. “Two-hundred-and-fifty-six are for single residential in Extension 5 Rocky Crest but in total the erven for Extension 5 are 307, including institutional and businesses. Extension 7 residential are 175, with the total being 190 for institutional and business purposes,” said Shigwedha. Rocky Crest Extension 5 is located west of Pionierspark Extension 1 along the Western Bypass and measures 43 hectares. A private financier would help the City service a large portion of land in Rocky Crest in a public-private partnership, he said. “Take note that Extension 7 is not to be serviced through the PPP,” he added. “The completion of the proclamation process will eventually determine ... how soon our PPP partner and the City can commence with servicing...” said Shigwedha. Rocky Crest Extension 7 measures about 21 hectares. The City recently said that there was a backlog in residential plots for all income groups, and the residential land to be developed in Rocky Crest extensions 5 and 7 would cater for the middle-income group.

1.5 Klazen disappointed that mass houses still empty The Namibian Sun|09/05/2018

The absence of a coordination framework between local authorities and the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) continues to delay the allocation of mass housing units across the country. The Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development Derek Klazen at a meeting yesterday made this revelation and berated local authorities and the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) for failing to synchronise their functions in dealing with mass housing. He was adamant that the central government long ago issued clear guidelines to local authorities on how to deal with the transfer of land on which the mass housing units are built. The houses were built through the NHE, which was allocated land for that specific purpose, and when the house goes to the owner, that land must be transferred to the

6 local authority. Local authorities are responsible for allocating the mass housing units, according to the list of people who need houses in each local authority. “I am very disappointed to learn that the Deeds of Donation is still cited as one of the reasons why the potential beneficiaries cannot occupy the houses,” said Klazen. “Therefore, I am puzzled that we are still talking today about houses not yet allocated because the transfer of land has not yet taken place,” he said. “There are delays in Keetmanshoop, Mariental, Karasburg, Henties Bay and Khorixas, because of those deeds. In the meantime winter is again upon us and the houses are empty with government forking our millions to guard the houses, money that could have been used to build other houses. In the meantime, those with the responsibility to see that these houses get allocated ignore clear directives,” Klazen said. Many local authorities are yet to complete the transfer of land from NHE to town councils’ books. Klazen says this is despite the clear directives issued to all local authority councils. He mentioned a meeting that sat sometime in April 2016 as the last meeting where guidelines were issued as to how councils should speed up the transfer of land that was allocated to the NHE for the construction of houses in the country. An agitated Klazen was speaking at a consultative meeting with Swakopmund’s local authority leaders and regional NHE branch officials. Klazen added that local authorities when experiencing problems with the directives should have consulted with the ministry instead of ignoring it. He specifically singled out the Swakopmund Municipality and NHE, urging them to foster closer relations. “It’s imperative that these houses are allocated. The municipality must make sure that the transfer of land to beneficiaries is completed within 30 days from today. NHE must then make sure that it is registered in the names of the beneficiaries within seven days and submit a report to the ministry in this regard,” Klazen said. NHE was to construct 1,500 houses in Swakopmund of which 670 were already handed over and 137 should already have been completed, while the rest are under construction.

1.6 Poor planning costs taxpayer millions The Namibian|11/05/2018

Because of poor planning, two constituency offices in the Oshana Region have to be replaced with new buildings. Oshana governor Clemens Kashuupulwa confirmed to Namibian Sun that there had been “technical errors” in identifying suitable sites for constituency offices about ten years ago. This lack of planning and site inspection is now costing the taxpayer millions, because new offices must be built for the Oshakati East and Oshakati West constituencies. Construction of a new office for the Oshakati East constituency office is nearing completion, while the regional council is still discussing plans to build a new constituency office for the Oshakati West constituency. During the construction of the Oshakati East constituency office at Omege in 2008, the regional council failed to do a proper technical assessment of the site and the building is now collapsing. In Oshakati West, the regional council failed to consult the public as to the most suitable place for the constituency office, which resulted in the office not being used by people. In his State of the Region Address (SORA), Kashuupulwa announced that construction of the new Oshakati East constituency at Ompundja was nearing completion. “There is a serious problem at the constituency office at Omege. The office is situated over a shallow underground water area. This was not noticed during the construction. “After the office was completed it started developing cracks and sinking into the ground. After a team of technicians inspected it, they found out that the building was built over shallow underground water,” Kashuupulwa said. Kashuupulwa said the technicians recommended relocating the office because it could not be renovated and was hazardous to those working there. He said three years ago they presented a report to the urban and rural development ministry, which approved N$5.6 million for building a new office. Members of the public have criticised the location of the new building, saying that it is situated in the Ompundja constituency. Kashuupulwa responded that many people do not understand that the office is situated within the constituency’s demarcated boundaries. On 12 August 2016, Oshakati West regional councillor Andreas Johannes requested to the regional council to relocate his office from Uukwangula Settlement to Oniimwandi Village, claiming that his office was situated in Okatana

7 constituency and was inaccessible to the people of the constituency. Uukwangula Settlement houses two constituency offices, for Oshakati West and Okatana constituency, a situation that is not welcomed by members of the public and some of the regional councillors. Kashuupulwa said he was aware of the situation at the Oshakati West constituency office and the request for a new office by the councillor, however he said it is likely not to be approved as the constituency already had an office and building a new one would waste public money. “These are challenges of leadership change. This office was proposed by the previous councillor Aram Martin, however the new councillor is not happy with it saying that it is situated far away from people. The main question is what the current office will be used for? The regional council is busy deliberating on the issue, but I don’t think it will succeed due to the current financial situation,” he said. He said he would wait for the outcome of the regional council talks and a recommendation by the council’s management committee before making a presentation to the urban and rural development ministry.

1.7 Woman in suicide bid after shack demolition The Namibian|11/05/2018

“See you in heaven or hell” This was the text message sent to the neighbour of Gracia Beukes (25) after she attempted to end her life on Wednesday when Windhoek City Police officers demolished her shack in Otjomuise's 8ste Laan informal area. Lying in her hospital bed yesterday, Beukes admitted to The Namibian that she had swallowed about 20 tablets because City Police officers had demolished the shack in which she and her children lived. City Police spokesperson Fabian Amukwelele yesterday confirmed the demolition of shacks, but declined to comment further. Two shacks were demolished in the area, including that of Wilhemina David (33), who is now squatting at a neighbour's shack with her belongings. Beukes, a mother of two, was rushed to the Katutura Intermediate Hospital after she texted her neighbour Basilius Haakurua, indicating that she was going to commit suicide. “It was nice meeting you...please stay close to my kids, and never allow for them to get hurt the way I did. See you in heaven or hell,” reads the text message she sent. Haakuria immediately called for an ambulance. Beukes yesterday was apologetic on behalf of her children. “I was not thinking about my children when I attempted to end my life. I will not do it again,” she said during this interview. Beukes said it all started towards the end of February when City Police demolished her shack at the illegal plot in 8ste Laan. “In February, police took down my shack while I was picking up my daughter from a daycare centre,” she explained. Beukes said she informed the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)'s president McHenry Venaani about her situation. “He helped me get a lawyer, and I applied for a court interdict to prevent the municipality from destroying my shack,” she said. However, the court informed Beukes that it could not deliver a judgement because she had illegally set up the shack. On 21 March, she set up another structure on the same plot, and her neighbours informed the City Police about it. Beukes said on Wednesday, members of the City Police demolished her shack again. After they left, she promptly decided to take an overdose of some tablets. “I left my children alone. I texted my estranged husband, and told him to come and pick up his children. I also texted my neighbour [Haakuria], and told him to take care of my children,” she said. Haakuria, who is a pastor, told The Namibian yesterday that he arrived on time to call the ambulance and take the children to his home while their mother was being hospitalised. He said he had witnessed how the woman and her children cried as their shack was being demolished. Haakuria added that he called the officer who had ordered the demolition, and informed him of what happened to the woman. “He told me it was not his problem if she committed suicide. I told him he should be the one calling the ambulance because it was the City Police who created this mess,” he said. Haakurua said he wants President Hage Geingob, First Lady Monica Geingos and City of Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua to hear the plight of the landless. “People are suicidal because they are landless, while the rich are acquiring land for themselves,” he stressed. PDM's Secretary General Manuel Ngaringombe said that although the City has a mandate to remove illegal shacks, they should not treat the landless as less than humans. “The ministry of urban development and City of Windhoek should fast-track the land allocation process in order to house more people,” he said.

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1.8 Average house-building costs up 4% Republikein|11/05/2018

The cost of building a standard three-bedroom house on a 375 square metres erf rose by 4.3% from March 2017 to March 2018, with the cost of land recording the highest increase. According to the latest First Capital House Building Cost Report, released on Wednesday, the average price tag for such a house in Windhoek and Swakopmund was N$449 926. In the rest of the country, the average cost was N$376 298. The breakdown for Windhoek and Swakopmund is: Land (N$95 000), labour (N$100 926), building materials (N$240 300) and indirect costs (N$13 700). In the rest of Namibia, the average picture looks like this: Land (N$23 000), labour (N$97 028), building materials (N$242 570) and indirect costs (N$13 700). For Namibia as a whole, the various components of buildings cost recorded average annual increases as follow: Land (4.8%), labour (4.4%) and building materials (4.1%).

Cement

First Capital (FC) says most of the cement consumed in Namibia is manufactured locally, and its price is subject to mainly domestic factors that have an impact on cement production. “The domestic slowdown in the economy that started in 2016 have impacted negatively on the construction sector which is a key demand sector for cement. “In line with the trend of slowing construction activities in the country, domestic cement output has also been slowing over two years since 2016. At the back of slowing demand, prices of cement were barely stable in 2017, which in our view was also supported by weak demand,” FC says. According to FC, the continued consolidation of the country’s fiscal position and the prolonged slowdown in the economy remains major downside factors to the construction sector which continues to weaken demand for cement. “With the new entrant of a cement producing company in the market that is set to begin supplying the market with the prolonged weak demand in consumption of cement, we hold a view that prices will remain flat throughout 2018,” FC says.

Bricks, sand

FC says the price of super bricks increased by 4% in March 2018 compared to March 2017. “The price of bricks is influenced by the price of cement and transport cost of transporting sand from the extraction site to the site of producing bricks. The price increase of 4% in bricks is in line with price increase of sand and transport costs. “In 2018, we do not expect major price shock to the price of bricks, as slow demand should be limiting factor for the motive by producers to increase prices. Competition among brick suppliers will also be key in keeping prices stable as of recent in the market of supplying bricks has picked up,” FC says. Annual figures show an increase of 4.8% in March 2018 compared to the price of sand in March 2017, FC continues. “Unlike for bricks, suppliers of sand remain few and this have always supported increases in the price of sand. The recent move towards regulating sand mining given the environmental impact it poses in areas where sand is mined could be another factor which we believe will further limit reduce suppliers in the market. This however, could mean a marginal increase in the price of sand,” FC says.

Electrical goods

According to the report, the prices of electrical goods surged went up by 4.8% on an annual basis in March 2018. “The input commodities of the manufacturing of these electrical goods is base metals like copper, aluminium and steel. Given that Namibia imports most of electrical materials goods, the local exchange rate and prices of base metals which are production inputs will be key to the outlook of electrical building materials,” FC says. “In line with the World Bank and International Monetray Fund’s outlook of slow recovery in the prices of base metals, we expect domestic prices of electrical goods will remain stable throughout 2018, supported by the continued exchange rate resilience of the local currency against the US dollar.” 9

1.9 Klazen rebukes Swakop, Henties over empty mass houses The Namibian|14/05/2018

Deputy Minister of urban and rural development Derek Klazen on Wednesday rebuked the municipalities of Swakopmund and Henties Bay for the many unoccupied mass houses at these towns. Klazen had meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday with officials of the two towns and the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) at Swakopmund over the allocation of houses constructed under the Mass Housing Development Programme (MHDP). He said the two municipalities and the NHE had failed to synchronise their roles in the programme, while praising Walvis Bay for having ensured that all completed mass houses were occupied. Since the MHDP was launched five years ago, about 400 of the planned 2 300 houses at Swakopmund have been completed, of which about 200 have been occupied. At Henties Bay, 53 houses were completed, and 22 occupied. Some houses were handed over to the beneficiaries by former urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa earlier this year. Klazen reminded Swakopmund and Henties Bay officials of the objective of the mass housing programme, which was to reduce the housing backlog, particularly in the ultra-low and low income groups. “I am not happy with the status quo of these houses that were completed but not yet allocated to beneficiaries. We are denying potential homeowners an opportunity to enjoy the comfort of their houses during the cold season that is approaching,” he stated. Klazen said the ministry has issued several directives to local authorities and the NHE to speed up the allocation of houses. “It is our conviction that these houses should have been allocated and occupied by now, but here we are today with unoccupied houses,” he stressed. According to information disclosed at the meeting with Henties Bay officials, the housing backlog at the town stands at about 400. Attempts to get comment from either the mayor or CEO of Henties Bay were unsuccessful yesterday. “It is displeasing to note that we still have such a huge backlog here, while we have houses that are already completed, but not occupied. We cannot rest until all the houses are allocated, and potential beneficiaries have moved in,” Klazen reiterated. He also complained about completed, unoccupied houses being vandalised, and the ministry having to spend millions on security to prevent such vandalism. “Some local authorities do not adhere to directives, and this is a serious offence,” Klazen warned, adding that the minister's directive was clear about how local authorities should facilitate the transfer of land to beneficiaries. “I am, therefore, puzzled that today we are still talking about houses not being occupied because the transfer of land has not taken place. I want this process to be expedited,” he said. Swakopmund CEO Marco Swartz yesterday said the handing over of houses was delayed due to the existence of more than one housing list which could have resulted in the duplication of some names. According to Swartz, the NHE list has 15 000 names, while the municipality's list has 9 000 names. “There could be the same applicants on the two lists. We need to do proper background checks on the applicants, and ensure the lists are merged to avoid duplicating, and to streamline the process,” he said. The NHE's senior finance manager, Jeremiah Ntinda, said Klazen's rebuke was noted, and that all completed houses should be occupied before the end of the year. “This is not just for the coast, but the whole country. We will iron out the discrepancies in the waiting lists to ensure that when we combine them into a merged master list, there will be no duplications. We are also waiting for municipalities to conclude their deed of donation of the land so that we can finalise the transfer of the land to the beneficiaries. This is just a legal process, but it must be done,” Ntinda added.

1.10 One brick at a time The Namibian Sun|14/05/2018

The unveiling of 20 low-income houses over the weekend built by the Mariental Shack Dwellers’ Federation’s team of which more than 80% were women, highlighted the federation’s countrywide achievements of a total output of 4 800 homes built nationally through the dedication and hard work

10 of 23 000 members belonging to 747 groups. Frederika Fredericks of the Mariental team on Saturday pointed out that in total, the groups across the country had saved over N$25 million with the help of their members, in addition to funds from private sponsors and government. Ultimately however, the homes, including the 20 new ones, are a result of the dedication and hard work of members, she said. The Mariental group was launched in 2014, and members were encouraged to save every cent they could spare, and manage the funds accordingly, to enable them to achieve their goals. “While we were waiting for availability of land from the council, we raised money by doing activities to boost our savings, including braais and concerts,” she said. In 2017, the group was provided with a plot, which could accommodate 20 members. “We actually learned a lot in the process and one of that was to have patience and to stand together as one, to focus on team work.” The building of the houses, undertaken by the members of the group themselves, included the making of bricks and acquiring construction skills. “Brickmaking was not easy, as 80% of the members were female. We made our own bricks with the assistance of group members and their families. We also excavated the foundation of the 20 houses, and each beneficiary had to be a handyman.” The unveiling on Saturday signified the conclusion of a lengthy process, Fredericks said. “We all reached the finish line and as you see today we have our houses, with electricity and sanitation. We can call this home and provide a proper shelter for our children.” Johan de Lange of the Mariental municipality, on Saturday said the federation is a key partner in the construction of low-income homes in the town. De Lange noted that in support of their efforts, the musicality not only provided land, but the erven were fully serviced with electricity and sewer services and sold to the beneficiaries at a minimal price. The total cost of the houses was N$32 000, Fredericks said, and added that in the Hardap Region alone, more than 30 Shack Dwellers’ Federation groups have been established, consisting of 875 members who together have saved N$253 000. The groups have constructed a total of 292 houses in Hardap, including in Maltahöhe (10), Schlip (4), Rehoboth (84), Aranos (12), Stampriet (27), Hoachanass (40), Gochas (58) and other small towns and villages. Thirty-five houses have been constructed din Mariental to date, Fredericks said. The next step is the construction of 12 houses in Aranos and 11 in Amprebo. Derek Klazen, the deputy minister of urban and rural development, at the occasion praised the Shack Dwellers’ Federation members for their efforts to improve the living conditions of poor communities. “Their activities offer hope and meaning to the lives of women, men and children who share the same hopes that we all have for better, safer and more promising lives.” He underlined that the federation’s members, in Mariental and across the country, has “shown that there can be solutions to problems that we are struggling with every day,” noting that inequality and poverty are harsh realities in Namibia. He said government alone cannot solve the housing shortage in Namibia, and is relying on team effort from all sectors, including civic society and the private sector, to work together to find solutions. “The Shack Dwellers’ Federation’s solution is unique and worth supporting, in that it is a case of the community itself taking action to address its own developmental needs. This is a clear testimony of sustainable and people-centred development.” He said government’s trust in the federation’s work is reflected in the financial support to the groups, which has to date amounted to N$44.6 million that was used to construct 1863 houses. Fredericks took the opportunity on Saturday to thank sponsors who assisted with the new homes, including the Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG), First National Bank, the Pupkewitz Foundation, Ohorongo Cement and Neo Paints for their support, in addition to government and local leadership.

1.11 Shikongo's dream home 'halfway' The Namibian Sun|15/05/2018

Paralympic T11 200m sprinter Ananias Shikongo's dream of having a place to call home will soon come true, with contractors having now reached the halfway stage, as they work towards finalising his house. Standard Bank, in partnership with the National Housing Enterprise (NHE), donated a house to the value of N$500 000 to the Paralympic athlete, after he won three medals at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. The bank collaborated with NHE to secure a plot and construct the home for the athlete, which is situated behind Eveline Street in Katutura. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in February this

11 year. “We donated the house to Ananias because we believe that it is imperative to give recognition to sport as an enabling contributor that fosters unity, national reconciliation and regional and international cooperation.“It is also important to celebrate achievements, because it not only motivates you to continue on the path of success, but it also positions you as a winner and attracts more success,” Standard Bank communication's manager Surihe Gaomas-Guchu said this week. Although it has been a long journey to this point, she said she was elated because they were almost at the finish line and the Paralympic athlete would soon have a decent place to call home. “Shikongo proved to the entire nation that disability is not inability and has emerged victorious against all odds. It was only fitting that we reward him in an equally fitting manner,” she explained. Shikongo has also been a key figure, raising awareness for the bank's flagship Buy-a-Brick initiative over the past few years. He signed an agreement to that effect with the bank in early 2017. “The Paralympian's story is demonstrative of the significant importance of choice and the unlimited opportunities it opens up for people, when they just stop focusing on the obstacles they face. In a few short months all his hard work will pay off when he moves into his brand new house and we would like to urge all youth to follow in his footsteps,” Gaomas-Guchu added. Shikongo said he visited the house a few days ago and was happy with the positive results. “It's nearly done. I waited for a long time, but I'm so happy because by August I will be sleeping in my own house,” he said. Shikongo said he will not be living in his house alone, as he will be sharing it with some of his friends, who are also disabled athletes.

