By Eliaser Ndeyanale
ATTORNEY General Sacky Shanghala has told former SWATF/ Koevoet members who are currently camping at Kommando Hall in Windhoek to go back to their houses as they are not going to be accorded veteran status.
“If you are a uniformed blood-thirsty killer…we should not reward you with a hero status.
“I implore those that are camping at Kommando Hall to go home and care for their loved ones. Make amends with your consciences and know that our time on this earth is limited to be wasting it over pies in the sky and grudges,” said Shanghala.
He further stated that Koevoet belongs in the shadows of the history of the country.
“It is the duty of both the forgiving and forgiven to make it work. If we are the only ones forgiving and you are persisting in your ways, then it will not work. I say this particularly in response to one Ndeunyema (Jabulani) who seems to be issuing threats from Kommando Hall. Apparently they can do things! What things?” he asked.
Shanghala said this while responding to questions posed by Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP) Member of Parliament Benson Kaapala. Kaapala’s questions postulated SWATF and Koevoet were part of United Nation resolution 435 and that the former members of the notorious counter-insurgency units that played an important role in demobilisation and implementation of negotiated peace plan that brought about the independence of Namibia.
He added that government will not be threatened. “Peace will be maintained, whether you are a group of students or group of former Koevoet members. If you conduct yourself in an unruly manner, threatening a person’s life and properties of others, police will visit your conduct with great vigour to maintain peace.”
Former Koevoet members and SWATF soldiers represented by the Namibia War Veterans’ Trust (Namvet) have been demanding to be registered as war veterans and to benefit from the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs funding programmes. Koevoet was a paramilitary-trained police counter-insurgency unit during the apartheid government. The unit was notorious for committing acts of brutality against civilians.
In February this year the group petitioned Speaker of the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi giving him April 1 to rescind the ‘discriminatory’ provisions of the War Veterans Act of 2008.
DTA president McHenry Venaani who was also present when the group delivered the petition was quoted in the local media as saying that, “It is painful to see that we, as Namibians, have made peace with people that were commanding Koevoet and SWATF, but as a nation we cannot make peace with our own. We are doing business with the white communities and yet we fail to make peace with our own brothers and sisters.”
Dr Hoze Riruako Political analyst at Unam said it was very wrong for the Attorney General who was supposed to be neutral to call any Namibia a “bloody thirsty killer” as this might jeopardise peace and stability in the country.
“SWATF and Koevoet members are indeed Namibians who involved in the darkest history of the country but for someone to call them those kinds of names is not well matured or a seasonal politician.
He said that when Namibia became independent, a policy of national reconciliation was initiated, a genuine attempt to rectify the errors and atrocities of the past apartheid regime. “Language like that is unfortunate. It is time that all Namibians start pulling to one direction. SWATF and Koevoet is history and we should accept it,” he said.
Nico Horn, Law Professor at University of Namibia described Shanghala’s statement as sad and saying it does not promote the policy of national reconciliation.
“That is a sad statement after 26 years of independence. Are we promoting the policy of reconciliation or the policy of revenge?” he questioned.

By Hileni Nembwaya
A distraught woman is contemplating on suing the Eenhana State Hospital for gross negligence after she delivered a baby at the hospital without any medical assistance from the nurses. The baby died days later due to a lack of oxygen.
Taimi Amalwa, an unemployed mother of two told Confidente that when she arrived at the hospital on April 4, the nurses refused to help her even when they could easily see that she was in dire pain and crying for help.
Amalwa said that she tried to summon the nurses for medical help but to no avail.
“I was in pain when I arrived at the hospital and the nurses told me to first make up my hospital bed before they could attend to me. Thereafter, I was put on the oxygen machine and on the drip. They (nurses) told me to only call them when my water breaks,” said an emotional Amalwa.
She said that she kept on calling the nurses for help as the labour pain was unbearable but they did not attend to her but instead ignored her cries for assistance.
“I could hear one of the nurses who put me on the oxygen machine telling the other nurses that she does not know what to do with me. She came back asking if I normally deliver through virginal delivery or caesarean delivery and I told her that I do the virginal delivery and she went back to sit,” she narrated.
“When I delivered my baby, she did not cry and she was put on the oxygen machine straight away. After about five hours, the nurses then gave me my baby who cried non- stop and throughout the whole night. The baby was fine when it was born, but the negligence of the nurses killed her,” said Amalwa.
Amalwa’s baby died a few days later after mother and child were transferred to Oshakati State Hospital.
One of Amalwa’s relatives who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the case was ‘really disheartening’.
“It was so painful for our supposedly little bundle of joy to die in such a manner. This is a serious matter and we want the hospital management to come forward and explain this ordeal to the family,” he said.
Ohangwena’s Health Directior, John Hango said that he is not aware of the matter but advised Amalwa to contact his office for assistance.

By Confidente Reporter
CONTROVERSY surrounds the recruitment process for the Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Financial Institutions’ Supervisory Authority, (Namfisa) following the death of Philip Shiimi last year amid allegations of favouritism by the parastatal’s board, Confidente has learnt.
Confidente is reliably informed that the Namfisa board only recommended acting Namfisa CEO Kenneth Matomola who had come number four during the interviewing process, to the Minister of Finance Calle Schlettwein which has led the Minister to closely look into the whole recruitment process.
Schlettwein, last week disclosed to Confidente that he has since requested the Namfisa board to supply him with information on the interviewing process after some alleged irregularities were brought to his attention.
“The Ministry is in the process of making consultative meetings with the board over the matter. I have asked for information on all the relevant procedures and criteria followed in the interviews and shortlisting of candidates and the board has supplied me with everything and I am in the process of going through the information,” he said.
Confidente is also reliably informed that during the interviewing process Adrianus Vugs and Maria Nakale-Gaomas shared first position.
However despite the two coming out tops in the interview process, Confidente is informed the board has decided instead to back Matomola.
Nakale-Gaomas is Namfisa’s General Manager for Provident Institutions while Vugs is a former General Manager for Research, Policy and Statistics at the parastatal.
Nakale-Gaomas is Namfisa’s General Manager for Provident Institutions while Vugs is a former employee of the parastatal.
Confidente is also informed that former Social Security Commission CEO, Kenandei Tjivikua was also interviewed for the position.
“The shareholding Minister does not like the idea that he was only given one option by the board. He wants to know what happened to the other runners up. The Namfisa board has skipped the first three candidates and recommended the fourth candidate to the Minister.
Chairperson of Namfisa, Estelle Tjipuka, when contacted for comment earlier this week refused to say anything saying it was an internal matter the board was still busy working on.
Who-ever will be appointed substantive Namfisa CEO, will have a tough time in filling the late Shiimi’s shoes. Shiimi is credited with helping the parastatal achieve its vision of becoming a respected regulator. Before Shiimi took-over Namfisa was labelled as the worst managed state owned enterprise and had its fair share of negative publicity.
He is credited with also building relations between the parastatal and its line ministry of finance.
Shiimi, 43, died in a car crash when his double-cab pickup rammed into a truck. He died on the spot.