1.12 Rent board: AR issues another threat The Namibian Sun|15/05/2018

The Affirmative Repositioning Movement has issued another legal threat against the authorities over the slow implementation of resolutions taken during a meeting with President Hage Geingob three years ago, which included the introduction of a rent control board. AR leading figure Job Amupanda, in a strongly worded letter to industrialisation minister Tjekero Tweya, demanded to know why the government had not implemented the resolutions as agreed at the State House meeting three years ago. Amupanda also demanded that the minister explain before Friday, 18 May at 16:00 why the youth should not approach the court to compel him and the government to implement a rent control board and to prescribe tariffs as stipulated by the Estate Agents Act. He also demanded that the minister explain why he should not be held personally liable for the failure to faithfully obey, execute the Rent Ordinance of 1977 and the Estate Agents Act. Tweya's predecessor, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, said in 2016 that a cabinet meeting had approved the establishment of a rent control board. “All in the interest of capitalist objectives of amassing untaxed wealth and profit from rent. An existing law cannot be placed under the carpet for the purpose of convenience, imaginary or future plans of officials. It may actually be an offence on the part of the government,” Amupanda wrote. He also pointed out that the Estate Agents Act's Section 33 (1) (B) provides for the government to prescribe tariffs for estate agents. However, said Amupanda, government negotiations to implement this provision, which should in fact be regarded as an obligation and non-negotiable, had been fruitless. “The results of government and your ministry's refusal and zigzagging on the implementation of existing laws have had devastating consequences on us as a renting population.“This pro-elite rental environment has become unbearable to us with the ever-increasing price of rent, exploitation of tenants by landlords and a plethora of problems which the ordinance was unable or unwilling to solve this matter through engagements that took four years to date,” he wrote. In February last year, the AR also threatened legal action against the government, which put on hold the appointment of a rent control board until the tabling of a new bill. Tweya, as information minister, then announced a sudden turnabout on appointing a rent control board by saying the 1977 law had become obsolete and would “render the work of the rent board of no force or effect”. He announced that a new rent bill was on the cards which would replace the current legislation. Until that time, it would be impractical to implement a rent control board, he said. The rent bill has not yet been discussed in parliament. Tweya was not reachable for comment yesterday as his phone went unanswered.

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1.13 Shack dwellers get new houses The Namibian|15/05/2018

Twenty houses were handed over to members of the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) at Mariental on Saturday during a ceremony officiated by rural and urban development deputy minister Derek Klazen. The houses were constructed through a smart partnership between the SDFN and the Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG), Ohorongo Cement, the First National Bank Foundation, and the Pupkewitz Foundation. SDFN member Frederika Fredericks said at the handing-over ceremony that the federation has so far constructed 292 houses across the Hardap region. These houses are at Stampriet (27), Hoachanas (40), Gochas (58), Aranos (12), MaltahÖhe (10), Amper-Bo (4), Gibeon (10), Uibes (6), Schlip (4) and Rehoboth (84). She said at Mariental, there are nine housing groups with 328 members. The process to build the 20 houses at Mariental started with members, 80% of whom are women, making bricks themselves. “We had to make our own bricks with the assistance of group members and their families. We, the beneficiaries, also excavated the foundations of the 20 houses. The best part of all is that we all got to the finishing line to realise our dream today to have a place we can call home,” she added. According to Fredericks, the houses cost about N$32 000 each to build. The beneficiaries will pay off their N$32 000 loan over a period of 11–20 years, at a 5% interest rate. She also revealed that the SDFN would build another 12 houses at Aranos and 11 at Amper-Bo, still in the Hardap region. Klazen said when handing over the houses that the federation offered hope to many people for better, safer and more promising lives. “More importantly, through your efforts, you have shown that there can be solutions to problems that we are struggling with every day,” he stressed, adding that inequality and poverty were undeniable features of Namibia. He encouraged the SDFN to expand its housing programme for shack dwellers, and to share the benefits with all other disadvantaged communities countrywide. “Our nation is undergoing rapid urbanisation, and the demand for urban housing is set to increase, especially in the area of low-income groups,” he noted. The government alone could not address the housing shortage in the country, Klazen said, adding that partnerships were commendable, as was the case in the alliance between the government, the SDFN and the private sector, which has delivered housing to low-income earners. To date, the politician said, government's financial support to the SDFN has amounted to N$44,6 million that was used to build 1 863 houses countrywide.

1.14 AR gives Tweya ultimatum over rent control The Namibian|16/05/2018

The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement has threatened to take the government to court if it fails to provide reasons for not implementing the Rent Control Ordinance and the Estate Agents Act before Friday. AR leader Job Amupanda, in a letter to trade and industrialisation minister Tjekero Tweya dated 14 May 2018, stated that government delays in implementing the Rent Control Ordinance of 1977 and the Estate Agents Act of 1976 had devastating consequences “on us as a renting population”. “This pro-elite rental environment has become unbearable to us, with the ever-increasing price of rent, the exploitation of tenants by landlords, and the plethora of problems which the ordinance was established to avoid or deal with,” he stated. Amupanda said they want reasons why the “renting youth” should not approach the court to compel the government and Cabinet to implement the Rent Control Ordinance, as well as prescribe tariffs “at which estate agents may act”. Amupanda's letter comes nearly three years after AR and government reached an agreement, in 2015, to speed up the process of implementing housing-related laws, and other issues related to land and housing matters. According to the activist, former trade and industrialisation minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko had requested AR to nominate members to serve on the Rent Control Board, but nothing happened after that. “It is

13 important for this context and posterity to underscore that the minister has placed on record that there exists resolution 61 of the Cabinet committee directing the implementation of the Rent Control Board. He also placed on record that there exists an attorney general confirmation that the Rent Control Ordinance of 1977 is applicable, and should be operationalised,” he said. Despite numerous “fruitless engagements on the very provisions of the existing law”, he added, it was evident that government was unable or unwilling to resolve the matter. “It has now been years of dismal and deliberate failure of government and the line ministry to implement existing laws. We cannot wait for another four years. We cannot keep suffering, while the elite is exploiting us with the protection of politicians,” he continued. The AR leader also threatened to hold Tweya “personally liable for failure to faithfully obey, execute and administer”, the Rent Control Ordinance and the Estate Agents Act. He said if the government failed to provide reasons by Friday, 18 May, AR would approach its lawyers to summon Tweya to appear in court “the following week”. “If by Friday, 18 May 2018, at 16h00, I do not get a response from you, I will conclude that you maintain the same position of your predecessor and Cabinet as a collective. You can then anticipate being served with court papers the following week,” Amupanda stressed. The government in 2016 promised to establish the Rent Control Board as well as the Estate Agents Board “as a matter of urgency to resolve the issue of high rentals and accommodation problems”. However, this promise was not fulfilled after the government argued that the law was “obsolete, and if applied in its current form, will render the work of the rent board of no effect”. Tweya announced last year in February that the government had introduced a new draft bill to replace the “obsolete” law. At the time, the draft rent bill was undergoing constitutional scrutiny by the attorney general, and was to be forwarded to various stakeholders for input. This process was supposed to be completed by the end of last year. Tweya yesterday said he would respond to Amupanda's letter, but refused to give an update on the progress of the new legislation. “The letter was sent to me as the minister, and it is for the minister to respond. I will respond accordingly. That is all I can say,” he noted.

1.15 Nkurenkuru gets housing developments The New Era|16/05/2018

Kavango West Regional Governor Sirkka Ausiku says the region’s capital Nkurenkuru is slowly getting a facelift as new housing projects emerge at the town. Ausiku, in her State of the Region Address last week revealed that Nkurenkuru is witnessing some housing developments by private developers who are to construct 81 houses at Extension 2. Construction work already started in April. One developer is to construct 30 houses at Kahenge Proper, with the ground-breaking ceremony held in March. “The town council is also engaged with some private businesses for public-private partnerships (PPP) in order to provide municipal services on 350 erven at Nkurenkuru Extension 5; 301 erven at Kahenge Extension 2 and 333 erven at Nkurenkuru Extension 6. With the first two PPPs, the ministerial and attorney general’s approval is already obtained, PPP agreements have been signed and the developer has already started with the surveying and service design, while for the other PPP [things are] still in progress,” the governor said. “This is a welcome move as long as the houses will be affordable to our people. We can see that the face of Nkurenkuru town is changing slowly but surely,” she noted. Governor Ausiku during her address also reported that Nkurenkuru Town Council, during the period under review, was busy with the construction of municipal services (water, electricity, roads and sewers) in Nkurenkuru Extension 2, Phase 2 and Extension 3, Phase1. These projects are ongoing. She further reported that Nkurenkuru also undertook other projects during the period under review, which were funded by NORED: the electrification of shack dwellers and Kulisuka location that are completed. “Nkurenkuru Town Council under the mass housing programme managed to allocate to beneficiaries 48 houses out of the 49 that were built for social housing (low income). The 16 credit-link houses were allocated by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and only four clients are yet to receive their new houses,” she said.

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1.16 N$87m for Eenhana The Namibian Sun|17/05/2018

The Eenhana town council has tabled a budget of about N$87 million for the 2018/19 financial year, which focuses on providing houses and serviced land for the poor. Eenhana in Ohangwena Region has been making positive strides in terms of servicing residential plots for its residents. On Monday, Eenhana mayor Amos Nangolo tabled the budget which is subjected to ministerial approval. The budget is 6.4% lower than that of the previous year but Nangolo was confident that the council would be able to meet its objectives with the limited resources at its disposal. “The council has prepared the 2018/19 budget under precarious conditions due to the fact that the Namibian economy is still under extreme pressure. This budget comes at a time after the Namibian economy had endured its most precarious phase. It is an economy at a turning point and this budget is a funding compact for growth, bringing about investments and promoting improved service delivery,” Nangolo said. “It is a fiscal proposition to further consolidate non-core spending and align resources to core local priorities.”Nangolo said although the council had made positive strides in servicing plots and constructing houses, the demand was still high and the council did not have the necessary funds to meet the demand. “The importance of timely delivery of serviced land for both residential and businesses cannot be overemphasised. The demand for housing and business erven continues to outgrow the supply completely and the fact that the council does not have the necessary resources to tackle this challenge,” Nangolo said. However, Nangolo said through public private partnerships (PPPs) they managed to address the high demand for serviced erven and construction of houses. “I am proud to announce that the various PPP initiatives that the council has entered into with a couple of developers are bearing fruits,” Nangolo said. This included the completion of 600 houses by Greywall Properties at Omhito Extensions 2 and 3, the development of Extension 3 by Formosa Island, the development of 180 plots through a Development Bank of Namibia and Eenhana town council joint venture. Nangolo said the council's target to develop at least 6 500 plots by the year 2020 through PPPs was still possible. The budget shows a surplus of N$280 000, which he said was the result of being prudent during the economic difficulties.

1.17 Government outsourcing of flats sparks panic The Namibian|17/05/2018

Some tenants occupying government flats are in a state of panic after the works ministry said it plans to bring in private companies to manage the properties. The government wants private companies to renovate and maintain the properties, which could mean that rentals will go up. Last week, the works ministry called on interested companies to submit bids for consultancy work on the selection of the entity that would qualify for the public-private partnership. Works public relations officer Julius Ngweda told The Namibian yesterday that the consulting company would assess the current state of all the flats, and compile a database. He said the consultancy would recommend an approach on how to maintain the flats, and draft tender specifications to be used in selecting the companies that would manage the properties. The successful bidder would work for three months, and the move to bring in a private company to manage government properties was a result of some tenants' failure to pay rent, Ngweda said. Some civil servants also owe municipalities for water and electricity, apart from staying illegally, and in some cases sub-letting the properties. Ngweda added that some tenants were conducting businesses and illegal activities on government premises. “Currently, the tenants are not contributing towards the operational and maintenance costs of these accommodation facilities, and only pay a fixed percentage of their gross salary for rental,” he explained. The current contribution from tenants is 4% of their salary for a one-bedroom/bachelor's flat; 6% for occupying a two or three- bedroom house/flat; and 8% for occupying a four bedroom house/flat or something bigger. Ngweda said where there are individual water and/or electricity meters, the tenants are paying the actual costs of utilities they consume. “However, most of the complexes are only equipped with one bulk meter, 15 where the ministry is paying the cost of utilities,” he added. The ministry also pays rates and taxes, as well as all other costs related to refuse and waste removal, for the properties. Complaints of dirt and maintenance issues such as broken pipes, littering and vandalism have plagued government residential properties over the years. The government owns an estimated 270 houses and 1000 flat units in Windhoek, and 75 and 39 houses at Oshakati and Walvis Bay, respectively, although Ngweda said some of these houses have since been sold. He added that the flats date back to the early 1990s. Although Ngweda said they were not selling the properties, some tenants feel the government should have consulted them before making the decision. “We won't be able to afford the new rent. Many of the tenants in government flats are lowly paid and likely to end up on the streets,” said an employee at the ministry of environment, who spoke on condition of anonymity. She stated that it was not true that some tenants were avoiding paying rent, because the rent is indeed deducted from their salaries. Another government employee, who also declined to be named, said he has been on the waiting list for a government flat for years, and finally got one two months ago. “I have been renting private property, and it is expensive. Now, I might be forced out should this PPP deal go ahead. The government should rather offer to sell the flats to us, and make monthly deductions instead,” he urged.

1.18 Landless residents feel like refugees The New Era|18/05/2018

About 600 landless residents of Walvis Bay say that they are subjected to living like refugees in the country of their birth as they only have access to a single toilet and one water tap for their basic needs. These residents are currently living in an open space behind the Tutaleni suburb at the town and say their daily hardships are a drawback to the race-based segregation that existed prior to independence. The residents, who also endure the icy cold weather of Walvis Bay by sleeping in camping tents, on Wednesday handed a petition to the Governor of the Erongo Region, Cleophas Mujavikua, for the attention of the Minister of Urban and Rural Development Peya Mushelenga. Residents want Mushelenga to visit the plot where they are living under squalid conditions. Speaking on behalf of the landless residents, Kassie Shilongo said their plight is very traumatic and that their children’s education is affected. “We want the minister to come and witness how we have been living like refugees. We really feel left out from the Namibian house. This is segregation on another level,” he said. Shilongo said the reason they find themselves in such a predicament is due to exorbitant rental and land prices. He also explained that they were initially promised to be relocated to farm 37. “Houses are also just given to people with payslips and we don’t have that as we do not earn much. Some of us have even been waiting for more than 15 years after we registered ourselves on housing programmes at the town,” he said. Shilongo appealed to the minister to engage with the Walvis Bay Municipality to allow them to continue squatting while they wait for the formalisation of their promised relocation to farm 37. They also want at least five more toilets and more water taps to be installed at the squatter camp. “We queue up for one toilet and a single water tap. We feel like refugees in our own country,” he said. Upon receiving the petition, Governor of the Erongo Region, Cleophas Mutjavikua, applauded the group for airing their plight in a civilised and orderly manner. He also told them that they were aware of their plight and that he was working towards fulfilling their relocation to farm 37. “I will forward the petition to the minister for further attention,” he promised them.

1.19 Housing initiative for poor 'inspires' – Mushelenga The Namibian|21/05/2018

Urban development minister Peya Mushelenga said last week that the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia's work is “nothing but inspirational”. He said this at the official handover of 92 houses to the federation's members at Omaruru's Ozondje suburb. Housing remains a key national priority because it addresses issues of inequality, social harmony, economic development and political stability, he

16 noted. “Housing is a national problem, which requires all stakeholders to contribute to the solution. Thus, government acknowledges the role of the private sector in providing houses to Namibians,” the minister said. The urban development ministry worked with the Shack Dwellers Federation and the National Housing Action Group, FNB Namibia, the Harold Pupkewitz Foundation, Ohorongo Cement and Neo Paints to build the Omaruru houses. The ministry paid for the construction of 66 houses out of the 92. According to Mushelenga, the government has contributed about N$55 million to the Shack Dwellers' Federation since independence. “Today, we celebrate the collective efforts to provide housing to Namibians who cannot afford houses in the mainstream market. Families have bridged the affordable housing gap through the federation, which has shown how Namibian men and women strive to improve their living conditions,” he commented. “This is proof of Harambee at work because the government can't do it alone.” The federation is a network of 751 community-led savings groups consisting of over 23 000 members in all 14 regions. Collectively, they have saved about N$26 million, and have constructed over 4 000 houses nationally since inception. In May, at the handover of 36 houses to the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia at Swakopmund, first lady Monica Geingos described the initiative as an example of poor Namibians taking the bull by the horns when it came to meeting the government halfway – and not just accepting handouts. Besides the 92 houses handed over yesterday, Omaruru made another plot available for an additional 44 houses under the same project. There are nearly 4 800 federation members in Erongo, and 524 houses have been built to date, excluding 100 houses under construction at Walvis Bay, and the 44 additional houses to be built at Omaruru. The event follows a week after deputy minister Derek Klazen rebuked Swakopmund and Henties Bay for the unoccupied mass houses at those towns. Klazen said the two municipalities and the National Housing Enterprise had failed to synchronise their roles in the national mass housing programme. Since the launch of the programme five years ago, about 400 of the planned 2 300 houses at Swakopmund were completed. At Henties Bay, 53 houses were completed, and 22 are occupied.

1.20 AR turns up pressure The Namibian Sun|21/05/2018

The Affirmative Repositioning movement said it will lodge a case in the High Court this week, if government fails to reign in high rental prices through a rent control body. Announcing AR's next move, after trade minister Tjekero Tweya responded to their initial threat last week, Job Amupanda said a meeting would be held tomorrow to set in motion preparations for a court case to force government to look into the issue of high rental costs. “The minister [Tweya] did not deal with our material concerns nor did he show any concerns with the pain and suffering that emanated from government's failure to implement an existing law.“He basically indicated that government will not implement an existing law and that the renting population must wait for plans for some bills seated in government cupboards,” said Amupanda. He said the failure to introduce the rent board was hypocritical. Amupanda said the claim by Tweya that the law cannot be implemented was “colonial logic is at best” and “hypocrisy of the highest order”. “This regime obeys, implements and administers the Squatters Proclamation 21 of 1985, which by all accounts is impractical, racist and colonial by content and character.” Amupanda said it was also odd that it was taking government so long to finalise the Rent Bill, but that it had moved swiftly when other constitutional amendments were made. “Our experience with the 2010 and the 2014 constitutional amendments that took less than a month, shows that laws can be made and amended in a shortest possible time.” As a response to government's inability to address high rental costs, AR would soon launch a class action suit against government, Amupanda said. “All renting youth and people of interest will form part of one application. Once we reach 200 we will proceed with the action. This will not only advance our case for a class action but will also save on the costs.” Lawyers have been asked to help AR. “Volunteering legal practitioners will form part of the legal team that will spearhead the case. We are targeting a team of 20 lawyers,” Amupanda said. “As soon as this process is complete, the legal practitioners will immediately start drafting the court papers for immediate filing at the High Court and service on the stubborn politicians.” Tweya said in his letter to Amupanda that

17 government had tried to regulate pricing in the rental market. “Government has undertaken a number of steps leading to the establishment of the rent boards as provided for in the Rent Ordinance of 1977. However, after the review of the ordinance, it is government's considered opinion that the ordinance is impractical to implement in its current form,” said Tweya. In February last year, AR also threatened legal action against the government, which had put on hold the appointment of a rent control board until the tabling of a new bill. Tweya, as information minister, announced a sudden turnabout on appointing a rent control board by saying the 1977 law had become obsolete and would “render the work of the rent board of no force or effect”. He announced that a new Bill was on the cards, which would replace the current legislation. Until that time, it would be impractical to implement a rent control board, he said.

1.21 Otjinene receives 47 new houses The New Era|23/05/2018

Forty-seven houses were handed over to members of the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) at Otjinene on Saturday during a ceremony officiated by the Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development Derek Klazen. The houses were funded by Standard Bank’s Buy-a-Brick fundraising initiative aims at addressing the country’s acute housing challenge through the provision of funding to the SDFN to build decent brick houses for its members countrywide. Klazen said the provision of housing in our country cannot be left to government alone, as government will not be in a position to raise and provide all the resources that are required for housing programmes. He said it requires the support and involvement of other strategic partners such as the private sector and members of the public. “We therefore have a collective responsibility to build a country we want to see in the future. I want to urge every Namibian to do something personally or collectively through reaching out to our less fortunate communities who lives in shacks and make a difference in their lives,” said the deputy minister. He said currently Namibia faces a housing backlog of approximately 200 000 and this number is growing by around 4 000 annually. It is for this reason, he said that he fully support Standard Bank’s Buy-a-Brick fundraising initiative. He further emphasised the point that plastic shelters and corrugated iron shacks are not desirable in our country. “We cannot have people living in such undignified structures and exposing our people to damages caused by fires and rain,” he stressed. “We should not construct more shacks, but build proper houses and move away from shacks. I advise everyone who is living in a shack to join the Federation which will allow you to acquire a plot and become a proud home owner one day,” he added. Klazen says it is pleasing to note that Standard Bank’s corporate social investments is also aligned to Government’s Mass Housing Development Programme; as well as the land and housing provision under the Social Progression Pillar of the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) as set forward by President Hage Geingob. “Every Namibian has the right to live in a decent dwelling, therefore I am appealing to the private sector to join hands in helping to address the housing shortage challenge in our country,” he said. He said unveiling these completed houses and the launching of the construction of new houses in Otjinene should be viewed as a milestone and therefore, both the Federation and Standard Bank deserve a big round of applause. Omaheke Governor’s Special Advisor Pijoo Nganate, Chairperson of Otjinene Village Council Councillor Landine Kauta and Councillor of Otjinene Constituency, Erwin Katjizeu attended the launch among others.

1.22 Henties landless set ultimatum The Namibian|23/05/2018

A group of Henties Bay landless residents yesterday gave the town's municipal council two weeks to respond to their demands for land and service delivery, as well as other administrative concerns. The group of homeless persons, who call themselves the Henties Bay Social Action Movement, and said to consist of 150 members, marched through the small town yesterday. They were chanting 'we want

18 land' as they made their way to the municipality, where they handed a petition to the town's CEO, Reinhardt Ochs. This service delivery protest comes two weeks after urban and rural development deputy minister Derek Klazen rebuked the Henties Bay municipal council for failing to allocate all of the units built under the national mass housing project, while there is a list of about 400 people waiting for housing. “We are not just looking for an answer, but positive feedback, which will meet our demands, and end our suffering. It is almost 20 years that we are on the waiting list to get a place to call home, sweet home,” the group's spokesperson, Andreas Prins, read from the petition in the presence of the protesters, Ochs and police officers. The group is demanding residential plots, as well as water and garbage bins. They have had enough of renting and moving from one house to the next annually. Others live in the !Oas informal settlement, where there is no water or electricity, and which they consider unhealthy and unsafe. They are also claiming that councillors are organising plots for themselves and their relatives, as well as well-connected friends, while those voting them into power to serve the electorate are suffering. “We are sick and tired of this, and have also run out of patience, and can no longer accept these conditions. We are not refugees nor tourists, but citizens and the electorate of Namibia who deserve better and decent service delivery,” read Prins, adding that they will no longer accept excuses from the municipality that there is no money for service delivery. The town will be tabling its budget today. Besides the demand for land and services, the group also want answers about the incomplete sewerage system, the unfair appointment of municipal workers, the renting of a bulldozer from a private company, and the CEO allegedly dragging his feet in solving problems. The group is also frustrated by the “out-of-control-mushrooming of stray dogs”, while there is a health inspector. Ochs received the petition, an assured them that he will pass it on to the town council for an official response. “I acknowledge receipt of the petition and take note of the dates, and we will give an appropriate response at the appropriate time,” he said, adding that he was not mandated as CEO to respond, but that it was the councillors' responsibility.

1.23 Rent battle intensifies The New Era|24/05/2018

Rent control boards that protected tenants from exploitation by property owners during the apartheid era are still implementable in Namibia and are not unconstitutional. This was the argument articulated by constitutional law expert Nico Horn as he weighed in on the unfolding battle between the Affirmative Repositioning movement and government over its position that it needs a new rent bill to rein in high rental prices.Horn said the pre-independence Rents Ordinance 13 of 1977 is still in place and the government can, if it chooses, revive the old-era rent boards, which were chaired by local magistrates and had the power to summon landlords to answer for why they were charging exorbitant monthly rental fees for properties. “I don't see how we can escape the introduction of rent boards. It is a pity it was not done five years ago,” said Horn. “The rent ordinance cannot be in conflict with the Namibian constitution because rent control boards must prevent landowners from asking exorbitant prices. At independence there were only 10 000 people living in shacks and now 140 000 people live in shacks.” AR has threatened to drag government to the High Court over its failure to implement resolutions that had been agreed to during an eleventh-hour meeting at State House in 2015, which averted a countrywide land grab by its members. Among these resolutions was that government would establish rent control boards, in a bid to ease the pressure on families that have been left at the mercy of developers and home and flat owners, who are raking in monthly rentals. Industrialisation minister Tjekero Tweya responded to AR's legal threat last week. He said government had tried to regulate pricing in the rental market. “Government has undertaken a number of steps leading to the establishment of the rent boards as provided for in the Rents Ordinance of 1977. However, after the review of the ordinance, it is government's considered opinion that the ordinance is impractical to implement in its current form,” said Tweya. In February last year, AR also threatened legal action against the government, which had put on hold the appointment of a rent control board until the tabling of a new bill. Tweya, as information minister, announced a sudden turnabout on appointing a

19 rent control board by saying the 1977 law had become obsolete and would “render the work of the rent board of no force or effect”.He announced that a new bill was on the cards, which would replace the current legislation. Until that time, it would be impractical to implement a rent control board, he said. Horn said while the 1977 rent ordinance may be amended to reflect the inflation rate of today, it can still be implemented to curb exorbitant rent prices. According to him the ordinance was never repealed and cannot be in violation of the post-independence constitution as it is supposed to prevent landowners from exploiting tenants. Horn also called on government to show how far it is with the proposed draft rent bill, which is yet to be tabled in parliament. He said AR has a point and is theoretically correct to say the pre-independence ordinance is still in place, as it was never repealed. Responding to Tweya, Horn said: “He is possibly correct, but in the sense that society has totally changed. But the principles remains the same, of course the amounts would be dramatically different than it was. But the regulations attached should be an easy job that can even be done by the minister.” He added there is an urgent need for intervention. Chairperson of the Namibia Estate Agents Board (NEAB) Anne Gebhardt also echoed AR's sentiments that there is an urgent need for legislation to protect members of society. However, she urged that such legislation be implemented properly. “The biggest concern at the moment is the shortage of property to rent and any industry is driven by demand and supply. “If there is a lot of supply then the prices will go down because people have a lot to choose from. There is a very high turnover in the rental industry; people cannot afford the rentals in the market and end up committing to a property because they are desperate to have a home, but three months down the line they cannot afford the property anymore,” she said. The draft rent bill makes provision for regional rent tribunals to oversee complaints and other rent-related matters. The 1977 rent ordinance stipulates that a rent board shall consist of the local magistrate and not more than four additional members. The magistrate shall act as the chairperson and determine the times and places at which the rent board shall meet. Minutes of these meetings must be kept. It also provides that a register of leased dwellings situated in the area of jurisdiction of rent board, and of the rent charged in each case be kept. The chairperson of the rent board is also responsible for the investigation of complaints and has the power to summon. Any person able to give material information concerning the rent charged or who it presumes or believes has in their possession any book, document or thing which has any bearing upon rent investigation, may be brought before the rent board. A local estate agent who spoke on condition of anonymity said current rent was either a monthly bond repayment or just less, and that people cannot afford it. “Townhouses are standing empty. And now owners must negotiate and will end up asking N$8 000 for a N$12 000 townhouse, because they cannot wait until they find tenants and then the prices go down again,” she said.

1.24 ’n Huis vir Helena Republikein|24/05/2018

’n Skoonmaker en ma van vyf was sprakeloos toe ’n huis in die Greenwell Matongo-woonbuurt in Katutura aan haar oorhandig is. Me. Helena David (55) was die gelukkige wenner van dié groot prys van King Lager in die Win a House-kompetisie wat van Desember 2016 tot April vanjaar gestrek het. Volgens King Lager se takbestuurder, me. Samanthé Heyns, het die groot prys N$500 000 van King Lager behels - dít vir die koop van ’n erf, die bou van ’n huis of die opknap van ’n huis. “David was vreeslik bly toe ons haar gebel en gesê het sy is die gelukkige wenner,” het Heyns gesê. “Dit het ons sowat ’n jaar geneem om alles af te handel, maar sy was voortdurend geduldig,” het sy gesê. Mnr. Wessie van der Westhuizen, Namibian Breweries se besturende direkteur, het by die oorhandiging gesê mense moenie net negatiewe opvattings oor bier hê nie - dit kan ook tot die versorging van weerloses bydra. “Die gemeenskap moet bier nie net as negatief sien nie - King Lager het ’n ongemoute bier in 2015 bekend gestel ter ondersteuning van Visie 2030 en armoedeverligting in Namibië. “Ons ondersteun mense wat wees- en weerlose mense help. King Lager se rol is om die weerloses hoop te gee,” het hy gesê. David het by die oorhandiging gesê sy is die afgelope 20 jaar deel van die Twangana- groep informele nedersetters sodat sy geld kan spaar om eendag ’n huis vir haar en haar familie te

20 koop. “So nege van ons het in een sinkhuisie gebly en daar was nie genoeg ruimte nie, maar nou het ek ’n kombuis op sy eie en ek kan vir die familie lekker kos maak. “Ek het sowat N$180 000 gespaar en King Lager het die wenbedrag bygevoeg om vir my ’n huis te bou,” het sy gesê. David het gesê sy het gedink sy droom toe sy King Lager se goeie nuus-oproep ontvang. “Ek het gebewe. Ek kon dit nie glo nie,” het sy gesê. David se oudste seun, mnr. Tyson David, het gesê hy is trots op sy ma en “dankbaar dat die Here dit moontlik gemaak het”. David se man, mnr. Joël David (52), het gesê: “Ek sou dit eers glo wanneer die huis klaar gebou was, maar ek kan nou sien dit is die waarheid.” David het gesê sy en haar familie sal eerskomende naweek by die nuwe huis intrek en sy sal deur middel van haar testament seker maak niemand verkoop haar huis nie “al is ek dood”. “Niemand sal my huis verkoop nie, dit is geskiedenis en dit is die nageslag se erfenis,” het sy gesê. “Ek het nou ’n huis wat ek my eie kan noem.”

1.25 300 houses to be built at Rocky Crest The Namibian|24/05/2018

A groundbreaking ceremony by the City of Windhoek yesterday marked the start of the Rocky Crest Extension 4 development, under which 300 houses will be constructed. In a partnership involving the city council, the Development Bank of Namibia, Ino Harith Capital, Namibia Contractors and Tweya Land Developers through a public-private partnership, the project will include the servicing of plots and the construction of 300 houses on 37 hectares of land. Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua said in a statement that the demand for serviced land and housing in Windhoek is overwhelming, a reality which has rendered council unable to meet this demand alone. “This partnership will, therefore, ensure that 300 serviced urban plots are made available and sold to the residents through an expression of interest arrangement,” he explained. According to Ndapewa Paulus of Windhoek Civil Engineers (WCE), an additional 280 serviced plots, which include 231 single residential plots, 18 general residential plots, 22 business plots and 2 institutional plots, will be added to the urban plots available for sale within Windhoek after the completion of this project. Following an extensive tender process, Namibia Construction was appointed the contractor, with a commencement date of 26 March this year. “Part of the tender and construction agreement is that at least 33% of the work must be allocated to SME sub-contractors, and the expected completion date for the entire project is June 2020,” Paulus said at the ceremony. The contractor has been on site for two months. “WCE, together with Harambee Project Solutions, is currently busy with the design of the first 256 general residential units. The construction thereof will start as soon as phase 1 of servicing is completed in February 2019,” added Paulus. Kazapua noted: “It is critical that councils should design policies and programmes that are responsive to the housing needs of the people in order to make the basic amenities such as decent housing and land delivery accessible to the citizens of our country.”

1.26 Otjinene Buy-a-Brick homes handed over The New Era|28/05/2018

Less than a year after launching the third Buy-a-Brick initiative, Standard Bank on Friday, May 18 officially handed over 15 new houses in Otjinene that were built through the initiative. The bank’s chief executive, Vetumbuavi Mungunda, on October 15 last year launched the third leg of the flagship initiative which is aimed at aiding in alleviating the housing shortage in the country. The Buy-a-Brick initiative was initially launched in 2015 in partnership with the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia and 44 new houses were built at Rehoboth through the initiative. Besides the community members, the handover was attended by Standard Bank’s head of marketing Magreth Mengo, Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development Derek Klazen, Chairperson of the Otjinene Village Council Landine Kauta, special advisor to the Governor of Omaheke Region Pio Nganate, Councillor of Otjinene Constituency Erwin Katjizeu and SDFN’s Otjinene facilitator Alexandine Hambira. “This unveiling really speaks to how the national Buy-a-Brick initiative has grown considerably over the years and financially

21 empowered Shack Dwellers Federation members to move out of shacks and build decent brick houses for themselves. The federation has been our mutual CSI partner for the past decade now,” Mengo said at the handover. She explained that on the 100th anniversary of the bank’s existence in the country, the bank’s employees asked themselves what is the one legacy and social contribution they could make to Namibia as a whole, which is how the initiative was conceived. They asked themselves what the biggest social challenge in the country is and the housing shortage stood out. “An estimated 500,000 Namibians live in shacks countrywide, and as such we believe that the national Buy-a-Brick fundraising initiative is really a great cause and destined to become even bigger as we move forward in helping low and no-income households under the federation to move out of shacks and into decent brick houses – a place they can call home. We want to make a difference in the lives of those less privileged Namibians,” she said. Of the N$2 million donated by the bank to the federation, 20 more houses are being built at Berseba in the //Kharas Region, while the remaining 15 are being built at Havana and Okahandja Park informal settlements in Windhoek. A total of 47 homes were handed over, 32 of which were built with contributions by the Ministry of Rural and Urban Development. Deputy Minister Klazen commended all parties involved, noting that the provision of housing in Namibia cannot be left to the government alone as the government will not be in a position to raise and provide all the resources that are required for such programmes. “Namibia is facing a housing backlog of 100,000 and this number is growing by 3,700 every year. Alleviating the housing shortage requires the support and involvement of other stakeholders, particularly the private sector and members of the public. We therefore all have a collective responsibility to build a country we want to see in the future,” he noted. Additionally, Klazen pointed out that Standard Bank’s Buy-a-Brick initiative is well aligned to the government’s mass housing programme as well as the land and housing provision under the social progression pillar of the Harambee Prosperity Plan as set forth by President Hage Geingob. “Every Namibian has the right to live in a decent dwelling. I would also like to urge other corporate entities and institutions from the private sector to emulate this shining example as the current housing challenge is a collective responsibility. As Namibians we need more smart partnerships like these to alleviate poverty, address the housing shortage and promote employment in order for our nation to reach economic prosperity. We should all be involved in making a positive difference in providing decent shelter to disadvantaged Namibians,” he said. The handover also coincided with the ground- breaking ceremony for constructing 14 new houses in Otjinene village.

1.27 Namibians deem land, housing delivery provisions insufficient The Namibian|28/05/2018

About 52% of Namibians believe that the strategies that government has in place are not effective at all in terms of delivering serviced land and proper housing for locals. This was stated by Afrobarometer, administered by the Institute of Public Policy Research. It also stated that 27% of Namibians feel government strategies to deliver land and proper housing are not very effective, while only 40% reckon that government strategies are effective. Meanwhile, 57% of Namibians believe that government is performing very well in terms of providing water and sanitation services, despite a number of rural residents lacking access to infrastructure for these services. When it comes to electricity, 43% of Namibians said they have electricity most of the time. However, the survey revealed that only 30% of rural respondents live in areas with a piped water system, 9% are within reach of a sewerage system, 14% live within walking distance of a health clinic, and 37% live in areas served with an electric grid. Speaking at the launch of the Afrobarometer survey on Tuesday as a panellist, deputy minister of urban and rural development Derek Klazen stressed the need for land and housing, saying government kicked off with a land servicing programme at Walvis Bay, Oshakati, and in Windhoek. “The affordability of housing in Namibia is becoming an issue because houses constructed are too expensive. As government, we are looking at constructing cheaper houses, or making the houses available at cheaper prices for Namibians. Our idea is to construct houses that cost below N$500 000,” he said. Klazen noted that land can be free, but the services put on that land are very expensive, and not everybody can

22 afford that. “The minute we provide people with the land, they would expect us to provide them with the services.” He added that social housing is a solution, and would be a way for government to move towards providing affordable housing. Moreover, Klazen rubbished the notion that government has done little with regards to land reform in the country, stressing that severe strain is placed on local authorities due to rural-urban and urban to urban migration that is still prevalent. “People are seeking better social and economic opportunities, education, employment and so forth. Local authorities are thus technically unable to provide the required serviced land, sanitation, housing and other essential services,” he stressed. Klazen further stated that the inability of needy low-income earners to benefit from existing land and housing provision programmes is due to the constrained economic growth and limited job opportunities. “Financial support is lacking for this group because commercial banks see them as a high risk, and thus do not provide them with finances. The high cost of land, planning, servicing and housing development are often beyond the affordability of the needy. In order for us to effectively address proper housing as well as access to serviced land, we need interventions from local authorities, the communities and the private sector,” he added. Affirmative Repositioning activist Job Amupanda was also a panellist, and propagated the need for a rent control body, saying laws should be put in place to protect people who are renting. He said it is disingenious for government to say they cannot implement rent control because it is an old colonial law that is obsolete. “When they use that old colonial law, they use the Squatters Proclamation Act to evict people, forgetting that that same law is even older than the rent law. We are taking government to court to fight that rent control is introduced. We are confident we will win,” he stated.