The fugitives are a threat to national security, police warns 

By Confidente Reporter

THE Ministry of Home Affairs together with Nampol are investigating how Nigerian refugees at Osire are conniving with fellow kinsman on the run from South African authorities for various crimes including murder, to enter Namibia and seek refugee status, Confidente has learnt.
Confidente understands that the fugitives committed crimes such as rape, murder and armed robbery in South Africa and are now trying to get into Namibia to acquire refugee status to escape the wrath of justice in the neighboring country.
Nampol told Confidente that the matter is a serious security threat fearing the fugitives might commit similar crimes once granted refugee status.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that those in South Africa are in hiding and with the help of those at Osire are being smuggled into the country. Most are trying to get here by trucks. This is a serious security threat. They want to come and sit idle here and eventually commit those similar crimes. It also means that if they are granted refugee status it will be difficult for them to be punished for their criminal acts committed in South Africa.”
Nampol also told Confidente that refugees at Osire find it easy to connive and assist others in neighbouring countries because of the weak or no security control at the refugee camp outside Otjiwarongo. “There is no refugee screening at that camp and currently they come and go as they please.”
Nampol further told Confidente that several refugees at Osire have been arrested for house breaking and armed robbery amongst other crimes, which demonstrates that there is no security control at the refugee camp.
Refugees Commissioner Likius Valombola Tuesday confirmed the investigations saying they are trying to establish how the fugitives enter Namibia. “We are still investigating the matter. It is a national security threat and we are trying to establish how they get into the country and what documents they have. At this stage I cannot divulge further information because it might jeopardize our investigations,” Valombola said.
There have also been various reports in the local media on refugees at Osire implicated in criminal activities with some having already been convicted while others are awaiting trial.
Last year, the Nampol Drug Law Enforcement Unit discovered that a drug trade in the country was run from the Osire refugee camp mostly by Angolans, Congolese and Burundians. At the time 650 Namibians and 63 foreigners were arrested on drug-related charges.
Nampol’s spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner, Edwin Kanguatjivi at the time said that some of the foreigners penetrated the system by marrying or forming relationships with people in the criminal justice system. In May last year, it was reported that about 2354 refugees and asylum seekers at Osire were on the run after they stopped reporting at the camp. At the time there were 6100 refugees residing in Namibia but the 2354 vanished leaving 3746 accounted for.
In December 2014, police in Okondjatu seized 30 bags of maize meal meant as relief food from refugees at the camp. At the time they were on a truck en route to Otjinene and Okamatapati in the Otjozondjupa region where they were going to sell the maize meal. No arrests were made.

…As Treasury continues to count its losses

Following revelations how Ivorian national Ernest Adjovi swindled government of N$21 million, Confidente has uncovered that the Kora Awards architect was secretly paid another N$8 million.
By Confidente Reporter

THE Ministry of Environment and Tourism secretly paid an additional N$8 million to Kora awards founder, Ernest Adjovi on top of the N$21 million the ministry paid into his offshore accounts and had tried to disguise as a promotional package bought by the Namibia Tourism Board, Confidente recently unearthed.
The huge lump sum is said to have been paid to the West African con-artist by the Ministry without the approval of Treasury.
“We have also noted that there is at least N$8 million more paid to Adjovi without Treasury approval so we are busy trying to address the matter,” the Minister of Finance, Calle Schlettwein disclosed to Confidente.
Confidente can also reveal that high ranking officials within the Ministry of Environment and Tourism are reportedly not cooperating with officials from the Ministry of Finance who are conducting an investigation into how the money was paid into Adjovi’s offshore accounts without Treasury’s approval.
These damning revelations come amid spirited denials, countless times by the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta that not a single penny in taxpayers’ money will go towards the dubious Kora awards which have since been postponed to an unknown date despite Adjovi receiving money from the Government. Last month, Confidente published a story revealing how the Ministry of Environment had used NTB as a middleman to cover-up its tracks when it allegedly transferred N$21 million into Adjovi’s Ivory Coast bank accounts without approval from Treasury.
The Ministry of Finance detected the irregularity after a whistle-blower tipped Minister Calle Schlettwein who launched an investigation and wrote a letter to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism demanding answers. The N$21 million was transferred in four batches over a period of a month. The first three batches were of N$5 million while the last one was of N$6 million. On top of that the money was transferred to an off-shore account first via Germany while the last transaction was sent via Spain after Germany authorities raised red flags over the transfers which they suspected was being used for money laundering purposes.
Schlettwein confirmed to Confidente last week that officials from his ministry have since established that the Ministry of Environment had allegedly paid Adjovi more than N$21 million without Treasury’s approval.
He also disclosed that the Ministry of Environment and Tourism officials have for over a month still to respond to a letter sent to them by his Ministry demanding an explanation on how and why they had transferred money into Adjovi’s offshore accounts without required approval.
“We are still waiting for feedback from our colleagues at the Ministry of Environment as we try to get to the bottom of the matter. The numbers are more than the N$21 million initially reported, you are right about that. We have addressed our concerns to the accounting officer in the Ministry so that we verify all the information and we get an exact figure of how much the Ministry of Environment paid,” he said.
Sources had last month told Confidente that they are senior political figures within the Ministry of Environment who connived with Adjovi to scam Government hence the money had been transferred in small chunks from the Ministry of Environment to NTB before it was deposited into offshore accounts in Ivory Coast. This they did to allegedly avoid detection by the Ministry of Finance and Bank of Namibia as no prior treasury approval was obtained to transfer the money.
The truth about usage of the funds is still a misnomer as Adjovi, Confidente is informed has since told NTB that he used the millions paid to him to purchase equipment despite the Ministry of Environment’s claim that the money was used for marketing purposes.
Efforts to get comment from the Ministry of Tourism were futile at the time of going to print as the Permanent Secretary Malan Lindeque was said to be in meetings. He had also not returned messages left at his office at the time of going to print.
Shifeta was also not reachable for comment.