1.28 Geduld met grondnood op – Kazapua Republikein|29/05/2018

Die burgemeester van Windhoek, mnr. Muesee Kazapua, sê Namibiërs se geduld loop dun wat grond betref. Tydens ’n sooispitgeleentheid in Rocky Crest verlede week het Kazapua gesê die volgende ooreenkoms wat hy onderteken, móét wees om grond in informele nedersettings te diens. “Ons weet die vraag na gedienste grond en behuising in Windhoek is oorweldigend – ’n werklikheid waarna die raad nie alleen kan omsien nie. Mense se geduld raak min; hulle benodig huise. Ons moet ooreenkomste bespoedig.” Volgens hom kan nie stad nie bestuur word sonder om hierdie behoefte in ag te neem nie. Daar moet veral gekyk word na die uitdagings wat kapanaverkopers en huiswerkers, wat aan die buitewyke van die hoofstad woon, in die gesig staar, sê hy. “En ons moet op beskostigbaarheid fokus.” Die stadsraad het in Rocky Crest met ander rolspelers kragte saamgesnoer om 280 erwe te diens waarop 231 nuwe huise en ’n aantal sakepersele opgerig sal word. Dié projek is gesamentlik deur die Government Institution Pension Fund (GIPF) en die Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) gefinansier. Die ander vennoot is Otweya Land Developers. DBN het N$108 miljoen tot die projek bygedra terwyl GIPF, deur Ino Harith Capital, die oorblywende N$26,8 miljoen bygedra het. Die uitvoerende hoof van Ino Harith Capital, mnr. Fillemon Iyambo, het gesê daar is voldoende kapitaal in die mark vir beleggingsdoeleindes, maar die burokrasie ontmoedig voornemende beleggers. Hy het ’n beroep op die regering gedoen om die proses te vergemaklik waardeur beleggers plaaslike projekte ’n hupstoot kan gee. ’n Siviele ingenieur verbonde aan Windhoek Construction Engineers (WCE), me. Ndapewa Paulus, het tydens verlede week se geleentheid gesê die grond beslaan 37 hektaar.

1.29 Development in Rocky Crest Windhoek Express|31/05/2018

The City of Windhoek (CoW) has undertaken to deliver 300 serviced erven by February next year, by developing the fourth extension of Rocky Crest. The project was launched last week during the official ground-breaking where Windhoek CEO, Robert Kahimise, said this heralds a new milestone for the city.

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Development of the erven will be carried out in partnership with Otweya Land Developers. Kahimise said that through its strategic plan, the city has committed itself to deliver 4 554 serviced erven over the next five years. “Today is a significant occasion as it marks the attainment of yet another milestone towards achieving one of many important goals in the city’s strategic plan, namely providing much needed serviced land and housing,” Kahimise said. The CoW partnered with 13 developers through Public Private Partnerships (PPP) to install services to identified erven. The development will start with Rocky Crest extension 4, followed by extension 5 and 6. Other areas to be developed include Kleine Kuppe extension 1, Auasblick extension 1, Klein Windhoek extension 4, Cimbebasia extension 7, Otjomuise extension 12, Khomasdal extension 4, Prosperita, Otjomuise extension 4 and 5, and Academia extension 1. According to Kahimise, the municipality avails the land while their development partners will provide financing and technical expertise. This will enable the servicing of the land and the construction of houses. “Thus far land has been serviced and sold in Otjomuise extension 4 and 5, and Academia extension 1. The City is proud to announce that through PPPs, 654 erven have been serviced and sold in these areas,” Kahimise said. He said that erven in these extensions would go on sale within the next two months. PPPs also make provision for the co-development of general residential block plots. Part of this is the construction of 477 housing units in Otjomuise extension 4, which will commence within the next six months. “The City thanks the financiers of this development, namely the Development Bank of Namibia, GIPF and Ino Harith Capital for recognising the need for serviced land and housing, and committing to contribute towards this end,” Kahimise said. He reiterated the City of Windhoek’s commitment to delivering serviced land and constructing housing for residents. “We will continue calling on the private sector to join hands with us to achieve this mammoth, yet very important task. Let us all work hard now to speedily execute our tasks and show that Windhoek is indeed a caring city,” Kahimise said.

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2 Urban Infrastructure and Services

2.1 City halts township's sewerage plans The Namibian|07/05/2018

The City of Windhoek has not yet approved plans for a waste water treatment plant at the site of the proposed Ziveli Lifestyle Village south of Windhoek since the development apparently started in 2015. According to last month's city council minutes, plans for the waste water plant for the township were rejected because the proposed location of such a plant posed a pollution risk to the aquifer in the area. The Ziveli Lifestyle Village site is south of Heroes Acre, and about 15 kilometres outside Windhoek. The development, owned by real estate developer Dirk Oosthuizen through his company Square Foot Developments, was approved by the Khomas Regional Council in 2007. At the time, no environmental clearance certificate was required to obtain township approval. The Namibian reported in 2016 that the construction of about 300 apartments on the site started in 2016. City council documents state that the developer had proposed to store waste water on site, and to transport it on a daily basis by truck to the city's waste water treatment plant, or alternatively to collect the waste water and to pump it back into the city's sewage system. This proposal was rejected by the council's engineers, citing the risk of pollution to the aquifer in the event of systems failing. The city also raised concerns about the risk of pipeline leakages contaminating the aquifer. Residents of nearby farms, as well as the Luiperds Valley military base, draw water from the aquifer. The Namibian reported in 2016 that construction at the site was stopped by environmental commissioner Teofelus Nghitila because the developers did not have an environmental clearance certificate, and that the development posed a danger to “the groundwater resources”. The development is situated in the heart of Windhoek's groundwater protection zone on Farm Aris No 29, where no high-density developments are allowed. The environmental clearance certificate obtained by the developers in August last year restricts them from constructing “any waste water facility” within 250 metres of a water source, and within 1 000 metres of any houses. Last month, the developers were ordered by the city to find a new location for a waste water treatment plant “downstream of the development and outside the aquifer draft protection area”. City council resolutions also stated that the developers must acquire a clearance certificate and a waste water treatment and effluent disposal exemption permit for the construction and operation of such a waste water treatment plant, “with its associated bulk pipelines at the proposed location”. Nearby residents have complained about the development, saying the initial plans were to construct the sewage treatment plant 30 metres from a borehole they use for water. Those plans were in contravention of the city's building regulations, which require sewage treatment plants to be 500 metres from any borehole. Oosthuizen on Thursday said the municipality was responsible for the provision of bulk services, and that they approached the city on several occasions to clarify how they should comply with the city's requirements on how to “handle the sewer effluent”. “We have requested both the municipality and the environmental commissioner to investigate the sewer treatment of all the allowed neighbouring developments. “It is our intention to continue to work closely with the municipality to put in place a waste treatment plant at least to the same level,” he added.

2.2 Meesterplan vir Windhoek se water Republikein|09/05/2018

Windhoek se munisipaliteit het 28 tenderaansoeke vir die ontwikkeling van 'n geïntegreerde meesterplan vir water en -afvalwater ontvang. Die tender het op 18 April gesluit met tenderaansoekers wat wissel van plaaslike wateringenieurskonsultante tot gesamentlike vennootskappe met Angola, Australië, Engeland, Kanada, Duitsland, Indië, Italië, Kenia, Portugal, Oostenryk, Suid-Afrika en Suid- Korea. Die konsultering sal gefinansier word deur 'n toelaag wat Namibië se regering van die Afrika- 25 ontwikkelingsbank (AfDB) ontvang het. Die projek beoog om 'n strategiese meesterplan te ontwikkel wat Windhoek se munisipaliteit sal help om die nodige hulpbronne te mobiliseer sodat die hoofstad binne die volgende 20 jaar van volhoubare watervoorsiening en sanitasie verseker is. Die tender sluit ’n geïntegreerde meesterplan en 'n strategiese dokument in wat moet uiteensit hoe waterfasiliteite binne die volgende 20 jaar volhoubaar ontwikkel kan word. Dit sluit ook 'n bedryfsdokument in wat verduidelik watter werksaamhede vereis word, wat die koste beloop, watter impak dit sal hê en in watter volgorde beleggings gemaak moet word. Dié projek sal oor 'n tydperk van 30 maande strek. Windhoek se munisipaliteit is 'n wêreldleier op die gebied van waterherwinning en algemene waterbestuur. Inwoners drink al sedert November 1968 herwonne rioolwater. Die hoofstad is die tweede stad ter wêreld wat drinkbare water hergebuik. Los Angeles in Amerika het in 1962 daarmee begin. NamWater is die grootmaatverskaffer van Windhoek se drinkwater, maar die munisipaliteit kry ook water uit herwinbare water en van 'n akwifer af. Die stad het egter in 2015-'16 'n kritieke waterskaarste beleef weens swak reën en min invloei in die drie hoofdamme sedert 2012. Dié krisis is ook veroorsaak deur die feit dat die stad NamWater se sentrale waternetwerk ontgroei het, wat vir byna 40 jaar nie uitgebrei is nie. Die sentrale watervoorsieningsnetwerk strek van suid van Grootfontein af tot by Waterberg en Okakarara, en sluit alles tussen Okahandja en Windhoek tot by die Internasionale Lughawe Hosea Kutako in, asook suidwes van Karibib, die Navachab-myn en Otjimbingwe. Die drie hoofdamme, die Omatako-, Von Bach- en Swakoppoortdam, vorm deel van die skema. Die laaste keer wat die skema uitgebrei is, was in 1980 toe die Omatakodam gebou is, en in die vroeë negentigs is die waterkanaal van Grootfontein na hierdie damme verleng.

2.3 Waterpype lek in Windhoek Republikein|11/05/2018

Die munisipaliteit van Windhoek het in ‘n nuusverklaring bevestig dat geringe waterpyplekke by sekere plekke in die hoofstad ondervind word. Die Windhoekse Sentrale Hospitaal by die hoofingang in Florence Nightingalestraat ondervind ‘n lekkasie van Ø400 mm. “Dit is die hooftoevoerlyn na die hospitaal. Genoeg tyd word tot Maandag gegee om die munisipaliteit se tegniese span kans te gee om die werk te voltooi,” lui die nuusverklaring. Die pyplyn op die hoek van Frankie Fredericks- en Chasiestraat wat water na die Grove Mall en omliggende gebiede verskaf, lek teen Ø250 mm. “Die tegniese span het vandag aan die geringe lekkasie begin werk,” lui die verklaring.

2.4 Erongostreeksraad beplan ontsoutingsaanleg Republikein|11/05/2018

Die Erongostreeksraad wil binne die volgende paar jaar sy eie ontsoutingsaanleg bou om in die stygende aanvraag na water aan die kus te voorsien. Planne vir die aanleg word gedryf deur groeiende kommer dat die voorsiening van vars water in die streek tans onvoldoende is en in die toekoms gaan aanhou styg. Volgens die goewerneur mnr. Cleophas Mutjavikua, gaan ’n watergebruikmaatskappy in dié verband onder die Erongo Ontwikkelingsagentskap gestig word. Mutjavikua sê voorts onderhandelinge is tans met Israeliese private vennote onderweg vir ’n Bou, Bedryf en Oordrag (BoT)- ooreenkoms van 20 jaar om ’n ontsoutingsaanleg in die Erongostreek op te rig. Die water van die beoogde aanleg sal ook na landboubesproeiing regdeur die streek gekanaliseer word.

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2.5 Kragpale veroorsaak moles Windhoek Express|11/05/2018

'n Inwoner van Olympia het onlangs wakker geword met twee massiewe elektriese pale voor hulle slaapkamer – iets wat talle inwoners van daardie area ernstige kommer. “Volgens my navorsing is dit onwettig om só 'n kragpaal naby huise op te rig,” het die inwoner gesê. Sy het aan Windhoek Express gesê die kabels moet eintlik ondergrond wees, “maar dit blyk die kontrakteurs wil geld spaar ten koste van lewens”. Volgens internasionale navorsing kan elekromagnetiese strale verskeie gesondheidsprobleme veroorsaak, insluitende onvrugbaarheid en kanker. “Veral leukemie word by kinders gediagnoseer,” het sy gesê. Sedert konstruksiewerk vir die nuwe verbypad tussen Olympia en Kleine Kuppe begin het, is dit vir almal net 'n kopseer. “Ons kan nie ons huis verkoop nie, want die eiendomswaarde in hierdie gebied het aansienlik gedaal,” sê sy. Benewens die feit dat niemand eiendom wil besit langs 'n verbypad nie, sit sy nou boonop ook met die probleem dat niemand eiendom gaan koop onder 'n lewensgevaarlike kragpaal nie.

Geen belangstelling

“Ons probeer die huis in die mark sit, maar as belangstellendes by die straat afry en die pale sien, dan draai hulle sommer om,” sê 'n buurman. Van die inwoners voel hulle sal eerder 'n huurhuis in 'n ander area soek, “want hoe lank moet mens aan hierdie elektromagnetiese strale blootgestel word voor daar skade is? Met klein kinders kan mens net nie die risiko waag nie.” 'n Prokureursbrief is reeds in middel April aan die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme, sowel as aan die Stadsraad gestuur. Daarin word uitgelig dat die ministerie op 18 Januarie 2012 'n kennisgewing uitgereik het van 'n lys aktiwiteite wat nie sonder 'n omgewingsklaringsertifikaat kan voortgaan nie. Van dié aktiwiteite sluit die oordrag en toevoer van elektrisiteit in. Volgens die brief mag hierdie kragpale nie sonder die uitreiking van 'n omgewingsertifikaat opgerig word nie. Beide die ministerie en munisipaliteit is gevra om 'n sertifikaat as bewys te lewer, maar die klaer het nog niks ontvang nie. Munisipale planne vir die 11kV oordraglyne wat 6 November 2017 gedateer is en wat op 26 April aan die prokureurs gestuur is, dui daarop dat die voorgestelde planne nie goedgekeur is nie. Voorts blyk dit dat volgens munisipale reëls, hierdie soort kragpale minstens 50 meter van huise en ander strukture opgerig mag word. Dié afstand is onder andere om te verhoed dat dit nie op huise sou val indien dit omval nie. Volgens inwoners is hierdie pale egter sowat 8 meter van hul huise af opgerig. Hoewel die verbypad reeds in 1970 beplan is en 'n volhoubaarheidstudie in 1999 gedoen is, kon Windhoek Express nie vasstel of die oprigting van die kragpale deel van die aanvanklike beplanning was nie. Geen inligting of hierdie pale tydelik of permanent is, kon voor druktyd bekom word nie. Die voorgestelde voltooiingsdatum van die verbypad is einde 2019. Indien Mandume Ndemufayo rylaan aan die verbypad gekoppel word en Sam Nujoma rylaan verleng word, kan hierdie projek moontlik eers in 2020 voltooi wees. Beide die munisipaliteit en die projek se kontrakteurs is vir kommentaar genader, maar geen reaksie is teen druktyd ontvang nie.

2.6 Master plan for WHK water Windhoek Express|11/05/2018

The City of Windhoek (CoW) has received 28 tender applications for the development of an integrated water and wastewater master plan. The tender closed on 18 April and applicants are an assortment of local water engineering consultants joined by consortia and joint ventures from Angola, Austria, Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The consultancy is to be funded through a grant received by the Namibian government from the African Development Bank. The objectives of this project are to develop a strategic master plan to assist the City in mobilising the necessary resources to ensure sustainable water supply and sanitation. Components of the tender include the integrated master plan and a strategic document that ought to provide a vision for the sustainable development and operation of water facilities in the next 20 years. 27

It also includes an operational document determining the required works, costs, impacts and sequence of investment. The consultancy is to run over a 30-month period. NamWater is the bulk supplier of Windhoek's potable water, but the municipality also derives water from reclaimed water and from an underground aquifer. The city was, however, dunked in a critical water shortage in 2015/16 due to poor rains and little to no inflow into its three main dams since 2012. The crisis was also ascribed in a large degree to the fact that the city has outgrown the central area water network that has not been expanded in nearly 40 years. The central water supply network stretches from south of Grootfontein to Waterberg and Okakarara, covers everything between Okahandja and Windhoek up to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, and includes the area south-west of Karibib, the Navachab mine and Otjimbingwe. The main components of this scheme are the three dams – Omatako, Von Bach and Swakoppoort. The last time this scheme was expanded was in 1980, with the construction of the Omatako dam and the extension of the water channel from Grootfontein to these dams in the early 1990‘s.

2.7 Katima residents to protest against town council The Namibian|14/05/2018

Some residents of Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi region are planning to stage a protest tomorrow against alleged corruption and lack of transparency by the town council. One of the organisers of the demonstration, Fabian Sampaya, told Nampa on Friday that the residents will also demonstrate against pre-paid water meters that were installed without consulting the community. This, he said, came as a surprise to many residents because the community in informal settlements cannot afford to pay for such meters. Residents are required to pay N$2 500 per person for the pre-paid meter, plus N$833 for the card used to buy the water. On the issue of corruption, Sampaya alleged that the town council signed an offer with a businessman from Walvis Bay in December last year for the supply of dustbins to be delivered 28 days after the signing. Another issue is related to the construction of sewage lines in the Chotto informal settlement, which he claimed was first given to a company called Omatando, and later withdrawn and given to ABC Constructor without following the correct procedures. In response, the chief executive officer at the Katima Mulilo Town Council, Raphael Liswaniso, explained that the whole package for the pre-paid meters is N$2 500, which the residents can settle in three instalments. Liswaniso said residents are not required to pay for the card, but once they pay the first instalment of N$833 or N$840, they are issued with the card which enables them to purchase water. “In any market, people will always find different prices of the same product, but the product might differ because of quality,” he stated. On the issue of the dustbins, the CEO said the offer was approved, and the supplier was given 20 days to deliver. But he did not, and thus asked for an extension to February this year, after which he also failed to deliver. This resulted in the cancellation of that offer. On the issue of sewage lines in Chotto, Liswaniso said Omatando did not meet the requirements, and the tender was thus offered to ABC, which has a proven record in installing sewage networks with the council. Meanwhile, he added that Katima Mulilo residents owe the town council N$57 million in water bills.

2.8 Clean-up of Opuwo to become mandatory The New Era|15/05/2018

Opuwo Town Council is looking at enforcing a bi-monthly clean-up campaign in an effort to encourage cleanliness at the town. Mayor of Opuwo, Albert Tjiuma, told New Era yesterday that clean-up campaigns at the town would be enforced after the national clean-up campaign on May 25. “We are also looking at whether suburbs could, in future, compete against each other in cleaning competitions,” explained Tjiuma.This is to motivate residents to keep their environment and town clean. “Cleanliness in Opuwo is not at the level we want it to be,” added Tjiuma. This is because in some areas, especially

28 in the informal settlements, it is difficult to maintain cleanliness because of lack of municipal services. “We are looking at increasing skip containers at the town. We plan to add 10 skip containers this year and in future we will add more,” explained Tjiuma. This is to make it easy for people to dispose of their trash in skip containers, he explained. Residents are encouraged at community meetings and schools to maintain hygiene, remarked Tjiuma. Meanwhile, the Opuwo Town Council, in collaboration with the Office of the Kunene Governor, is spearheading the clean-up campaign at the town. In a letter addressed to government institutions, non-governmental organisations, spiritual and traditional leaders as well as school principals, the CEO of the Opuwo Town Council, Petrus Shuuya, urged all inhabitants of Opuwo to work together by protecting their environment. In the days leading to the national clean-up campaign on May 25 this year, various sectors at the town would be cleaning up their environments. On May 20, all religious organisations would clean up their immediate environments. On May 21 and 22, businesses, schools, non-governmental organisations and health facilities would clean up their immediate environments. On May 23 and 24, residents would be cleaning their immediate environments as well as the surrounding environments. On May 25, the mass cleaning campaign would take place where residents will pick up rubbish from designated points, said Shuuya. “People are urged to clean up all rubbish near their premises,” Shuuya emphasised. The “devastating” effects of rubbish around Opuwo are a challenge that needs concerted efforts to keep Opuwo clean, Shuuya remarked. “We are, therefore, mobilising inhabitants of the town from all walks of life to join the Opuwo Town Council and the Office of the Governor to collect rubbish on our premises, shovel our yards and surrounding areas,” said Shuuya. Rubbish is a growing problem in the touristic town, said Shuuya. “Ultimately, it’s up to the people of Opuwo to accept personal responsibility to keep the town beautiful. Littering will no longer be acceptable in Opuwo,” warned Shuuya.