By Hileni Nembwaya at Okongo
THE newly established Namibia chamber of commerce and industry (NCCI) Okongo branch is operating under a tight budget as the branch is said to be faced with a dire need of funds.
Frans David, the chairman of NCCI Okongo stressed about the lack of funds during the branch’s annual general meeting held last week.
“One of the challenges facing our branch is the lack of funds to operate the office. As a chairman, sometimes I can hardly move from one place to another to mobilise the businesspeople because there is no money however that will not hinder our work, all we need to do is forge on,” said David.
NCCI Okongo branch has 15 registered businesses.
David further added that there is no unity amongst the members as many prefers to ignore matters affecting the branch while others opted out of important meetings.
“Let us work together and be united. We cannot continue to work like this if we are not united as one. Let us all set our differences aside and be united,” he said.
He further urged all the small and medium enterprises to register their businesses with NCCI.
Speaking at the same occasion, Linea Haimbodi, chairperson of the NCCI Eenhana branch told the businesspeople that NCCI is an independent body that does not delve into politics.
“NCCI has nothing to do with politics; everyone is welcome to join the chamber regardless of your political affiliation. Anyone can come to our offices and register their businesses as long as they are businesspeople,” said Haimbodi.
The chairperson of NCCI northern region, Tomas Koneka Iindji could not be reached for comment regarding the financial crisis at Okongo.

By Confidente Reporter

WITH the urgent need for schools and facilities for children with multiple learning disabilities in the country, 14 year-old Heinrich Le Roux of Welwitschia School for Integrated Learning has taken matters into his own hands to raise funds.
The teenager, an avid mountain bike cycler, will pedal to Swakopmund in at least four days starting on Saturday, to raise funds for the We Care Trust social responsibility projects under the guidance of businesswoman Karen Woermann. The trust has been working tirelessly raising funds to establish an all-purpose multiple centre including various schools, a hospital and orphanage that will also give hope to disadvantaged children and cancer patients.
Le Roux will cover on average 360 kilometres from Windhoek to Swakopmund in his bid to raise funds and has already raked in over N$100 000 from various corporate entities to be used for building a foundation and roof for a kindergarten under the trust.
His friend, Albert Weck of St Paul’s College and coach Eddie Bezuidenhoud will travel the journey alongside him.
Le Roux was in high spirits when Confidente contacted him Monday saying that although mountain biking is a passion, he now has a cause to fulfil.
“I love mountain biking so I thought I could use that passion to make a difference not only for myself but for many other children as well,” Le Roux said.
His coach Bezuidenhoud said that the teenagers are physically and mentally prepared for the journey. “He has seen this challenge as an opportunity to raise funds for the trust given the urgent need for land for many kids in his shoes. We are prepared,” Bezuidenhoud said.
The trust initiated the multiple-centre project some few years back to improve life of disabled and vulnerable children and cancer patients across the country.
Over 1 000 children and the poor from Otjimuise informal settlement will benefit from the project. The purpose of the project is also to make the centre self-sufficient by growing their own food with the creation of fruit and vegetable gardens.
The project will also support the establishment of accomodation to assist families in the care of their children suffering from cancer.
Parents are normally forced to leave their children’s side in hospital because of transport and accomodation problems. Some of them travel from as far as the Zambezi region and even Angola in search for better cancer treatment in Windhoek.

By Confidente Reporter

THE Ministry of Agriculture last week resolved that it would drill another borehole behind Olukupa Combined School in the Nehale LyaMpingana constituency in the Oshikoto region to arrest the water crisis faced by the school, and surrounding community.
According to the ministry’s spokesperson Margret Kalo, the existing borehole at Olukupa village which is used by the community and the school will also be rehabilitated so the beneficiaries will be able to utilise the borehole thereafter.
“A second borehole is drilled behind the Olukupa Combined School to supply the school with sufficient water to the communities,” Kalo said in a statement on Monday.
She further stated that the Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination (DWSSC) of the Ministry had obtained approval from the Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector (DRM-BGR) Project team to utilise the deep exploration borehole while the directorate source for funding to drill a water supply borehole that could be connected to a pipeline network to serve the Epembe Constituency, especially the communities within the area of high saline groundwater.
The ministry’s response follows a Confidente expose last month that Olukupa Combined School planned to close doors due to severe water shortages. It was also reported that the borehole, which is the community’s only source of water, has also dried up because of the devastating drought in the area.
“The school re-opened after a temporary solution was reached,” said Kalo.
It was further reported that the villages of Ohenghono-Ohamokika and Onhinda villages in the Epembe constituency were using hand dug wells as their main water supply.
“These villages have not had any formal or reliable sources of water supply since independence.
“These communities therefore require the intervention of the DWSSC to ensure that every Namibian has access to safe drinking water. A hydrogeological team was dispatched to the Olukupa Village to investigate and carry out borehole siting. During the site investigation the team confirmed that there is an existing borehole believed to have collapsed since was pumping sand and did not yield any water.
“There are different opinions among the community members regarding the water quality. Some informed the team that the water is saline (blackish) while some said that the water was okay during the period the borehole was operational.”
Kalo further said that the team had conducted geophysical investigations (traverses) to find a site to drill a replacement borehole. She noted that shallow boreholes were drilled in the vicinity of Epembe and these were high in salt content.
However, according to the ministry’s officials in the region one of the deep exploration boreholes drilled did not have better quality groundwater therefore the fluoride content had to be confirmed. He, however, noted that the borehole is currently be used as a monitoring borehole to observe the water level changes in the Ohangwena II system.