2.9 Hotel donates N$5 000 towards repair of Dias bridge The New Era|17/05/2018

Nest Hotel in Lüderitz has donated five per cent from the proceeds generated through all wine sales towards the planned construction of Dias Bridge at the coastal town. During the handing over of a cheque during the 20th anniversary of Lüderitz Nest Hotel on April 24, Lüderitz Nest Hotel Manager Ulf Grunewald stated that Nest Hotel donated N$5 000 towards the construction of Lüderitz monumental Dias Bridge. The donation was received by the Vice-chairman of the Dias Bridge Committee Crispin Clay, at the Old Dias Point wooden bridge near Lüderitz that had collapsed in a storm towards the end of 2015, which now needs to be repaired to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.“The Dias Bridge Committee wishes to record its gratitude to the generous people in Lüderitz, to tourist outlets with collection cans, and especially the splendid staff at the Lüderitz Nest Hotel who also promote house wine with a percentage of the price donated to our fundraising campaign,” Clay stated. He stated that with the donation made so far they are able to order and pay for new railings from Namgreenwood in Walvis Bay, as Salz-Gossow has agreed to transport the railings free to Lüderitz when the railings are ready by next month. “We are awaiting for the final architect’s drawings and quantities from the National Heritage Council based on our sketches and estimates, before getting quotes from local contractors to repair the steps and fit the new railings up to the Dias Cross. We still have to raise more funds for that specific contract,” explained Clay. He further indicated the bridge itself has been delayed until the steps and railings are repaired. That is when they will decide whether it will be a pathway or a bridge that will be construct across the tidal river. “We call on other tourism operations to contribute to this project, being of future economic benefit to them and to our town,” Clay said.

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2.10 Rain catches Walvis Bay unaware The Nambian|21/05/2018

Walvis Bay has been receiving heavy and continuous rain since Thursday afternoon. While people thought that shack fires are the worse problem at Walvis Bay, rain also became feared. Although some residents admit to loving the rain, something that does not occur at the town much, most were complaining about damage to their properties. The Tutaleni area, where most families live in makeshift structures, was worst-hit. Most of the structures are made of either cardboard or wood. Families complained about their structures caving in, and everything was left wet, including blankets. “We are already hit by a freezing winter which started last week. Just as we were trying to get warm, the rain also started, making it even worse, because we do not have anything to cover ourselves with. The children will especially become sick as it is too wet and cold,” said Susana Gertze. “I am not against the rain. It is something that nobody can control. Rain is a wonderful thing, but when you live in an area like this one, it is so hard. We are suffering,” added George Thomas. Most people did not report for work on Friday, and had to apologise to their employers. Some could not make it to outside their houses as the yards and roads were flooded, while others were afraid to go back home to damaged houses. Yoleni Shiwalo is one parent who decided to stay home. “How can you go to work when you know that you left your children in such a structure that can cave in on them anytime, without you being there? It is a bit better when you know that they are at school in a safe building made of bricks,” she said. Motorists navigated flooded streets, while municipal workers worked hard to pump water from the streets. Some drivers feared that there would be another problem of potholes all over the town. Some taxi drivers, although they said they felt sorry about the situation, admitted that they made good money because people could not walk in the rain. One taxi driver, Dennis Boois, said business was good, “but we also felt bad about damage to houses”.

2.11 Vivo Energy and Hangala Properties break ground on N$136 million building The New Era|21/05/2018

Vivo Energy Namibia and Hangala Properties (Pty) Ltd recently held a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Vivo House. Vivo Energy markets and distributes Shell branded fuel and lubricants. With construction scheduled to be completed in 18 months, Vivo House will be Vivo Energy Namibia and the Hangala Group’s new head office. The building, which will have office space, residential units and ample parking space, requires an investment of N$136 million and 300 jobs are expected to be created during construction. Speaking at the event, Vivo Energy’s Executive Vice-President for Eastern and Southern Africa, David Mureithi, explained Vivo Energy’s ambition in Namibia and said it was to take the strong Shell brand, and continues to strengthen it, by adding more investment to grow in Namibia and other markets where the company operates. Mureithi added: “We have continued to grow across the continent, starting with around 1 200 stations six years ago, to over 1 800 at the end of 2017. In Namibia, over the last five years, we have grown from 34 service stations, to 56 today. This is a demonstration of our commitment to invest.” “In that spirit, it became clear to us that we do not have a space we can call our own home in Namibia. This project gives us a true home,” Mureithi said. Johan Grobbelaar, Vivo Energy Namibia’s Managing Director, commended the Hangala Group for the excellent working relations between the parties and thanked the teams who brought the project to its current stage for the commencement of construction. Alfreda Stramis, Chief Financial Officer of Hangala Group and Managing Director of Hangala Capital, speaking on behalf of Dr Leake Hangala, Executive Chairman of the Hangala Group, said: “Hangala Group is a diversified company with interest in financial services, agribusiness and property development. Our slogan is ‘opportunities in partnerships’. We believe in the power of partnership and this project is a classic example of what a true partnership and empowerment can do.” Hangala Properties, a vehicle for property development for Hangala Group, is Vivo Energy’s 50-50 joint-venture partner in Havi Properties (Pty) Ltd. Havi Properties (Pty) Ltd. was incorporated in 2016, with the intent of developing a sectional scheme 30 comprising of office units for commercial use and residential units. Once the development is completed, Havi Properties (Pty) Ltd will sell the residential units and lease a portion of the commercial units. Stramis concluded: “Havi Properties has assembled a team of competent and experienced professionals. We have no doubt that given the capabilities and experience of the team, we will at the end have a great product which will add value to the scenery and landscape of Windhoek.”

2.12 In sak en as ná brand Republikein|22/05/2018

’n Inwoner van die Okahandjapark-woonbuurt in die hoofstad se huis het sowat twee weke gelede ’n ashoop geword waarby sy daagliks waak. Volgens me. Kristina Kim (58) het sy en haar seun die oggend van die brand wat hul huis verwoes het omstreeks 05:00 werk toe gegaan. Haar seun het glo vergeet om ’n kers se vlam te blus en volgens Kim is dít wat die brand veroorsaak het. “Net toe ek by die werk kom, het my skoondogter gebel en ek het gewonder hoekom soek die mense my so vroeg,” het Kim gesê. “Toe ek die foon antwoord, het die persoon gesê: ‘Ouma, jou huis lê, alles het uitgebrand, daar is niks oor nie,” het Kim gesê. “Ek het baie gehuil en die Here gevra wat ek gesondig het dat Hy vir my met die brand gestraf het.” Kim het gesê ná dié boodskap het sy besluit om klaar te werk en met die geld wat sy vir die dag verdien het, het sy brood vir haar familie vir aandete gekoop. Sy het voorts vertel toe sy met die taxi by die huis kom, het sy in die puin gaan sit en nie geweet wat om te doen nie. “Ek het baie gehuil. Ek voel magteloos,” het sy gesê. “Alles het uitgebrand - selfs ons koopwaterbewys. Die hartseerste is my hond het ook in die brand verkool. Waar moet ek begin?” het sy gevra. “Ouma Kim” soos sy onder haar gemeenskap bekend staan, het geen ander heenkome nie en waak steeds daagliks oor die ashoop. Sy het geen ander opsie nie, sê sy.

2.13 Innosun’s Namibian Wind Farm Lifted by Johnson Renew Confidente|24-30/05/2018

The Ombepo Wind Farm, the first wind farm to be constructed in Namibia, is situated just outside Luderitz, Southern Namibia and is designed to inject 5 MW into the national grid managed by NamPower, the national utility. The wind farm was built by InnoSun Energy Holdings (Pty) Ltd who secured the services of Johnson Renew to transport the larger components that make up the wind turbines to site and to undertake the installation of the components on site. InnoSun is, to date, the largest IPP in Namibia with 20 MW of solar and wind farms currently in operation. Pioneering the renewable energy sector in Namibia since 2008, InnoSun continues to actively develop, finance, build and operate numbers of different renewable energy projects across the country and beyond. InnoSun is currently the largest local supplier of power to NamPower. With its 17 years of experience in the wind industry thanks to its mother company, InnoVent; InnoVent has built 105 MW farms in South Africa through its daughter company, InnoWind. Cornelis Grotius, general manager at Johnson Renew, says that the company’s ability to offer a turnkey solution such as this was a major advantage for InnoSun as it ensured a seamless operation. The contract with InnoSun started in June 2017 and was completed mid-August with the wind farm coming on line end August 2017. Apart from the lifts, Johnson Renew also transported a total of 27 abnormal loads from the port of Luderitz to the site, a distance of some 9 km of which 5 km was on a national route and the balance on a private road. Grotius says there are currently no cranes of this lifting capability available in Namibia, but that this was only one of the reasons why Johnson Renew was contracted as the customer’s TCI partner. He explains that lifts of this nature involve heavy loads installed at extreme heights and it is critical that the lifting activity is undertaken by a company that fully understands the associated risks and has the necessary competence and experience. “Lifting such large components on a wind farm also present other

31 challenges; chief amongst these is the fact that the wind farm is obviously situated in a windy region of the country,” he continues. Notably Johnson Renew has completed numerous wind farm lifts across the southern African region and has an established reputation in this sector for performing these safely and to the required standards. Important value added services are Johnson Renew’s in-house project management and engineering capabilities, which facilitate the requisite engineering planning and risk management activities prior to the actual execution of the work. This also allows Johnson Renew to provide an optimal fit-for-purpose lifting solution that is both cost effective and safe. The wind turbines stand 80 metres tall and are fitted with blades that are 45, 3 metres in length. The heaviest component on the turbines is the generator unit with a weight of 65, 7 ton. The turbine type is an XEMCXE93-2000 wind turbine. “The depth of our crane fleet is also a benefit to the customer as this allows the flexibility to provide solutions irrespective of the lifting requirements. In the case of the Ombepo Wind Farm we used an LTM 1750-9.1 hydraulic mobile crane which has a 750 ton lifting capacity,” Grotius says. Johnson Renew has an operating philosophy of supporting local communities in areas where it secures projects and in line with this important strategy the company contracted a local crane hire company to provide two hydraulic mobile cranes (one 90 t unit and one 170 t unit) as support cranes to the main crane for this lifting project. These cranes were used for the assembly and relocation of the main crane as well as the tailing of the tower sections. Grotius says that the strategy of economic input into the local population also extended to the employment of riggers, technicians and crane operators as well as general labour. Use was also made of the local supply chain wherever possible and skills transfer was applied where appropriate. “By developing the local community’s skills base, we are not only empowering them for future sustainability but we are also feeding money back into the regional economy,” he says. From site establishment to final handover the company was in the region for just over two and a half months during which time the community benefited. Johnson Renew has a strong safety and quality track record in arduous and complicated lifting conditions, and Grotius says the company is well positioned to meet demanding project requirements.

2.14 Strangers become friends here The Namibian|24/05/2018

The thirty something tents across the maternity waiting room about a five-minute drive from the Engela State Hospital in Ohangwena region don't look like much from a distance. These small colourful tents, however, can tell long stories of human endurance, kindness and bravery. They have become places where strangers forge friendships or cultivate family ties. Most of the people here come from far because they want to be closer to their loved ones who are admitted to the hospital. The pregnant women staying here are waiting for their babies to be born. They come here because they cannot afford to pay N$14 per week to stay in the maternity waiting rooms. Those who have been staying here for more than two months now, mix and mingle with those who have been here for a few weeks or days. This is what The Namibian found on Tuesday during a visit to Engela State Hospital. It was lunchtime on a warm and windy afternoon. Four women sat under a big tree. Among them was pensioner Hambeleleni ya Shikesho from Onghala village, who has been living in a small tent for three months now. From the conversation, one can quickly tell that the women liked Ya Shikesho most. She joked and shared stories with others, while she was busy making traditional food baskets from dried palm tree leaves. Ya Shikesho came here to look after her sister who is admitted to the hospital. She told The Namibian that she came because the nurses also need help. “It is my responsibility to take care of her. If I don't take care of her, who will? My husband died years ago. I live with my children and grandchildren in the village. At least, they can take care of themselves but my sister is sick. She can't help herself,” Ya Shikesho said. Ya Shikesho admitted that the conditions at the hospital are not suitable since she sleeps on the ground in a tiny tent. “As you can see, I am old, but God gave me the strength to be strong through the strong winds and rain,”Ya Shikesho said, adding that she kept herself busy by making baskets. Ndetamulye Hikuwilwa (57) from Angola, who had been here for eight days, said he always enjoyed the conversation. Hikuwilwa said she was at Engela for his sick son (8). He said

32 his wife was staying at the hospital with him. “As head of the house, husband and father I cannot let my wife and son come here alone. I need to be here for them so that whenever they need something, I am here,” Hikuwilwa said. According to Hikuwilwa, the people staying in the tent camp are like family. “When you need something and if they have, they will help,” Hikuwilwa said. Wilka Nguulondo (19) occupies the third tent from Hikuwilwa's. Nguulondo comes from a village at the border with Angola. She is eight months pregnant and has been here for two weeks. Nguulondo was preparing lunch. It was dried spinach, which she said was all there was to eat until dinner. Unlike others whose family members came to offer comfort, Nguulondo is alone and said she was scared. “There is no one who could come with me. I had no choice but to come alone,” she said, adding that it was the first time she was scared. Luckily for Nguulondo, the elder pregnant women were guiding and advising her. Although Nguulondo said she was looking forward to giving birth, she was also nervous. “Being here is like I am with my family or people I have met before. They are kindhearted people. They share everything,” Nguulondo said. At another tent, a couple from Angola, 60-year-old Ndavide Mumbalu and his 55- year-old partner Paulina Nauvila were having Oros and bread for lunch. The couple had been here for about two days. The couple said they came for medical attention and that whenever they travelled to the hospital, they met different people and still made friends. Of course, the couple said, there were times when some people are unfriendly, “but as human beings, we all need each other”. “I have met a lot of wonderful people here. It is just like going to the hotel. This is our hotel,” the couple said.

2.15 Temporary upgrades for Hosea Kutako airport Windhoek Observer|24/05/2018

The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) is planning to begin temporary upgrades at the Hosea Kutako International Airport to ease congestion, Acting CEO, Albertus Aochamub, told the Windhoek Observer this week. The airport was supposed to have undergone major expansion, but the tender was cancelled after a lengthy legal battle. Following a state visit to China in April by President Hage Geingob, it emerged that China remains determined to clinch the multi-billion dollar upgrade and expansion contract for the airport. Chinese President Xi Jinping told Geingob that his country stands ready to fund the project whenever Namibia was ready to proceed. In December 2016, Geingob cancelled the N$7 billion airport expansion tender won by Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group of China, amid allegations of corruption. Anhui contested the matter in the High Court and won the case, but the State appealed to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favour of the government. Last week, the NAC called for expressions of interest from companies with proposals for projects to alleviate the congestion at the airport. Aochamub said the tender is for temporary expansions of the current facility in certain key areas, namely the check-in hall, security screening point, arrivals hall and the luggage handling areas. “These are all temporary useful improvements for the next five years. All projections are that traffic volumes will double in another 10 to 15 years and that would therefore necessitate construction of a new airport terminal and improvements of the runway, taxiway and the apron,” Aochamub said when asked why these could not wait until the multi-billion upgrade was completed. He said the current aerodrome was constructed in 1985 to handle 250,000 passengers a year. At present, the airport handles in excess of 800,000 passengers per annum. “This is the result of Namibia being a very popular tourist destination and a significant increase in the number of international airlines serving numerous international destinations.” Media reports this month said the World Bank has told the government to let private investors manage the airport to avoid costly upgrades using taxpayer’s money. “At present we are engaged in determining funding options for the new airport terminal and related investments to be considered. The options include, but not limited to, a Private Public Partnership, treasury funding, raising money in local currency from local sources against the NAC balance sheet and so forth. Our immediate preoccupation is to resolve the congestion and resultant compliance issues in the short term,” Aochamub said. Airlines that have started operating flights to Namibia in recent years include Condor Airlines, Qatar Airways, Dutch carrier KLM, Ethiopian Airways, Dubai-based Emirates and Kenyan Airways.

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2.16 Mixed bag for service delivery The Namibian Sun|29/05/2018

According to Namibians interviewed for the latest Afrobarometer, more than 50% felt government has not been effective in providing serviced land and housing in urban areas, while nearly 60% of respondents gave the thumbs up for government's performance in the provision of water and sanitation services. Another positive outcome contained in the report is that 67% of Namibians say government has performed fair to very well on improving basic health services and 57% said their ability to access healthcare has improved over recent years. The findings, analysed by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR), and released by them last week, however, caution that while “often complimentary of government efforts, the results suggest that providing basic services to most citizens will require a redoubling of efforts and resources to realise pledges made in national development plans”. This relates in particular to serviced land and housing in urban areas, the report notes. Of the top 15 problems facing the countries, the results found that in Namibia, citizens said unemployment (66%) and poverty rank as the biggest issues. Land, management of the economy and education, as well as corruption, follow these two. The report points out further that “even where the government's performance wins majority approval, such as healthcare, substantial proportions of the citizenry experience difficulties and delays that require government attention”. In particular when it comes to the issue of serviced land and housing in urban areas, “popular dissatisfaction provides a clear message to government”. The report notes that rural areas, in particular, remain “severely under-served” in terms of access to basic service infrastructure. Only 30% of rural respondents live in areas with a piped-water system, and 9% were within reach of a sewage system, while 14% live within walking distance of a health clinic, and 37% live in areas served by an electric grid. Even urban areas face pressures of lack of access to basic service infrastructure, the report found. Overall, 51% of Namibians have access to a piped-water system, and fewer than four in ten are within reach of a sewage system (39%) or within walking distance of a health clinic (36%). The survey found that overall, six in ten Namibians live in areas served by an electric grid. The survey results found that nearly 50% of rural Namibians said their main source of water is located outside their home compounds, and only one in five, or 20%, have running water in their homes. In contrast, 54% of urban Namibians have running water in their homes, but 29% said they still have to go outside their living quarters to access water. In terms of sanitation, the survey found that one in three rural Namibians (32%) said they have no access to toilets “at all”, while almost 47% use toilets outside their compounds. Overall, the survey notes that only 33% of Namibians have toilets inside their homes, and 20%, or one in five Namibians have no access to toilets overall. A further finding contained in the report, notes that among the 14% of Namibians who said they received water, sanitation or electrical services from government during the past year, 60% found it very difficult to do so, and 8% said they had to “pay a bribe, give a gift, or do a favour for a government official” to receive the services. The IPPR further noted that the favourable assessments by citizens when it comes to healthcare, water and sanitation, and electricity, does not erase the fact that “many Namibians still lack access to basic service infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and challenges such as difficulty in obtaining services, long wait times and unreliable supply are common.” On the upside, the report on the Afrobarometer results states that overall, the Namibian government has, with its performance-management initiatives, taken steps to improve its delivery of basic services. Nevertheless, the results suggest that while “Namibians appreciate their government's efforts, they still, too often, remain under- or unserved,” it said.