By Confidente Reporter

AT least 5 620 students were awarded grants to pursue various tertiary qualifications locally and internationally by the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) this year, current statistics reveal.
The Oshikoto region scooped the most grants with 1 135 followed by the Khomas region with 1 115, Oshana with 768, Omusati with 628 and Ohangwena with 546. Trailing behind is Kavango East with 340, Erongo 266, Zambezi 253, Otjozondjupa 154 and Hardap 102. At the bottom of the list is Kavango West that scooped 98, Karas 67, Omaheke 64, and Kunene 53 while 31 were awarded to those that completed their matric outside.
According to the statistics, NSFAF awarded 45 802 grants over the past five years; 5 977 in 2011, 7 702 in 2012, 10 660 in 2013, 10 486 in 2014 and 10 977 in 2015.
The statistics also show that 30 210 students were awarded grants to pursue undergraduate qualifications locally, with 4913 in 2011, 6118 in 2012, 7772 in 2013, 5314 in 2014 and 6093 in 2015.
Statistics further showed that 2584 students were awarded grants to pursue their undergraduate studies abroad, with 351 in 2011, 576 in 2012, 1181 in 2013, 230 in 2014 and 246 in 2015.
There are currently 227 students pursuing studies in Russia, 263 in Ukraine, 16 each in Belarus and Czech, two each in Serbia and Croatia and three each in Slovakia and Turkey. There are 54 in Algeria, 36 in Cuba, 18 in Venezuela, 8 United Kingdom, and one each in Australia, Ireland, Italy and Zambia. There are also four in Cyprus, 74 in Malaysia, India 69, 176 in Zimbabwe, 16 in Tanzania, 28 in Botswana, 428 in South Africa and214 in China.
According to the statistics, 462 students were awarded to pursue postgraduate qualifications at a cost of N$32 601 070 over the past five years with 23 in 2011, 58 in 2012, 222 in 2013 and 159 in 2014.
It’s also revealed that the top 10 fields students pursued for their post graduate qualifications are finance, education, ICT, medicine, agriculture, environment and land management, engineering, English, science and law.
Those doing medicine are based in Ukraine at 210 and Russia 155 students respectively, while 39 are in South Africa, 28 in India and 20 in Algeria.
Statistics also show that at least 7908 students were awarded to pursue VTC qualifications in various fields including hospitality, office administration, plumbing, welding, joinery and carpentry, bricklaying and community development.

By Eliaser Ndeyanale

AT least 26 000 people in Omuthiya are affected by severe hunger due to the current drought, Omuthiya constituency councillor Samuel Shivute told Confidente on Tuesday.
Shivute said figures were collected from 2011 national census explaining that the number might have risen further as the constituency has experienced a housing boom in the past five years.
He urged residents in his constituency to exercise patience saying that more food aid was on its way to relieve the shortages.
“A lot of people in my constituency did not get anything from their fields for the past two years. Our people are severely affected by the drought,” he said adding that he was particularly concerned that smallholders this year won’t be able to harvest enough crops to feed their families, let alone have even a little to sell so they can cover other household needs.”
Omuthiya constituency is under the Oshikoto regional council where about 200 bags of maize meal earmarked for drought relief were discarded last week because it was deemed unfit for human consumption.
According to media reports, the bags were destroyed on April 12 with the approval from the Office Prime Minister after health inspectors from the Ministry of Health had confirmed that the maize meal was rotten.
Pensioner Nangula Kwalala from Omadhiya village condemned the manner in which the food was handled. Calling those responsible for the food aid reckless, Kwalala said that residents of her village and those from villages surrounding Omuthiya town such as Okashana- Kiingo were disappointed as they have not had proper food for over three months.
“We only received one bag per house and that was three months ago. I don’t know where constituencies such as Okankolo, Onayena and Olukonda get food from. Residents there this month got three bags of maize meal and tins of fish but we don’t get that here,” she said.
Moses Amukoto former local authority councillor in the Omuthiya town council also expressed his dissatisfaction about the food that was damaged. “It is not fair, regional council officials know that it has not rained enough this year, why would they throw away the food? They were supposed to give it to the people. That food is from our neighbouring country South Africa. Why didn’t they tell us about it?” he asked.
Oshikoto regional council Chief Regional Officer Frans Enkali said that the food could not be dished to the people because it was spoilt. “How can we give rotten food to the people? People want to make a mockery of this story for political relevance.”
He also denied claims that the food was buried in secret. “What are we hiding? The bags were not damaged while in the care of the regional council, they were probably damaged by rain while being transported to the region. That is not the only food we have received, we got 122 740 bags of maize meal from the Office of the Prime Minister but only 270 were spoilt. There is nothing wrong with discarding the food. We carried out an official duty and at the centre of our minds was human health,” he explained.
Oshikoto regional governor Henock Kankoshi was not reachable by the time of going to print.

By Eliaser Ndeyanale

A lodge unit in Windhoek’s Wanaheda area allegedly owned by the National Housing Enterprise has ignited a dispute between its presumed owner cum caretaker, Ruben Angula and nine occupants that are refusing to leave the place.
The unit is a flat type of accommodation which is specifically designed to accommodate a certain number of people where every occupant has a room and it is taken care of by a caretaker where occupants pay municipal bills to and then the caretaker pays the bill to the municipality.
The disputes date back to 2007 when Angula allegedly started claiming ownership of the property after the death of all the original occupants. Former NHE senior manager of operations Alex Shimuafeni wrote a letter in April 2008 instructing all assumed owners including Angula not to evict the occupants of the lodge units, until NHE had an opportunity to deliberate on the issue and find a solution that would equally benefit all parties.
According to the occupants of the units that are located at erf 467 in Nile Street, Angula is claiming to be the lawful owner of the property, however, to their knowledge the property is still owned by National Housing Enterprise (NHE).
“Our occupation of this property was pursuant to the agreement with Nasboukor (the predecessor of the current NHE). We have been living here since 1987 and when NHE took over from Nasboukor they gave a directive that no one has the right to claim ownership of the property. We will not move … they will have to kill us. This property is not his, he only owns a room like our parents who also lived here,” said disgruntled occupants, adding that Angula must first provide them with the Deed of Sale if he wants them to move out from the property.
“We understand he and (Fillemon) Ndjambula (former Olukonda constituency councillor) want to sell the property. Why do they want to sell it if it is not theirs?”
“They have allowed people to erect shacks at the premises and it’s not allowed. Their nephews that are staying here are always insulting us. They don’t respect us at all,” another occupant narrated.
Although in August 2011 then National Housing Enterprises Chief Executive Officer Vinson Hailulu wrote to all occupants of the lodge units in Wanaheda, including the one in Nile Street, that they should not comply with any eviction order presented to them by anyone, on August 22 2014 the Windhoek High Court ruled in favour of Angula who is currently live in the north.
Angula at the time testified in High Court that in 1987 while residing at the Old compound in Windhoek he approached Nasboukor and requested them to allocate a house to him as he heard that there were houses available in town.
He further testified that when he approached Nasboukor in February that year, Nasboukor sold him the property and that he paid a deposit of N$500 00 in respect of purchasing the property. He also told the court that subsequent to him paying the deposit, he was given a document he has been using that document to pay his water and electricity accounts. bearing the house number and his name and that
According to court documents, in January 24, 2008 Angula and his wife Selma went to NHE offices and paid outstanding amount in respect of the loan in the sum of N$7 174.40
“After he paid the outstanding amount the NHE caused the property to be transferred into his and his wife’s account,” read documents. It is said Angula provided proof of Deed of transfer as proof that the property was transferred to him.
Evidence provided by the defendants was rejected by Judge Shafimana Uitele as it was based on events of which they had no personal knowledge. Angula and Ndjambula could not be reached for comment.

By Confidente Reporter

A corruption case in which five agents reportedly sold a Namibian passport to an Angolan national, Abrahima Diego Camara, for N$6 000 is still to be concluded, eight years later, after the matter was again postponed to July in the Katutura Magistrates Court.
Maria Mwashidange, Timoteus Shinyama, Kakuyaha Kakuyarukwa, Stephen Namgongo and Moses Amupolo are accused of contravening the Anti- Corruption Act and abusing their positions after selling Camara a passport in July 2008.
Camara was considered an illegal immigrant at the time when he overstayed his welcome in the country after his visitor’s permit expired.
“On or after the 11th of May 2008 in the district of Windhoek the accused did wrongfully and unlawfully remain in Namibia, after the expiration of the period he was allowed on the visitor’s permit issued to him…” read part of court papers.
Court papers further showed that the agents solicited N$6 000 from Camara in exchange for them arrange a passport for him. “..In the month of July 2008 in Windhoek, the accused being agents did wrongfully and unlawfully and directly or indirectly corruptly solicit or accept from Abrahima Diego Camara N$6 000 as an inducement or reward to do or omit to do anything, or for having omitted to do anything in relation to the affairs or business of corruptly facilitating or participating in awarding Camara a Namibian passport.”
In his defense, Namgongo denied any involvement in awarding Camara a passport saying that while his duties includes the approval of passports, it is difficult to independently remember specific applications.
“While I cannot admit that I have specifically approved the passport in question as I cannot independently remember and further due to the fact that a possibility exist for someone else to access and use my computer when it is open as other people have access to my office, I do not exclude a possibility that I may have fallen prey to such criminal conduct. This is a common phenomenon not only in Namibia but worldwide. In fact even some of my superiors including witnesses in this matter have previously approved fraudulent birth certificate applications or passports. I further deny that I have used my office corruptly. There is absolutely no evidence supporting the charges put to me,” Namgongo explained.
While Shinyama, Kakugarukwa, Namgongo and Amupolo remain on bail, Mwashidange is on a warning after missing a court appearance.

By Hileni Nembwaya at Okongo

THE newly proclaimed Okongo village council in Ohangwena region has recently become a mighty land haven for foreign nationals after large portions of land have been allocated to mostly Chinese nationals while many residents are left without a place to call home.
Many Chinese investors have acquired portions of land to build shopping complexes in a move aimed to develop the village, apparently.
Last week, the disgruntled residents of Okongo were up in arms with the Acting Chief Executive officer, Nicodemus Nathaniel after he allegedly sold another large portion of land to a Chinese national without the owner’s consent.
According to some of the residents who spoke to Confidente, Nathaniel allocated a portion of land measuring about a hectare that was intended for the construction of a taxi rank to a Chinese national.
The Chinese national who apparently applied for land in 2014 intends to construct a shopping centre.
“Nathaniel is a corrupt leader. He does not want to allocate land to the homeless residents and he keeps on evicting people while leaving them without a place to call home. There are many residents here that are without land including the businesspeople and those who have applied for land many years ago but he opted to allocate land to foreigners, why?” said one of the disgruntled resident who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The residents further accused Nathaniel of being an ignorant leader who does not hear the plight of the residents and mostly turns a deaf ear to their concerns.
“That man (Nathaniel) is full of corruption (sic). How can someone who applied for land in 2014 be approved while some of us who applied more than five years ago are still without land? He did not even consult the current owners. We will not sit quiet on this. Corruption should stop in Okongo, we are tired,” said the residents.
The Chairperson of the village council, Paulus Mwanyekange said that the village council does not work in isolation and any issues facing the residents can always be solved in an amicable manner.
“Let us unite together and solve our issues in an amicable manner. Land availability is an issue facing entirely the whole country and it is an issue that will never be solved within a blink of an eye. It will take years before it is solved,” said Mwanyekange.
When approached for comment, Nathaniel told Confidente that the village council did not sell the land to any foreign national, however it only leases to permanent citizen permit holders.
“The village council did not sell any land to a Chinese national. It is just rumours of people trying to tarnish the good image of the village council. He (the Chinese) has a lease hold for that particular land in question. Those people that are trying to tarnish the image of the village council are the same people who do not even attend council meetings and do not participate in any council activities. I can assure you that the recommendation has gone through all the proper channels before it was approved by the regional council,” said Nathaniel.
The Chinese national is said to be leasing the land for an amount of about N$142 per month for a period of five years.
However, Nathaniel refused to divulge the name of Chinese national in question.
Nathaniel explained that the land was previously proposed to host an open market but because it is along the road, the regional council revoked the proposal.
The village council then made another proposal to the regional council for the land to construct a hardware store as the village council was faced with challenges of residents forced to travel long distances to purchase hardware equipment at far off towns such as Ondangwa.
He added that when the proposal was made the Namibian owned companies did not show any interest and thus the proposal was handed over to a Chinese national.
“It is so unfortunate that our own Namibians are trying to cause conflict where it is not needed. Now they feel left but they are not left out intentionally, it is their own fault that they do not want to participate in the village council activities. Some are even lazy to just acquire loans and build proper structures that would accommodate foreigners. I think it is about time that our business community starts working together and do away with conflicts,” said Nathaniel.
When contacted for comments, Vision properties, the company contracted to develop the area could not divulge more information saying that they were only contracted to develop the area.
However, construction has now been halted while investigations into the matter are underway.
Earlier this year, there was again turmoil as another unnamed Chinese national was allocated land by the Okongo village council in order to develop his business.