2.17 DBN releases additional N$150 million for ErongoRED The Namibian|30/05/2018

The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) has provided an additional N$150 million for coastal electricity distributor ErongoRED. The amount will be used to finance the additional second phase electricity distribution requirements for the Swakopmund mass housing development, and for the 34 waterfront. ErongoRED previously used N$250 million from DBN to finance its first phase project to upgrade ageing distribution infrastructure to Walvis Bay. Commenting on the need for the loan during the signing ceremony last week at Walvis Bay, DBN chief executive officer Martin Inkumbi said high- quality power supply to the Erongo region is of national importance. The region is currently a major transport and logistics gateway to Namibia by virtue of the port of Walvis Bay. Mining, another major industry, also underscores the importance of the region, and its contribution to the economy. Furthermore, the region is a major attraction in terms of tourism, which contributes to national revenue. Inkumbi added that economic activity in the region is dependent on electricity. “Without suitable distribution infrastructure, the region will not be able to attract additional enterprises and grow”. Speaking about the individual use of the financing, Inkumbi said the distribution of electricity to families and individuals is a basic necessity for socio-economic well-being. “Viewed in an economic light, Swakopmund must be able to attract and retain employees in order for new enterprises to open and existing enterprises to grow. In this way, the upgrade to the distribution network will have an immediate impact, and will secure the future,” he said. On the waterfront development, Inkumbi said it has created permanent jobs during its construction phase, in addition to being a locale for enterprise. “In order to attract commercial investments, Swakopmund, and ErongoRED, have to demonstrate their commitment to providing enterprises and investors with the necessary infrastructure,” he noted. Although the bank is widely known for financing renewable sources of energy such as the Omburu Photovoltaic Park and the Ombepo Wind Farm, they are also committed to financing infrastructure for traditional sources of energy. “Where there is sufficient energy, there is an environment that is conducive for enterprise, as well as for acceptable standards of living”, Inkumbi explained. The combination of infrastructure and enterprise are fields which the bank actively nurtures with finances, and the Erongo region is a good example of how finance can stimulate development and economic activity. The bank has approved loans of more than N$4,6 billion to the Erongo region since its inception. Inkumbi thus urged other regions to approach the DBN with plans for infrastructure. The bank, he noted, has the capacity as well as the mandate to provide finances for growth.

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3 Livelihoods and Urban Economy

3.1 Stricter rules for food bank recipients The Namibian Sun|08/05/2018

The number of food bank beneficiaries was reduced by more than 7 000, from 22 354 households to 15 158, according to tighter criteria in line with cost-cutting efforts. “The reduction was a result of the streamlining of eligibility criteria for the identification of food bank beneficiaries by the ministry, in order to cater for the people who are most affected by hunger and poverty,” poverty minister Zephania Kameeta explained in his budget motivation. Kameeta added that N$79.7 million was utilised for the provision of food to eligible beneficiaries during the last financial year. For the next financial year, N$52.3 million is allocated for the acquisition of food parcels, and an additional N$15.2 is allocated to the administration of the food bank programme. He emphasised the ministry will continue with “cost- cutting measures to ensure that only those in dire need of food are registered” for the programme. This process has begun in the Khomas Region, where street committee members are “registering beneficiaries using the new stringent criteria,” he said. Among the criteria to qualify for food bank parcels, are identification documents and a declaration from the Namibian police that the applicant/household earns less than N$400 per month. Plans are underway to roll out the programme to other regions. This commenced in the past financial year with the training of street committee members and the identification of eligible beneficiaries in the Hardap and //Karas regions, “based on the refined and streamlined criteria”, Kameeta said. He added an assessment conducted by the research centre of the University of Namibia “confirmed the positive impact made by the food bank in the lives of many who could not afford food items previously”. Social grants make up 92% of the poverty ministry's total budget allocation of more than N$3.44 billion for the next financial year, the minister noted. He said during this financial year, more than N$3.1 billion is allocated to social assistance transfers to old-age and disability grant beneficiaries. An additional N$26.2 million is allocated to the administration of social grants. The minister highlighted the number of social grant recipients increased by nearly 7 000 eligible Namibians, from 204 621 beneficiaries in 2016/17, to 211 447 during the 2017/18 financial year. Old age grant beneficiaries increased by a little more than 5 000, from 165 376 to 170 386 during the period under review. Moreover, disability grant beneficiaries saw a slight increase from 39 245 to 41 061. An increment of the old-age pension, from N$1 100 to N$1 200 per month was implemented, and will be increased by N$50 per month during the 2018/19 financial year. In an effort to ensure easy access to social grant payments, the ministry increased the number of pay points for cash payments from 1 347 in 2016/17 to 1 388 at present. An amount of N$77 million was allocated for the 2018/19 financial year, to facilitate the provision of more such facilities, he noted. Moreover, a total of 7 526 funeral claims, amounting to a maximum of N$3 200 funeral cover paid by the ministry to beneficiaries, were registered in the past financial year. In another cost-saving effort, the ministry, as of August this year, upon the expiry of a current contract of a service provider who administered the payment of the funeral cover claims, takes over the role and will handle payments directly. Some N$56 million has been set aside for funeral benefits, Kameeta said. Cash donations totalling nearly N$3 million, and in-kind donations estimated to the value of N$120 000, were received by the ministry over the past financial year, and channelled to needy people through soup kitchens, kindergartens and other charity organisations. The ministry donated food items to 20 welfare organisations and individuals, valued at more than N$192 000. Kameeta said the ministry has embarked on a social protection reform process, to strengthen, expand and consolidate social protection systems in Namibia. With the assistance of the European Union, the ministry is in the process of recruiting a social protection expert to assist with this effort.

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3.2 Usakos oil storage facility to create 1 600 new jobs The Namibian|14/05/2018

The Usakos Town Council plans to create about 1 600 direct and indirect new employment opportunities with the establishment of a multi-million dollar fuel and gas storage facility at the town within the next few years. MDL International Trade is in the process of setting up the facility worth N$700 million at the town on 15 hectares of land it bought from the town council. This was revealed by Erongo governor Cleophas Mutjavikua in his state of the region address at Swakopmund on Tuesday evening. Mutjavikua informed Erongo residents that the envisaged fuel and gas terminal, with the capacity of over 200 million litres, is mainly planned for the distribution of fuel and gas products to countries such as Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe. “We can confirm that MDL International has already commenced with phase one, which is the establishment of the logistics centre at the town of Usakos. Phase two, which will involve the construction of the actual storage terminal, will commence during this year,” explained Mutjavikua. He said the entire investment by the company would amount to over N$43 billion after completion. The construction of the storage facility will take about 18 months, and work on the temporary logistics base at the town has already created about 120 direct and indirect jobs. The project falls within government's strategic plan to align the country as a strategic logistics hub and gateway to other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries for trade by the year 2022. Fuel and gas imports will be transported from the port of Walvis Bay and stored at the facility before being transported to other SADC member states. Usakos lies on the banks of the Khan River, some 140 kilometres north-east of Swakopmund in the Erongo region. It is located on the B2 Trans-Kalahari Highway, the main road between the port of Walvis Bay and Johannesburg, South Africa. Usakos's current unemployment rate is reported to be around 60%, and the town has not seen sustainable development since Namibia attained independence from South Africa in 1990. Usakos was downgraded from a municipality to town status in 2010 and is now governed by a town council. The town has about 3 000 inhabitants and occupies approximately 58 square kilometres of land. MDL, which started its operations in Namibia in 1998, provides integrated shipping and logistics solutions to the energy, mining, and infrastructure sectors. It is headquartered in Windhoek.

DESALINATION PLANT

Mutjavikua also said there are plans to build a desalination plant in the next few years in response to growing water supply demands in the coastal areas. Plans for the construction of the plant, Mutjavikua said, are driven by the ever-growing concerns that fresh water supplies in the entire Erongo region are insufficient at the present moment, and demand for water is set to continue rising in the coming years. “We plan to set up the Erongo water utility company under the Erongo Development Agency with the intention of ensuring the availability and sustainable utilisation of potable water in the region through the establishment of a new desalination plant for the region,” the governor said. Mutjavikua said they are now busy engaging Israeli private partners in a “20-year-build operate and transfer (BoT) agreement” to construct a desalination plant in Erongo. He explained that besides industrial development and residential use, the water of the envisaged desalination plant would also be channelled towards agricultural irrigation throughout the region. Agricultural green scheme sub- stations will be established along the pipeline from the sea to the plant, and the project will establish 300 000 hectares along the 420-kilometre pipeline for agricultural initiatives. It is hoped this will boost agricultural productivity, create agribusinesses, enhance food security and increase employment opportunities in the region. External investors will fund the project development on a “20-year BoT” basis. “Every five years will see a gradual transfer of skills and ownership to Namibians till the completion of the said years.” Another long-term goal for the project is to produce fodder and ensure livestock slaughtering in Namibia to help local livestock producers and country to benefit from the government's agreements with the European Union and the United States of America. Mutjavikua, however, did not disclose the amount of money that will be needed for the establishment of the 37 envisaged desalination plant. Meanwhile, the Areva Resources Mining Company, which owns the Trekkopje Uranium Mine, has already invested millions of Namibia dollars in the construction of its desalination plant during the 2016/17 financial year. Rio Tinto, which owns the Rössing Uranium Mine, is also reportedly planning to build its own desalination plant. The two mines are in the Erongo region.

3.3 Lüderitz street vendors face eviction The New Era|16/05/2018

The street vendors of Lüderitz have been told to move from the place they usually operate from in town. It is believed the owner has sold the place and the vendors have been instructed to vacate the place as soon as humanly possible. This however dismayed many street vendors, as they have nowhere else to go if they relocate from the spot, where they currently peddle food and other wares.“Where do we go if we move from our selling places? The open market that we were told about is still not visible to us,” moaned one of the many affected street vendors. Another vendor appealed to the Lüderitz Town Council, to look for a suitable place in town for the street vendors not to lose their customers, while they are still waiting for the council to establish an open market at the town. “This is where I get money to pay for my children’s school fees and to provide for my family, if they move us how will we be able to provide for our families?” she rhetorically queried. When asked to give council’s side of the story, the Economic Development Officer of the Lüderitz Town Council Peya Junior Mushelenga about the matter, Mushelenga stated council is aware of the community’s outcry regarding the establishment of an open market. In the past, the Lüderitz Town Council approached the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) to assist in the said project, however this project could not materialise due to financial constraints faced by both institutions. In light of the above, council made an undertaking saying it is committed by ensuring that the planned open market could in future become a reality. Mushelenga also stated the notification which was issued to vendors recently is a directive from the new owner of the premise where vendors are currently trading from and council does not have any rights to object the notification. Council is however trying to identify a suitable place to allocate the vendors before the notification period lapses.

3.4 Flood, shack fire victims get construction materials The New Era|18/05/2018

Four residents of Havana informal settlement in the Moses //Garoeb Constituency were recipients of corrugated iron sheets, poles and timber planks at a ceremonial handover that took place yesterday. The four are victims of heavy rains, shack fires and shacks that were blown away by heavy winds. The donation came from the Marco Fishing Trust based in Lüderitz, as well as from a nursing student. Reverend Jan Scholtz, the Councillor of the !Nami≠nûs Constituency who is also the chairperson of the Marco Fishing Charity Trust said the donation is valued at N$ 4 879 and consists of 40 corrugated, poles and timber planks. “If you ask you will receive. If you are just wishing and hoping you will not receive,” said Scholtz, explaining the donation was in response to a letter from the Moses //Garoeb Constituency councillor, Martin David asking for assistance. “We take this as a response to the call as stated in the Harambee Prosperity Plan for the eradication of poverty and the bolstering of education,” added Scholtz. Marco Fishing Charity Trust has assisted communities in the Kunene, Omaheke, //Kharas, Oshikoto and the two Kavango regions, said Scholtz. “The trust would like to combat the lack of infrastructure and ensure better living conditions for our people living below the poverty line,” noted Scholtz. Meanwhile, David expressed appreciation for donations received. “The support and contributions from this initiative serve an unmeasurable significance to the lives of our people and the development of our society,” he said. Dan Nangolo, the nursing student who also sponsored the construction of one of the recipients’ shack, said he was touched by the poor living conditions of people in informal settlements. “Due to my calling which is nursing I am compelled to help people, especially

38 for the sake of their health,” said Nangolo. The man who was assisted by Nangolo, 32-year-old Frans Makua, previously lived close to a manhole. “There was sewerage everywhere and that is not healthy for him. The shack was very small and you would not think a human lives there,” explained Nangolo. Makua, who turned 32 today, expressed gratitude for the initiative, saying it was a benefiting birthday present. “I wanted a place to stay and the only piece of land I could secure was close to the manhole,” the unemployed Makua explained.

3.5 Help keep the capital warm Windheok Express|18/05/2018

Hugs 4 Christ's Keep the City Warm campaign is in full swing and they hope to collect more blankets, clothes and food for those in need. The main aim is to collect non-perishable food, clothes, blankets and other household items for people who have lost their belongings in fires. Members of H4C hope the project will warm up more than just the hearts of people this winter. The campaign officially began last Sunday and ends on 10 June, with group members urging Namibians to donate to the project or to volunteer during the handovers later in June. Recipients will be chosen after all donations have been collected to make sure they have an immediate need for the items. Last year items were donated to families who lost their homes in shack fires in the Okahandja Park and Agtste Laan informal settlements. Other items were sent to the south and distributed by a church that held a short church service on the day, where soup was served to local residents. This year H4C hopes to top last year's success and serve even more people. According to members, it is a blessing to help those in need and to bring hope to broken homes. The campaign, which forms part of H4C's second anniversary, will be promoted on a weekly basis via the group's social media pages. The campaign also leads up to the group's first worship and prayer event that takes place in Windhoek later this year. Businesses and individuals are invited to make a donation towards the project. Pledges can be made if items cannot be given immediately. To donate, volunteer or find out more about the project and the group, visit their Facebook page or send an e-mail to [email protected].

3.6 NTY voting begins on Monday The Namibian Sun|18/05/2018

The voting for the 2018 Namibia Small Town of the Year competition will start on Monday and run until 1 June. The finalists of this year's competition are Eenhana, Okahao, Oniipa and Oranjemund. The winner will be announced on 2 June at the Namibia Tourism Expo, which will take place at the Windhoek Showgrounds. The expo is organised by Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) and sponsored by First National Bank of Namibia and Old Mutual under the theme 'Conservation, Small Things Matter'. Eenhana CEO Walde Ndevashiya says his town deserves to win the competition owing to the rapid growth and tremendous strides it has made over the years. “We have done a lot in a few years if you compare with other towns. With the limited resources we have we have built houses for our people, delivered services to them, attracted businesses to our town and the town is very clean and crime free,” he says. “We have interesting sites in Eenhana that one can visit such as the Eenhana shrine and therefore I am calling on Namibians to do the right thing and vote for Eenhana.” Okahao CEO Timoteus Namwandi says because of the rich cultural heritage and cleanliness of his town, people should vote for them. “Vote for Okahao because we are one of the cleanest towns in the country with a rich cultural heritage and there is a lot of development which is going on here,” Namwandi says. He says they are doing well in terms of delivering land and houses to the people. Oniipa CEO Junias Jacob says they deserve to emerge victorious because although the town is new, development is taking place at a rapid pace. “We are one of the youngest and fastest-growing towns in Namibia. We are privileged to have the monuments that were found by the Finnish missionaries and they are attracting tourists to our town. Therefore people should vote for Oniipa,” Jacob says. Oranjemund spokesperson Glenadette

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Scholtz says people should vote for the harbour town because it is unique and has a fascinating history. “Oranjemund is a unique town with a fascinating history and a hospitality culture driving the community in support of the Namibian economy. Vote for Oranjemund and support the thousands of Namibians who have lived or worked in the town and the few that are lucky to call it home,” Scholtz says. To vote for your town of choice, text the word TOWN, followed by the name of one the participating towns, and send the message to the number 51500. Each SMS costs N$3.

3.7 Slaughterhouse gets N$400 000 facelift The Namibian Sun|23/05/2018

The Ondangwa town council has revamped the local slaughterhouse that was facing closure by the Meat Board of Namibia. According to the Meat Board, the town council had failed to comply with the Meat Industry Act in the administration of the slaughterhouse, which was not up to the required standards. In March this year, the Meat Board and the Oshana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) inspected the slaughterhouse and ordered that it be closed by the end of July, if the town council fails to comply with their recommendations. According town council spokesperson Petrina Shitalangaho the council spent close to N$400 000 to renovate the slaughterhouse, which included fencing, the setting up of two pens and renovating the building. “The Meat Board gave us until July to have the facilities restored to its desired state or it will be closed. The council took up the matter seriously and it was revamped with immediate effect,” Shitalangaho said. She said the work will be completed by the end of this month, adding the slaughterhouse is administered by the council and used by members of the public. Shitalangaho said the slaughterhouse is of vital importance to the town, as it can slaughter more than 20 animals a day. Shitalangaho urged the community of Ondangwa and the surrounding areas to make use of the facility and also to take care of it. Meat Board official John Uutoni said the town council had not been paying levies to it for operating the slaughterhouse and had also not provided slaughtering records, as stipulated in the Meat Industry Act. “We are having a meeting with the town council this week so that they can update us on our recommendations. If nothing has been done the slaughterhouse will be closed,” Uutoni said.

3.8 Opuwo trade fair to market town to investors The New Era|23/05/2018

The Opuwo annual trade fair penciled in for next Monday to Friday is intended to market the town as an investment destination. The mayor of Opuwo, Albert Tjiuma, says over 80 percent of the exhibitors to this year’s trade fair are from other regions. There are also seven exhibitors from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia, said Tjiuma. Corporates, SMEs, government ministries and tertiary institutions are amongst exhibitors at this year’s trade fair. “The Opuwo annual trade fair is an initiative of the town council to give an opportunity to our people to have business connections with people from outside and we want to market Opuwo to potential investors,” said Tjiuma. The theme for this year’s trade fair is ‘Creating opportunities through business connections.’ “The people of Opuwo can learn from other exhibitors who will come from other towns and countries,” added Tjiuma. There are 130 exhibitors and this will be the sixth annual trade fair. Tjiuma also reflected on the challenges experienced over the years and how this year’s trade fair will be different from the others. “The main problem is we don’t have proper infrastructure to host the trade fair so we host it at the Newman Katuta sports field. As a result, we have to fork out a lot of money for tents and to make the environment conducive for the trade fair. We can’t stop because we see how beneficial the trade fair is to the people of Opuwo,” he noted. Fortunately, some companies have come on board and are paying for some of the logistics, said the mayor. A business survey conducted at the town showed that people are benefiting from the trade fair, according to the mayor. “We found that during the time of the trade fair business make a lot of money compared to any other times of the year,” he said.