• Billions of revenue have departed the country        • All major and top tenders given to the Chinese
• Local entrepreneurs fail to penetrate market          • Chinese dominate majority of capital projects with at least 70% equity

By Patience Nyangove and Marianne Nghidengwa

OVER N$20 billion dollars in proceeds from multi-million and billion dollar government contracts, which are secretly awarded to the Chinese state companies, have left the shores of Namibia in the past 36 months, Confidente can reveal.
In investigations carried by this publication, Chinese owned companies are handpicked by Government to submit bids for public tenders and capital projects at the expense of locally owned companies that are bypassed under the guise of lack of clearance certificates.
Confidente also learnt that a majority of the projects being ‘dished’ to the Chinese are being funded by Exim Bank of China, a Chinese owned bank tasked with implementing Chinese policies in industry, foreign trade, diplomacy, economy, and provide policy financial support so as to promote the export of Chinese products and services.
Some of the strings that come attached with the Chinese soft loans extended to the Namibian government include the awarding of the projects to Chinese government owned companies despite the fact that they could have inflated prices compared to locally sourced quotations.
Although the trail followed by Confidente established that the multinational companies pay local suppliers for various materials, the bulk of the revenue made from capital projects is remitted back to the parent proprietor which is the Chinese government.
Confidente has also established that the Namibian government through state owned enterprises like the Roads Authority (RA) is literally forcing local companies to enter into partnerships or ‘marriages of conveniences’ with Chinese owned companies under the guise of them gaining experience or capacity building.
However in these joint ventures a majority of local companies are reduced to mere spectators or briefcase companies as they are forced to take up at most 30 percent of shares with the Chinese owning the bulk and in the end locally owned companies get a tiny fraction of the money from the proceeds – in some instances the local company is in the short run booted out of the joint venture once the tender documents are signed by Government.
NCCI’s Northern Branch Chairperson, Tomas Koneka Indji says they have lobbied Government officials hard to close loopholes in the tendering process.
“Additionally, NCCI has collaborated with branch leadership and NCCI members to provide input on the Namibia Investments Promotion Act and the New Procurement Bill which are now in force, both Acts are very important ones to close all loopholes. We believe that through our efforts, input, and suggestions, the new investment frameworks and the new Procurement Bill will produce more efficient systems that reward local procurement, make it possible for SMEs and Namibian Owned enterprises to offer more competitive bids, and to encourage community investment and proper economic development that pays dividends toward eradication of poverty, employment gains, and wealth creation for many Namibians.
Asked whether such partnerships do not shortchange locals, Indji said, “Of course the local Namibians that participate in this type of behaviour with foreign investors are personally benefitting. This personal gain is so tempting they can’t pass it up. Unfortunately they rarely understand the harm they are doing to their community, to the tender sponsor, and to the advancement of Namibian owned enterprises that lost out on the procurement.”
Minister of Finance, Calle Schlettwein said although Government is aware that locals are being short-changed by entering into joint ventures with the Chinese it can’t dictate to them how they should do business with foreigners.
“We are pretty much aware of these tenderpreneurship activities and of course if locals enter into businesses with the Chinese, South Africans or any others; it is none of our business. What would be favourable is if such partnerships transfer proper skills to our people to bring about change in what they do and help them become better equipped.
“We are not a country that dictates who locals should do business with. However with the Procurement Act, it makes it our business to ensure we create opportunities for our people and for their benefit too. If that is not happening that we will have to re-look at that to achieve those goals.”
Onamagongwa Trading Enterprises director Martin Ipinge said that normally they are forced into partnerships with foreigners with the aim of skills transfer.
“RA for instance has that policy that we partner with foreigners for skills transfer. We work under them and they teach us how to manage the tenders and deliver. As for the profit sharing, it depends on the agreement between the parties. We for instance have a 20/80 agreement on the Airport Road. We provide the equipment and workforce and they handle the finances.”
Vaino Nghipondoka of Baby Face Civils explained that, “Locals tend to get in these partnerships because it’s a policy with RA for instance. We also lack the technical know-how, the resources, the machinery, the knowledge and other sophisticated equipment to tackle big projects. The foreigners help us in that regard.”
Nghipondoka also used the platform to encourage Government to strictly award tenders to locals and not to force joint ventures so that as locals they choose their preferred partner to work with.
“Government should also closely monitor local companies and classify such companies to avoid this thing of becoming briefcase companies. There is no system in place that monitors local companies and what they have done or whether they have graduated from one level to the other.”
Nghipondoka added that Government agencies and parastatals should welcome the 51/49 policy by the Tender Board in favour of local companies. “Our laws are open to anyone. If you go to South Africa for instance, you will not get any Government project. They are reserved for their people. “Our people should also stop with this perception that when a black businessperson gets a billion dollar tender they are corrupt but when a foreigner gets it, then its fine. How then will we be able to grow if this is the perception? How will we grow our people? The economy needs businesspeople to grow.”
Roads Authority, CEO, Conrad Lutombi while denying that the parastatal does not advertise tenders said they are forcing locals into partnerships with Chinese companies to build capacity for local entities.
“As an organisation we want to ensure we build capacity within the country therefore we force marriages between locals and any foreigner. We however make sure that they complete the contract to the very end. Of course profits are shared based on the joint venture and we don’t mingle there. We also make sure that materials are locally obtained and hope that once the contract is completed, the locals graduate to the next level within the field.”
Efforts to get comment from the Chinese Embassy proved futile at the time of going to print with officials saying that it would be difficult for them to comment especially now that the institution has no ambassador. Questions sent to the embassy were also not answered.
China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Chinese parastatal appears by far the biggest beneficiary of Namibian state contracts after they were given two contracts with a combined value of N$7 billion in the past 36 months.
The parastatal was awarded a contract to construct the N$3 billion container terminal in Walvis Bay Harbour for Namport as well as being partners with the RCC the N$3.7 billion fuel shipment and petroleum storage contract for the Ministry of Mines and Energy on behalf of National Petroleum Corporation (Namcor). The Chinese are in partnership with Baby Face Civils owned by Vaino Nghipondoko.
The two projects are still on-going.
Another Chinese company that has managed to score big in Namibia courtesy of the Roads Authority is China Railway 7th group that has been operating in Namibia since 2002. Its recent contracts include the contested N$800 million, Roads Authority tender for the upgrade of the Hosea Kutako International Airport road. China Railway is in 80/20 joint venture with Onamagongwa Trading Enterprises. Onamagongwa Trading is owned by Martin Ipinge.
Another Chinese owned company that has made it big in Namibia is China Civil Engineering Construction that was controversially awarded the N$750 million contract to construct the new head office of the Ministry of Home- Affairs and Immigration.
The company is in partnership with Oshilongo Investment.
As recent as March 29 2016, only five companies were invited to submit offers for the construction of the N$1 billion Prime-Minister’s second office.
Only one company invited is a wholly owned Namibian company while four other wholly owned Namibian companies are in joint ventures with the Chinese.
Companies in partnerships are Trans Afrique Enterprises which teamed up with Jiangsu Zhengtai Construction Group, Oshipe Turnkey Projects which has a marriage of convenience with China Jiangsu International.
Oshipe Turnkey directors are said to be Hileni David, president of Athletics Namibia Alna Similo, Pierre de Weet and Jacques Coffee.
BabyFace civils owned by Vaino Nghipondoko is in partnership with China Jiangxi International while New Era Investment partnered with Octagon Construction which has Indileni Kandele listed as its Director. Kandele is a former Deputy Director- Corporate Services at Bank of Namibia.
The roads construction sector has also been a major cash-cow for Chinese owned companies in Namibia as they have been given special preferences in the awarding of contracts since a majority of funding for the construction comes from the Chinese government owned Chinese Exim Bank of China.
Some of the multi-million dollar tenders that have gone to the Chinese without public tenders include the construction of the N$872 million Linyanti-Kongola-Singalamwe road in the Zambezi region, constructed by RCC and a Chinese company known as Metallurgical Construction Company-a state owned Chinese company.
The Tsumeb-Katwitwi road million that was constructed by RCC and China Henan International Corporation and the N$575 million Otjinene-Grootfontein road constructed by the China Henan International Corporation also were never publicly advertised to tender. constructed at a cost of N$910
The N $722 million Omafo-Ongenga-Outapi roads constructed by the China Gezhouba Group Company as well as the N$419 million Omakange- Ruacana road awarded to China Machinery Engineering Corporation were also awarded the same way. The Beijing influence is also seen on the N$1 billion Swakopmund- Walvis Bay freeway that was advertised about a month ago were more than half of the 23 companies that submitted bids are into partnerships with the Chinese.
The contract is being overseen by the Roads Authority has the military owned August 26 in partnership with Qinjian International Group, Top International Engineering Namibia is in a joint venture with AG Civil and Construction. Oshipe Turnkey Projects partnered with China Jiangsu International, Candino Mining and Construction is with Tianjuang Construction while China Henan International Corporation is in a marriage of convenience with Octagon Construction.
Qingdao Construction is partnering with Promax Communication & Design & Décor Solutions, Kitango Investment is venturing with China Railyway No.25 Bureau Group, and Zhong Mei is in partnership with D-Square.
Sinodydro is in partnership with Otjomuise while China Jiangxi International is working with Emirates Trading and Jiangxi Provisional Transport Engineers.
The RCC is in partnership with the China State Construction, China Civil Engineering Construction is in partnership with Oshilongo Investment.
Queiroz Galvao a Panama based company is in partnership with Kambwa Construction and Engetec Construction.
This story was also made possible due to the valuable information sourced from the Tender Bulletin.

By Confidente Reporter

DEPUTY Chairperson of the Caprivi Concern Group, Matemwa Retief Kangongo, who was reported missing over a month ago sought asylum in Botswana and is currently at a Francistown centre for illegal immigrants, police said.
Kangongo’s whereabouts come a month after reports suggested that the police and its Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga played a role in his disappearance. Police also dispelled the alleged disappearance under mysterious circumstances and that he is likely to be deported soon.
“Mr Kangongo is in Botswana. He applied for political asylum at Maun Police Station, but all indications are that he is not likely to be granted the asylum sought. He is currently at Francistown Centre for illegal immigrants and is likely to be deported back to Namibia.
“It is in light of the above that I dispel any myth about the alleged disappearance under mysterious circumstances that in some way implicated the Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force,” said Nampol’s Head of Public Relations, Edwin Kanguatjivi.
In an unrelated incident, Kanguatjivi also revealed that two senior cops were arrested early on May 20 on charges of soliciting bribes. The duo appeared in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court three days later where they were granted N$1000 bail each. The case was postponed to July.
“The Namibian Police Force noted with concern smses in The Namibian newspaper about police officers soliciting bribes and we advise that such information should be forwarded to respective Regional Commanders, or make use of suggestion boxes countrywide in order for such offenders to be brought to book,” Kanguatjivi advised.
In another case, a man died on the spot when a motorbike he was riding collided head-on with a Toyota Landcruiser on Tuesday. The fatal incident happed between 11 and 12 am. Police were still identifying the deceased at the time of going print.
On that same day, a 25 year-old man also ended his life when he hanged himself with a rope in a house at Wanaheda. He did not leave behind a suicide note with police suspecting no foul play.