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3.9 Oshikuku signs MoU with trade association The New Era|24/05/2018

The Oshikuku Trade Association and Oshikuku Town Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on developmental cooperation. The MoU is geared towards cooperation between the two parties on the pursuance of the town council developmental agendas, including the upcoming trade fair. The parties want to foster relations in the provision of essential services such as water and electricity supply, cleaning and waste removal during and after the period of the trade fair. Speaking at the event, Julia Kakwambi Nakale the Chief Executive Officer of Oshikuku Town Council said, in hosting the trade fair, the Oshikuku Trade Association will assist the corporates and the business community to showcase and market their products and services. “The aim is no longer just to concentrate on exhibitions, but being a business forum and networking platform,” says Nakale. Chairperson of Oshikuku Trade Association Parastus Nepolo urged both that signed the MoU to work together and develop the town in order to attract more investors. “We must get involved to take our town towards a brighter future,” said Nepolo. Nepolo urged that they as members ensure that the association remains and will work in partnership with the town council by following action plans and practical implementation in place as agreed. Speaking at the same occasion, Deputy Mayor Julia Endjambi said this agreement will bring changes in their town, as they will be working together with the association. She added that their first trade fair, which will be held on July 25, and 28 this year, would definitely create jobs among unemployed youth and women and it will bring growth in the Oshikuku town. “The doors are open for bookings on the gala dinner and exhibition. Trade fair application forms are available at Oshuikuku Town Council,” Endjambi added.

3.10 Informal employment comprises 70% women The Namibian|28/05/2018

The local informal sector comprises roughly 70% women and only 31% men, the Namibia Informal Economy case study report launched on Wednesday by the labour ministry shows. It showed that the Erongo region has the highest informal sector workers recorded at 90,1%, followed by Khomas with roughly 89%, and then the Oshana region with roughly 85%. The report said roughly 17% of informal sector workers fell under the 30-34 age group, and 18, 4% under the 35-39 age group. “The number of own account workers in the informal sector declines steadily with increasing age, reaching 281 for those aged 60 years and above. A small number (0, 6%) of own account workers are relatively young, aged between 15 and19 years,” stated the report. Employment in the informal economy also does not encompass contracts for most employees, with the majority working extreme hours between 9 and 13 hours a day. Moreover, only 40% of those in the informal sector have access to sick leave benefits, while less than 30% have access to annual leave. Officially launching the report last Wednesday, labour minister Erkki Nghimtina said the country is faced with vital developmental challenges, including the growing informal economy, which is characterised by a lack of decent jobs and insufficient social protection for both workers and employers alike. “A large number of Namibia's labour force is employed in the informal economy, which according to the Namibia Statistics Agency, is responsible for about 40% of employment created in the country. Regrettably, employment created in this economy is reportedly exploitative and insecure, hence indecent employment to a greater degree,” he stressed. The minister said another challenge the country is faced with is insufficient and not up-to- date information on the informal economy, and the situation thus makes it difficult for planners and lawmakers, researchers, students and the public itself to make informed decisions in terms of planning, implementation and investment. “The government and several other institutions have shown interest in extending their services to the informal economy. However, the absence of reliable, correct and updated information on the activities in the sector makes it difficult to do so adequately,” Nghimtina said. The International Labour Organisation at its 104th session passed recommendation 204 for its member states to facilitate the transition of the informal sector to the formal one. The minister said 41 that recommendation has universal relevance, and acknowledges the broad diversity of situations of informality, including specific national contexts and priorities for the transition into the formal economy.

3.11 NTY2018: Wie gaan die kroon dra? Republikein|28/05/2018

Stemme stroom onverpoos in vir 2018 se Klein Dorp van die Jaar-kompetisie. Die vier finaliste, Eenhana, Okahao, Oniipa en Oranjemund, is uitstallers by dié week se Namibië Toerisme Ekspo en besoekers kan eerstehands uitvind wat elkeen van die dorpe 'n unieke toerismebestemming maak. Mnr. Walde Ndevashiya, uit•voerende hoof van Eenhana se munisipaliteit, sê die dorp het die afgelope jare in ontwikkeling groot treë vooruit gegee. Behalwe vir die oorlogsmonument buite die dorp is daar volgens hom talle interessante bestemmings om te besoek. “Die dorp is baie skoon en mis­daadvry,” sê Ndevashiya. Die ryk geskiedenis, kultuurerfenis en netheid van Okahao is volgens die uitvoerende hoof van die dorp se munisipaliteit, mnr. Timoteus Namwandi, van dié finalis se groot trekpleisters. Oniipa is eers onlangs as dorp geproklameer, maar staan volgens die dorp se uitvoerende hoof, mnr. Junias Jacob, nie 'n tree terug vir die ander finaliste nie. “Ons is een van die jongste en snelgroeiendste dorpe in Namibië,” sê Jacob. “Ons is bevoorreg om die monumente hier te hê wat deur Finse sendelinge gevestig is en dit lok baie toeriste.” Oor Oranjemund sê me. Glenadette Scholtz, munisipale woordvoerder en ontwikkelingsbeampte: “Dis 'n unieke dorp met 'n fassinerende geskiedenis en 'n gasvryheidskultuur wat die gemeenskap aan­spoor om tot die land se ekonomie by te dra.” Sy sê duisende Namibiërs het hegte bande met dié dorp. Kyk op bladsy 12 hoe om te stem en dalk N$28 000 los te slaan.

3.12 Mushelenga wants more visitors at Oshakati Totem Expo The New Era|28/05/2018

The 2018 Oshakati Totem Expo started Friday with 15 totem groups (omapata) and 250 exhibitors taking part. The number of exhibitors has increased from 190 last year. This is the seventh consecutive year that the Oshakati Town Council hosts the expo. Next year, I want to see more exhibitors from various sectors all over the country taking part in this expo for the economic growth and development of our country, Urban and Rural Development Minister, Peya Mushelenga, said whilst officially opening the event on Sunday. Mushelenga said opportunities for cultural tourism should be explored through the Totem Expo and other, similar shows. He further urged the exhibitors to grab the opportunity with both hands and use it to market their products and services. The Oshakati Totem Expo last year attracted over 13 000 visitors from all over Namibia, but Mushelenga said he wants to see more visitors coming to the expo in future. He also said it must be an event that unites Namibians. Events of this nature should be treasured, the minister said. Also speaking at the official opening was Oshana Governor Clemens Kashuupulwa, who said the expo shares a lot of cultural teachings through Oshungi (story telling sessions). The Oshungi for this year’s expo will take place on Monday and Wednesday. I urge parents to please allow their children to listen to the Oshungi session on radio or attend the session those days, as vital information will be shared, said Kashuupulwa. The 2018 Oshakati Totem Expo is being held under the theme strengthening ties through culture and it ends on Saturday. The Totem Expo is an annual event that started in 2012. The expo involves commercial activities and a parade of 15 floats showcasing the totems of participating groups respective regions down Oshakatis main road.

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3.13 Financial boost for Karibib Travel & Tourism Fair The New Era|29/05/2018

First National Bank (FNB) of Namibia has sponsored N$25 000 toward the fifth Karibib Travel and Tourism Fair. The Fair will this year be held under the theme “Karibib: Building heritage and tourism” and is scheduled to take place from May 30 to June 2, 2018. “FNB actively supports small towns and communities throughout Namibia to strengthen their economies, provide better quality of life, and build on local assets. Karibib is strategically located and the gateway to Erongo Region, and as such the Fair is a wonderful opportunity for us to further serve our community,” said Uavirikiza Katjivena-Kasale, Karibib and Usakos Branch Manager. FNB will have a stand at the Fair where potential customers can open accounts and apply for facilities with the help of local staff. The SME team will also give a presentation on FNB products and offerings on the expo business forum day.

3.14 Omuthiya Youth Parliament aims to address unemployment The New Era|29/05/2018

The Omuthiya Youth Parliament (OYP) in Oshikoto Region, is striving to create opportunities for needy and create employment for the youth. One of their ventures is to establish a horticulture garden to ensure food security for the vulnerable and generate income for the smooth operation of the organisation. In order to realise this, OYP will be hosting a gala dinner on June 1, in Omuthiya at the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Services widely known as the cultural centre. “The main purpose of this gala dinner is to raise enough funds to enable us to successfully facilitate the organisation of our annual Omuthiya Youth Fair to be held in September. Although lack of sponsorship has been hampering us to achieve our goals, we are getting there,” said OYP’s Chairperson David Uusiku in an interview. Uusiku added that, OYP is an organisation designed to assist anyone. “That’s why we wish in the future to turn this event into a trade expo, whereby we can give opportunities to other entrepreneurs or exhibitors from different parts of the country to boost their business. In so doing, we are also boosting our town and region’s economy as well as presenting a platform for our local people to learn new skills and ideas,” stressed Uusiku. He wish in the near future, that the organisation would partner with the Omuthiya Town Council or any individual or organisation interested in growing the idea for the benefit of all. OYP was established last year as an advocate for the youth and held its first ever youth fair the same year, which described by many as a resounding success. “It is not like we own the idea, anyone is welcome to come on board. Meanwhile tickets will be sold for as low as N$250 per individual, we are also reserving two chairs for all sponsors before the event,” concluded Uusiku. The event will be graced by one of the north’s prominent businessman John Endjala.

3.15 300 SME evictions halted for now The Namibian Sun|29/05/2018

The eviction orders that were served on about 300 small business owners leasing industrial stalls from the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) in Oshakati have been withdrawn until further notice. This comes after the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) political party intervened when the NDC served the SMEs with eviction orders to vacate their premises by 30 April. The NEFF has been advocating for the NDC to reverse its decision and even threatened legal action if the parastatal pushed through with its plan to evict the SMEs. However, according to Lot Helao, who is responsible for the NDC industrial stalls in Oshakati, the parastatal has decided to put its decision on hold until further notice. “They were given a letter that the eviction orders have been withheld until further notice,” Helao said. Asked when this relief was likely to end, Helao said no exact time period was given, but added that tenants were informed to be ready to move. Namibian Sun understands the NDC is planning to sell the property to a private company, which has shown interest in developing the area. The NDC 43 industrial area has been leased to SMEs involved in welding, as well as mechanical and upholstery work, since independence. The employers were served with two months' notice by NDC on 28 February to vacate the premises, in terms of clause 1.10 of the lease agreement between the two parties. “Kindly note that the NDC herewith exercises its rights, as contained in clause 1.10 of the lease agreement concluded between yourself and the NDC, being to unilaterally terminate the lease agreement by written notice. “Kindly vacate the leased premises by close of business on 30 April 2018,” NDC property manager Sarel Losper wrote to the tenants. Last month the affected SME employers expressed disappointment at the eviction orders and said they feared this would result in massive job losses, as well as financial institutions repossessing their equipment. The evictions would also affect vocational training students doing their internships at the affected businesses, they said. Some of the businesses were contracted by the government to produce school furniture. At a press conference held last month the NEFF pleaded with the NDC to reverse its decision and allow the affected businesses more time to set up shop elsewhere. “It is a fact that the people who are operating here took a measure to respond to the call of government to create job opportunities and meet it halfway,” said NEFF official Abraham Ndumbu. “The majority of the people who are operating from this industrial area are directly living from what they are earning from the work they do here.”

3.16 Tricks for small-town tourism boom unveiled The Namibian Sun|30/05/2018

The CEO of the Official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape (WESGRO), Tim Harris, yesterday said small towns need to use what exists in their towns and market these as tourist attractions. Presenting his topic of 'Small Town Tourism' at the Tourism Networking Conference that precedes the annual Namibia Tourism Expo, Harris further said that small towns need to sell their unique setting points to aspiring visitors. According to him, small towns can use social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter to market themselves. He said for them as a small entity, they find social media to be the right platform for this purpose. He said being part of events is also another way that small towns can use to boost tourism. According to him, their agency uses very rigorous criteria to choose events that they sponsor and are part of. He also encouraged small towns to create partnerships, making an example of 'From the Cape to Namibia'. “Tourists don't see borders,” he said, adding that when tourists come from Cape Town to Windhoek, they are looking forward to experiencing attractions the region has to offer. Harris also encouraged small towns to measure their success and monitor their progress. “We are very disciplined about reviewing whether our projects are working,” he said. He said social media helps a small entity like theirs with a small budget to measure if a project is working or if it needs to be killed, using tools such as users' feedback. Eenhana town council CEO Walde Ndevashiya, whose town is one of the small towns competing for the Small Town of the Year title at this year's expo, called on the tourism industry to support efforts by small towns. He said very little support is given to these towns, adding that they invest in different products but little interest is shown in them. “At the north we had the Omagongo Festival, we have the annual Totem Expo happening at Oshakati and in my own place we have the Omaludi Festival that celebrates the showing of cattle, but little interest is shown. I think the whole industry needs to come out and support the small towns,' he said. In her official remarks yesterday, deputy tourism permanent secretary Seimy Christoph-Shidute said since Namibia's election to the United Nations Word Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) governing body late last year, the country attended the first council meeting last week and some priority areas adopted during the meeting were innovation and digital transformation. Other areas include investment and entrepreneurship, education and employment, and safety and the environment. She said although the government sits on the UNWTO Executive Council, there will be roundtables created and she called on the private sector to participate to ensure Namibia benefits from this opportunity before their four-year tenure ends in 2021. Lenny Kunga, Visa's senior director for merchant sales and solutions for sub-Saharan Africa, who spoke on instruction of expo partner FNB Namibia, said tourism is one sector that intensely deals with e-commerce. He gave

44 an example of a person in Russia or China who may want to visit Namibia and before they book their hotel in the country, they want an option to pay at home. According to him, people want convenience and said Visa, through its system used by banks such as FNB Namibia, is providing that platform. According to him, the inability to offer options such as paying online may hamper the benefits of tourism. However, he said people want transactions security too, which he said Visa is constantly monitoring. “From a security perspective, we always have constant monitoring,” he said. In his welcoming remarks, Old Mutual Namibia's marketing executive Ndangi Katoma highlighted that the company is pleased to support the tourism networking conference that interrogates small things that matter, “to enable us as a country to enhance our tourism offering, from conservation, service delivery, small town tourism, responsible tourism to technology, because these all do matter”. Eco Awards Namibia's Hazel Milne listed their basic criteria, which looks at issues such as management and conservation, among many others.

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4 Environment and Human Health

4.1 Land gerat vir Operasie Skoonmaak Republikein|16/05/2018

Die staatshoof het gister met lede van die sakegemeenskap samesprekings by Staatshuis gevoer oor hoe hulle die regering se pogings aan die hand kan vat om die nasionale skoonmaakveldtog op 25 Mei 'n hupstoot te gee. Hy sê hy gaan daardie dag sélf in Katutura moue oprol en help opruim. Die goewerneur van Khomas, me. Laura McLeod-Katjirua, het gister gesê: “Ons is gereed – ons was nog die heeltyd reg.” Sy sê die Windhoekse munisipaliteit se afvalbestuurafdeling sal help om die rommel te sorteer. “Hoewel die bestryding van hepatitis E in Windhoek 'n onafhanklike veldtog is, sal die Afrikadag-verrigtinge “daardie pogings steun”, sê sy. Volgens die permanente sekretaris in die minsiterie van inligting en kommunikasietegnologie, mnr. Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana, wil die regering veral die jeug aanmoedig om herwinningsinisiatiewe te gebruik om hulself ekonomies te bemagtig. Mnr. Erginus Endjala, die Omusatigoewerneur, sê hulle gaan voortaan weier om gesondheidsertifikate en dranklisensies aan sjebeens in sy streek uit te reik wat nie gehoor gee aan die skoonmaakwekroep nie. Talle kiesafdelings in sy streek het reeds verskeie skoonmaakpogings van stapel gestuur, sê hy. Onder meer is ontbossingspogings reeds langs die hoofweë tussen •Oshakati en Outapi en Oshakati en Okahao onderweg, sê hy. “Ons neem dit baie ernstig op. Ek sal self daardie dag die grootste informele nedersetting by Outapi help skoonmaak.” Tydens gistermiddag se vergadering by Staatshuis het die eerste minister, me. Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, gesê hierdie gaan geen eenmalige veldtog wees nie. “Ons moet seker maak Namibië word skoon gehou.” Mnr. Jaco Venter, uitvoerende hoof van Plastic Packaging, het gesê die sakegemeenskap se skenking gaan uit 'n derde gewone vullissakke bestaan terwyl die res herwinningsakke sal wees.

4.2 Ongwediva launches clean-up campaign The Namibian Sun|16/05/2018

The Ongwediva town council has kicked off its cleaning campaign ahead of the national clean-up day on 25 May that was initiated by President Hage Geingob. The town council is urging residents to clean up their localities while the council is providing waste removal services. According to the town council's spokesperson, Jackson Muma, the cleaning campaign started on 1 May and will run until 24 May. He said the town was divided into six cleaning blocks and the council would collect rubbish picked up by residents on specific dates. “What we want is for the town residents to clean up their surroundings and collect all the waste at suitable places where they will be picked by the town council officials. Residents are expected to organise themselves through their respective community leaders and clean up their localities,” Muma said. Last month, while delivering his State of the Nation Address, President Hage Geingob announced 25 May as a national clean-up day. He suggested that every Namibian should set time aside to clean up their respective neighbourhoods or areas. Muma said on 25 May all Ongwediva residents were expected to meet at the Mayor's Park, opposite the town council offices, to join the national clean-up day. He added the cleaning campaign was aimed at ensuring that Namibians, visitors and investors live in a healthy and safe environment that is free of litter and pollution.

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4.3 Rehoboth maak skoon Windhoek Express|17/05/2018

In reaksie tot 'n beroep deur president Hage Geingob om volgende week 'n skoonmaakaksie te hou, het 'n groep inwoners van Rehoboth besluit om vroeër met dié gebaar te begin. “As ons vandag in die begraafplaas begin skoonmaak, dan kan ons teen 25 Mei klaar wees,” het Amanda Groenewald, voorsitter van die Rehoboth begraafplaas-ontwikkelingsforum, die inwoners van die dorp aangemoedig. Sy het vrywillige hande gevra om by die ingang van die begraafplaas te begin skoonmaak en na agter te beweeg. “As ons elkeen minstens rondom net ons familie asook tien ander grafte skoonmaak, sal dit al klaar baie help,” het sy gesê. “Kom ons help mekaar. Besoek die begraafplaas met 'n graaf en 'n hark en laat ons vullis op 'n groot hoop gooi sodat dit weggery kan word.” En die inwoners het geluister. Talle was Sondag reeds besig met die skoonmaakprojek. Die forum, wat verlede jaar gestig is, het onlangs 'n lekker langarm dans gehou as deel van die insameling om die begraafplaas op te knap. Die groep hou ook op 2 Junie 'n familiedag by die Oanob dam waar oud en jonk vermaak sal word. Daar sal 'n verskeidenheid van stalletjies wees waar heerlike lekkernye te koop is. Met kunstenaars soos Harald Kambrude, Elize Dentlinger en die Steyn familie, sowel as grapjasse soos Shortie Beukes en Clement Kloppers, beloof dit om 'n skouspel te wees. Die Rynse Moeder Gemeente gaan ook by die geleentheid optree. Die hekke maak 16:00 oop en die gemeenskap kan hul eie gazebos en stoele bring om die dag saam te geniet. Kostes vir die stalletjies beloop N$250, terwyl toegang vir die fees N$30 vir volwassenes en N$10 vir kinders kos. Alle geld vir die forum word tans gebruik om die ou begraafplaas te omhein. “As ons klaar is met die opknapping en verfraaiing daarvan, wil ons na die nuwe begraafplaas skuif wat heeltemal onbeskud lê teen mens, dier en die natuur,” het Groenewald gesê.