By Confidente Reporter

THE Namibian Evangelical Lutheran Church (NELC), one of the oldest churches in the country has called on all its members to rally behind President Hage Geingob’s Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP), saying it is the most effective way to pull most Namibians out of poverty entrapment.
Speaking at the 25th anniversary of the Inner City Lutheran Congregation, a congregation of NELC, Bishop Shekutaamba Nambala from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (based in the North) said the church has an obligation towards the social development of the country.
“We have a spiritual obligation to fight poverty, destitution and all associated ills in our society. Therefore the church must rally behind the efforts of our President, Hage Geingob in order to narrow the poverty gap in the spirit of Harambee,” he said. “The Harambee Plan is based on five pillars. The Government is calling on Namibians to move together, to pull together, to leave no one behind and enjoy the fellowship of nation multiplicity of colours and backgrounds,” he said.
Nambala said there is no doubt that Christians should be better knowledgeable on how to pull together. “Why? Because the Spirit of God is within us,” he added.
“May the Spirit of God reveal to us the way to be strong in true Christian faith and how to be part of the Harambee national plan to make Namibia a haven and anchorage of peace, love and justice.”
The Bishop also spoke out against the growing disunity in the church, saying he is hoping that “one day all three Lutheran churches in Namibia will become a one united church.”
“Before independence the then political dispensation divided people of this country according to their colour of skin, language or otherwise … Although the apartheid system was found wanting, by many, it prevailed and disturbed the harmony of Christian fellowship among Christians. As such, churches were conducted in disunity of Christian fellowship and spirit,” he stated.
“When Namibia became independent, it was not easy to bring all Christians together at once, especially the Lutherans who happened to be divided into three churches,” he said.
He said it is therefore against this background that it was found necessary to create a pilot congregation of all Lutherans in the country where English as an official language is the medium and where members of all three Lutheran churches could worship together.
Historical as well as political events gave birth to this congregation.
“Today we are therefore celebrating the 25th year of this congregation’s existence,” said Nambala.
Inner City was established on May 1991, as a result of the reintegration of Namibians who came back from exile, the need to start a congregation that would cater for the English-speaking returnees, incoming government officials and foreign expatriates.

By Confidente Reporter

SWAPO Youth League, (SPYL) acting secretary, Veikko Nekundi was Monday left with egg on the face when Swapo acting President, Dr Hage Geingob reportedly told him during the launch of the Swapo party school that he had allegedly destroyed the once vibrant youth league, Confidente has learnt.
Sources who were at the launch told Confidente that when Geingob told Nekundi of how under his leadership the SPYL has been “killed” he could only “sheepishly grin” without saying anything.
However when Nekundi was contacted for comment Tuesday he refused to say anything on the matter.
“Go ask the President that,” he said before he abruptly hung up.
The sources added that under Nekundi’s leadership, the SPYL has increasingly been divided and this has become a cause of concern for the ruling party’s leadership.
“The President has noted with deep anguish how the SPYL has disintegrated under Nekundi’s leadership and maybe he felt he had to openly speak out so that the youth league does not completely die. It’s crystal clear the SPYL is now a pale shadow of its former self. It used to be the driving force of the party especially when the party organises events but under Nekundi’s leadership every event now leaves the party leadership embarrassed as they have to attend party events in empty stadiums and halls. What kind of a youth league that fails to mobilise the masses to attend the party’s own birthday celebrations?
“Nekundi has not been able to unify the youth but under his leadership the divisions have become so wide and clear and this has become a headache and a liability for the party’s leadership. The young man has simply failed to step in (Dr Elijah) Ngurare’s shoes sadly,” sources at the launch told Confidente.
Nekundi took over the leadership of the SPYL last year following the expulsion of Ngurare together with Job Amupanda, Dimbulukeni Nauyoma and George Kambala after the Swapo leadership had agreed that the quartet’s “total conduct was incompatible with that of Swapo members.”
However Swapo was also left embarrassed after High Court acting judge Collins Parker ordered the reinstatement of the quartet saying the party had violated its own rules when it expelled them.
Parker in his judgment said, like the powers of Government, political powers of political parties are capable of misuse and abuse.
The court dismissed Swapo’s claim that the court has no jurisdiction to intervene and meddle in its internal affairs, saying that justice and fairness are not restricted to political matters and on that the judiciary had grounds to get involved.

By Eliaser Ndeyanale

THE country’s first flying school in Ke e tma n s h o o p has been lying dormant for several years after an unidentified company tasked to provide it with fuel cut ties with the aviation institution forcing it to shut its operations, Confidente has learnt.
Sources privy to the matter told this reporter that the academy was rated as one of the best in the country because of the favourable weather conditions in the southern town.
The academy which is under the Ministry of Works was officially opened in 2008 before the ministry decided to close it down because there was no sponsorship to financially assist trainees to get commercial flight licences. The ministry then resolved to move it to Eros airport in Windhoek, this according to sources privy to the matter.
The academy whose cost is not known is situated at the Keetmanshoop airport about five kilometres northwest of Keetmanshoop.
This decision to shut down and move the institution to Windhoek has exasperated the political leadership in the //Karas region, with the Deputy Minister of Veteran Affairs Hilma Nicanor who is also the councillor for Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency accusing those who made the decision of “intentionally” undermining Government plans to usher in development in the region which is considered by many as the bread basket of Namibia.
“You wonder what people were thinking about when they moved the institution to Windhoek. Was their aim to intentionally undermine Government plans to bring development to the region?” she said, adding that there was need for Government to bring back to life Keetmanshoop Airport.
When contacted for comment, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Works, Willem Goeiemann confirmed the matter adding that there are talks about the revival of the academy.
«The school has been lying dormant for quite some time but we are trying to revive it. A proposal was written and sent to the Attorney General›s Office before it is sent to Cabinet for approval,” he said.
He however referred further questions to Joe Shipepe, the deputy director of Government Air Transport Services.
Shipepe explained that the school was forced to shut its doors over lack of fuel. “The school could not operate after the company that was providing fuel withdrew. Of importance is that documents with regards to the revival of the school are with the Attorney General, so we are still waiting to hear from them. We are not only trying to concentrate on the flying alone but include engineering and administration,” he said.