4.4 Stormweer gooi kusdorpe met modder Republikein|21/05/2018

Die kusdorpe Lüderitz, Walvisbaai, Swakopmund en Hentiesbaai is almal deur die stormweer op land en op see gelooi. Die soutpad agter die duinegordel tussen Swakopmund en Walvisbaai is Vrydagmiddag vir ‘n onbepaale tyd gesluit weens vloedskade in die dorsland. Die ergste elektriese storm in jare het Swakopmund Donderdag om 23:30 bereik en tot om 02:40 Vrydag voortgeduur. Op see was die weerlig soos ‘n ligvertoning in die nag. Oor Swakopmund het weerligslae soos sambokslae geklink. Swakopmunders kon hulle op die stormweer instel met die aanhoudende dreuning wat uit die rigting van Langstrand gekom het. Op die vakansieoord het die donderweer met ‘n stortbui van ‘n paar minute gepaardgegaan. Daarna het ligte reën die ganse nag, deur die loop van die dag en tot Vrydagaand afwisselend geval. Die gevolg was dat die woestyndorp nooit kans gekry het om af te droog nie. Met die eerste harde buie van die nag is tot 10 mm op plekke gemeet met die ligte reën wat daarna die ganse nag en dag geval het. Die reënweer het eers laat Vrydagaand opgeklaar. Swakopmund het nie ‘n behoorlike dreineringstelsel nie omdat dit feitlik nooit reën nie. Baie van die huise het ook nie geute nie. Die gevolg was groot waterpoele wat in die strate gevorm het en die ongeteerde soutstrate wat in modderbaddens verander het. Op plekke is die seepgladde strate deur moedswillige waaghalse gebruik om al glyend in hul motors sirkels (“doughnuts”) te trek. Op Swakopmund self het van die winkels hul deure Vrydagmiddag vroeg gesluit en was plekke wat op kitskos en wegneemetes konsentreer die aand toe. Saterdagoggend het groot slaggate veral by aansluitingspunte van verkeer op teerstrate op Swakopmund en Walvisbaai ontstaan en moes versigtig bestuur word met waarskuwingstekens wat nog opgerig moes word. Saterdagoggend was daar ‘n toeloop na winkels wat in boumateriaal spesialiseer, met baie inwoners wat lapwerk aan huise moes doen. Volgens een berig Vrydag van Walvisbaai was die hawedorp so nat dat “selfs die taxi’s stadig ry”. Walvisbaai se gholfbaan was onder water en het na ‘n meerlandskap gelyk. Ligte reën het ook oor die binnelandse grensgebiede van die Namibwoestyn geval. Die pad agter die duine wat normaalweg gebruik word om vragverkeer van die soutpad te hou, was nie net weens die baie water gesluit nie. Volgens die eerste aankondiging 47 van die padsluiting was die pad ook plek-plek verspoel. Dit was die tweede keer binne weke wat reënweer Swakopmund gelooi het. Die woonbuurte DRC, Tamariskia, Vineta en Ocean View was nog besig om uit vloedskade op die laaste dag van die Paasnaweek op te staan toe die nuwe reënweer gekom het.

SUIDE

Volgens mnr. Noel Marais van Lüderitz het dit 57 mm op die dorp gereën, berig Tanja Bause. “Dit het Donderdagmiddag begin reën en teen Vrydagoggend het ek 27 mm uit die reënmeter uitgegooi. Vrydag deur die dag het ons nog 30 mm ontvang,” het hy gesê. Sover hy kan onthou het dit meer as tien jaar laas soveel op dié dorp gereën. “In 2006 het ons sowat 140 mm ontvang en van daar af het ons bitter min reën gekry, slegs ’n paar millimeter per jaar.” Die openbare biblioteek op die dorp is Vrydag met water oorstroom en die gemeenskap het ingespring om te help droogmaak, maar verder was daar geen ernstige skade nie. Volgens mnr. Piet Swiegers van Klein-Aus Vista het die hele Sperrgebiet van Aus af tot in Lüderitz goeie reën ontvang. “By Garub, waar die wilde perde is, het ons 40 mm reën ontvang, wat baie goeie nuus vir die perde is,” het hy gesê. Volgens Swiegers het dit in Mei 2011 die laaste keer soveel gereën. In die daaropvolgende jare het daar slegs ’n paar druppels hier en daar geval. “’n Plaas in die Sperrgebiet het selfs 60 mm ontvang,” het hy gesê. Herfsreën het oor die naweek ook die westelike binneland en die hoofstad bereik. Reënvalsyfers soos aangemeld op die Facebook-blad "Reën in Namibia" (in millimeter) is: Garub 40, Sossusvlei Lodge 25, Walvisbaai 25, Duwiseb-kasteel 25, Maltahöhe 13, Wlotzkasbaken 10,8, Oranjemund 10, Koichab-pan by Lüderitz 9,8, Rehoboth 9, Uis 7, Karibib 5, Grootberg Lodge 4, Keetmanshoop 2,5, Outjo 1,5. Windhoek en omgewing se reënvalsyfers (in millimeter) is: Brakwater 55, Hochlandpark 26, Dorado Park, Olympia en Suiderhof 15, Cimbabasia 13, Pionierspark en Eros 12, Avis 10, Finkenstein 9, Omeya en Elisenheim 7 en Kapps Farm 5.

4.5 Opuwo initiates post clean-up campaign The New Era|23/05/2018

The Mayor of Opuwo says a technical committee consisting of business people and civil servants will coordinate the clean-up campaigns post-May 25, when the nation unites to clean up Namibia. President Hage Geingob took up the initiative in response to a social media post that exhorted Namibia to take up the clean-up exercise. In an interview with New Era, mayor of Opuwo Town Council Albert Tjiuma explained the people of Opuwo will not in future refuse to participate in planned clean-up campaigns every two months because it is for their own benefit. “We believe that the majority of the people will cooperate as we encourage them to keep their environment clean. Even as we prepare for the national clean-up campaign we can see the eagerness among the public,” explained Tjiuma. He explained the municipal by-laws pertaining to cleanliness are yet to be enforced, pending finalisation of a few things. “We believe that is what is contributing to the lack of cleanliness in our town,” said Tjiuma. He said there are not enough skip containers and dustbins in Opuwo and that would need to be addressed, before they fully enforce cleanliness as part of their municipal by-laws. The committee will also make it a point to address schools on the importance of cleanliness, the mayor stated. “We will assign officials within the municipality to speak at schools on why cleanliness should be a lifestyle,” Tjiuma emphasised. Despite the availability of the few skip containers and dustbins some people still prefer to litter, explained the mayor, stressing why educating the public on hygiene is vital. In addition, he said businesses have been mandated to have special waste containers for customers to dump waste and so far only one retail has complied. “Some people make the business places dirty when they look for food in dustbins,” the mayor said.

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4.6 Aanloop tot die groot skoonmaak Republikein|24/05/2018

In aanloop tot môre se nasionale skoonmaakveldtog het Namibië se visepresident, mnr. Nangolo Mbumba, Robert Mugabeweg gister skoongemaak. Die adjunkministers van veteranesake, mense met gestremdhede en gemarginaliseerde gemeenskappe, asook ministeriële amptenare het saam met Mbumba moue opgerol. Hulle het nie net rommel en blare opgetel nie, maar ook onkruid en gras van die sypaadjies verwyder en die sypaadjies gevee. President Hage Geingob sal die skoonmaakveldtog môre in die Samora Machel-kiesafdeling in Windhoek van stapel stuur. Die Gasvryheidsvereniging van Namibië (HAN), die Recycle Namibia Forum (RNF), Eco Awards Namibia en Tourism Supporting Conservation (Tosco Namibia) moedig Namibiërs om aan môre se skoonmaakveldtog deel te neem. "As 'n span vat ons hande vir 'n skoner Namibië en doen 'n beroep op die toerismebedryf om pres. Hage Geingob se skoonmaakveldtog te ondersteun," het HAN se uitvoerende hoof, me. Gitta Paetzold, gesê. Die Namibiese Kamer van die Omgewing (NCE) en Hope Village ondersteun ook die president se nasionale skoonmaakveldtog en nooi Namibiërs uit om saam met hulle môre van 08:00 af by die Goreangabdam skoon te maak. Mej. Aarde Namibië 2016, Elize Shakalela, sal die gasspreker wees. 'n Koeldrank en worsbroodjie sal verskaf word. Die Duitse ambassade en die German Development Cooperation sal dit ook ondersteun. In sy strewe om gemeenskapsboere te ondersteun om produksie meer winsgewend en volhoubaar te maak, het die Communal Land Development Project – Advisory Services (CLDP) sowat 300 boere bymekaargekry om te help skoonmaak. Die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH het dié projek namens die Duitse regering geïmplementeer en die Europese Unie is ’n medefinansierder. Hulle sal op Rundu, Okahao, Otamanzi, Okongo en Tsumkwe skoonmaak. Die projek sal rommelsakke, handskoene en maskers vir die verwydering van rommel skenk. Die adjunkhoof van die Duitse diplomatieke sending, mnr. Ullrich Kinne, werkers van die ambassade en die German Development Cooperation sal môre in Windhoek skoonmaak. Die German Development Cooperation sal ook die skoonmaakveldtog ondersteun wat op 2 Junie by die Goreangabdam en in Evelinestraat gaan plaasvind.

BYMEKAARKOMPUNTE

Die Tobias Hainyeko-kiesafdeling sal op die hoek van Ongava- en Ongetestraat bymekaarkom, die Khomasdal-kiesafdeling op die hoek van Frankfurt- en Istanbulstrate, die Moses Garoeb-kiesafdeling by die kiesafdeling se kantoor en die Windhoek-kiesafdeling by Paaltjies in Brakwater.

4.7 Call to hold clean-up campaigns bi-monthly The Namibian|28/05/2018

Former deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila says there should be clean-up campaigns every two months, which could also be run as food-for-work projects. Amathila said this to The Namibian last Wednesday. She was sharing her thoughts on how the country could maintain a cleaning culture after last Friday's clean-up campaign where thousands of Namibians from all 14 regions took part in the initiative. Amathila is one of the key people who played a role in keeping Namibia clean after independence through launching various cleaning campaigns under her then portfolio as minister of regional and local government and housing. “A cleaning campaign should not be for just one day. Let it be done at least on a bi-monthly basis in all the constituencies, and it must be on a food-for-work basis so that it can be work for idle youth,” she said, adding that Windhoek must regain its former status of being the cleanest city in Africa. Amathila said not only would regular cleaning get Namibia to being one of the cleanest countries in Africa, but it would also contribute to better health for all. The issue of sanitation could be addressed through proper cleaning and the maintenance of pit latrines, as well as the provision of proper markets for street vendors, she added. Rwandan capital Kigali is now considered Africa's cleanest city, and monthly clean-up campaigns are reportedly conducted there. 49

“A clean environment means we will be saving millions of dollars spent on treating patients at hospitals,” said Amathila, who also urged the public to take responsibility for their environments. President Hage Geingob, at the official launch of the nationwide clean-up operation on Friday, shared most of the sentiments expressed by Amathila, when he described cleaning the environment as a patriotic duty. Wearing overalls, Geingob expressed happiness at the diversity of people who showed up for the clean-up event in Windhoek's Goreangab area. People across the country participated in the clean-up campaign, held under the theme 'Namibia, healthy and clean”. “It is our patriotic duty and civic responsibility to keep our environment clean. It is the duty of each and every Namibian to ensure that his/her surroundings are hygienic,” said Geingob. Present at Friday's official event were Khomas regional governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua and Samora Machel constituency councillor Fanuel Shivute. Geingob said Namibians should show pride and common sense to ensure keeping the environment clean becomes a trend and movement that will see Namibians enjoy healthy environments. He noted that the clean-up campaign was the beginning of a new chapter for the country, and that “we are cultivating the ethos of keeping our capital, towns, villages and homes clean”. Geingob also paid tribute to former Tanzanian president Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, who coined the phrase 'Uhuru Nakazi' (meaning 'freedom and work'). “We are living up to Mwalimu's ideal, which is utilising our hard-won freedom in order to preserve our well-being and pristine image of our house. Africa Day in the absence of a clean Africa is without a doubt an unhealthy Africa,” the President stressed. Addressing the crowd before the start of the clean-up, Shivute encouraged people of his constituency to come out in large numbers in support of the campaign in order to keep their environment clean. Geingob, McLeod- Katjirua and Shivute joined in the cleaning operation, which lasted until around noon.

4.8 Geingob leads national clean-up The New Era|28/05/2018

President Hage Geingob accompanied by First Lady Monica Geingos and a score of Cabinet ministers on Friday led hundreds of Windhoek residents in the Goreangab area in the national cleaning up campaign. Residents, including from private companies, started gathering from 06h30 with their cleaning tools at the assembly point at Goreangab’s ‘Okapare’ in Samora Machel Constituency, where City of Windhoek (CoW) officials briefed them on safety measures and recycling. Late last year, along with Havana, Hakahana, Greenwell Matongo and Ombili. Launching the start of the national clean-up campaign, Geingob - donned in coveralls and gloves – expressed his sincere gratitude to Namibians for utilising all resources at their disposal to guarantee a successful clean-up drive. “I thank all governors, mayors, councillors, offices, ministries, agencies, the NBC, the Namibian Defence Force, as well as our private sector,” he said, adding that their concerted efforts in supporting the national initiative will go a long way in making Namibia a better country. He said that without doubt the campaign is the beginning of a new chapter for Namibia’s cities, towns and villages. “We are cultivating the ethos of keeping our capital city, towns, villages and homes clean,” he said. He called on Namibians to seize the opportunity to make a positive impact and take significant steps forward in keeping Namibia healthy and clean. “Today let us show our pride and common sense of purpose by cleaning, not just for the sake of cleaning, but to ensure that we initiate a trend and movement that will ensure that all Namibians, present and future, will enjoy living in a healthy, welcoming and tranquil environment,” he said. He said it is incumbent on each and every Namibian to subscribe to the mantra of “my waste, my responsibility.” “Cleaning is a good practice but if we cultivate a culture in which we don’t litter, vandalise our infrastructure and dump waste, then we will make significant progress towards becoming the cleanest country on our continent and even the world,” he said. “Why not?” he questioned. Meanwhile, residents of Erongo Region also heeded President Geingob’s call to clean up the country. They also gathered at their respective towns as early as 06h30 on Friday to take part in the event. There were thousands of young and old. Various companies such as Namport, Erongo Marine and China Harbour Company mobilised their employees to be part of the massive campaign. Members of the Namibian Defence Force could be seen cleaning up parts of Narraville suburb in Walvis

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Bay. At Rundu, 40 groups were dispatched to various points to pick up rubbish and waste around the town, where the clean-up was led by Kavango East Governor Samuel Mbambo. He was at the forefront of picking up the rubbish that has sullied the reputation of the town. Swapo Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa and Rundu Mayor Verna Sinimbo together with Rundu Urban Constituency Councillor and MP Victoria Kauma also participated on Friday. “Today we are going to work. I just want to make use of this opportunity to welcome everyone as well as our Swapo Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa who came all the way from Windhoek to join us. Rundu Mayor Verna Sinimbo is also here to see to it that the town is clean,” said Mbambo. “His Excellency the President has extended his warm greetings and wants to thank you as you already started with the cleaning campaign before this day set by the president. What you have done and what you have shown is the love towards your leader, towards your country,” Shaningwa said before reading President Geingob’s statement, which was read out in all 14 regions. FNB Rundu branch donated 10 garbage bags that are to be installed permanently at various places in town for residents to throw in their trash and other waste as they walk around town. The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH project donated gloves, masks, rubbish bags and some clean-up campaign T-shirts. Plastic Packaging also donated some plastic rubbish bags, amongst other assistance to the event. Other sponsors were Kavango Total, Vivo Energy Namibia, OK Foods and Pick ‘n Pay that provided refreshments.

4.9 Hospital spotless after clean-up The New Era|28/05/2018

Floors at the Katutura Referral Hospital were gleaming, patients’ benches shiny and a breath of fresh, scented air permeated its corridors in the wake of Friday’s nationwide clean-up campaign. Roads, schools, clinics, hospitals, open-spaces at villages, towns and cities were swept clean in the largest clean-up campaign that involved President Hage Geingob, ministers, teachers, doctors, students, government officials and others who swapped their ties and suits for overalls as they cleaned the country. When New Era visited the hospital on Friday morning it found hospital staff and Iranian Ambassador to Namibia, Dr Seyed Vahid Karimi and the hospital superintendent Dr Fady Ashmawy planting a bouquet of flowers in blossom and there was a bee-hive of cleaning activities as its floors were swept and mopped. “Cleaning and cleanliness is part of the faith. God is beautiful and he loves beauty, so the area in which we live we have to make it clean and beautiful and this habit of cleaning should be perpetual and it should be done everyday, every week and every month,” intoned the highly religious Iranian ambassador who was accompanied by his wife Nagres Karimi who was resplendent in a black Islamic religious gown. Karimi stressed the importance of flowers saying the good and beauty of flowers is needed for patients to enjoy a good and friendly environment and he was also taken aback by the cleanliness of the hospital. Dr Ashmawy who was proud about the cleanliness and the freshness of the air permeating the hospital’s corridors praised Geingob for leading the campaign. He said people from different sectors such as government officials, doctors, teachers, school children, politicians and others had responded positively and participated in Friday’s clean-up. Before Dr Ashmawy and other health volunteers shifted their focus on Katutura Referral Hospital they cleaned their head-office that also looked spotless. Even the incinerator for medical waste where placentas, discarded blood, sharps, unwanted microbiological cultures and stocks and body parts from amputations are incinerated at very high temperatures was also very clean with no flies in site. He said Friday’s clean-up campaign was voluntary but that many nurses, doctors, cleaners and other auxiliary staff took their free time and participated. The medical superintendent also spoke about the garbage that was removed from the nursery at the hospital that has been lying idle for years but will now be planted with flowers that will be given to patients. A swing will also be installed within the bounds of the nursery so that child patients from its paediatric ward could enjoy its peace and serenity, said the Egyptian. Friday’s voluntary clean-up will go a long way to restore the hospital’s cleanliness that has over the years been in the spotlight as having slid downhill.

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4.10 Residents asked to dispose of waste properly The Namibian|31/05/2018

Keetmanshoop residents are being urged to dispose of their waste correctly at the local dumpsite to avoid rubbish piling up at the site's entrance. Keetmanshoop public relations officer, Dawn Kruger, told Nampa on Tuesday that people tend to leave rubbish at the entrance to the dumpsite. “This makes it difficult for everyone else to enter the premises,” she said. During the clean-up campaign on Friday, the entrance was cleared. “We have separated the waste into different categories, such as garden rubble, building rubble, household waste and so on. People must henceforth discard their waste properly,” Kruger said. She also urged residents not to burn rubbish at the dumpsite. “Burning rubbish is our responsibility. We do what we call controlled burning, which is done only when the weather is favourable. This means the wind must blow in a certain direction so the smoke is not blown into town,” she explained. With regards to the clean-up held last week, Kruger said if people do not litter in the first place, there would not be a need for cleaning campaigns. Furthermore, residents should refrain from littering and illegal dumping, and instead use dustbins and dumpsites.

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