A few weeks ago, Insight Magazine published its annual scorecard on the performance of cabinet ministers. In the opinion of the magazine, all except two passed. Left unchallenged, this implies that the executive has failed. This is far from the truth.
More young people are in school. Schools have been built and continue to be built. Primary education is free and government recently announced free secondary education to commence in 2016. This is what Cde Namwandi is presiding over. To fail him is to fail all of us.
The Health Ministry has been allocated more money than the Ministry of Education this year. This is the first time it has happened since independence. The reason for it was the call by the Minister of Health who has indicated that the health infrastructure is old and dilapidated. Many young Namibians are trained and being trained as nurses and doctors as well as other disciplines. Namibia now has the School of Medicine as part of Unam. The Minister, Dr Richard Kamwi, during each annual meeting with his management always emphasises accountability and service delivery to the public. Yes we can do better, but we have not failed.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has been very hard at work to safeguard food security for the country. The Kalimbeza, Shadikongoro, Shitemo, Uvhungu-vhungu, Musese and Etunda schemes are names that give surety to Namibians about our ability to produce food. It is also the Ministry that has been responsible for ensuring access to water by all Namibians. This and more we must credit Honourable Minister John Mutorwa for his dedication, hard work and patriotic dedication.
In the same vein, the availability of electricity is one area that showcases our success for the past five years. New mines have been opened and Epangelo Mining is operational whose task it is to ensure that the resources of Namibia benefit all Namibians. The State benefits from taxes, ownership and job creation. This we credit the Honourable Minister Isak Katali for his hard work, dedication and foresight to the need of energy for all Namibians especially those in rural areas.
The Namibianisation policy implemented by Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has yielded impressive results with so many Namibians becoming participants in the fishing sector. Once again it is a positive outlook for which we pass with flying colours and that is thanks to Honourable Minister Bernhard Esau.
For its part, the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement is hard at work resettling previously disadvantaged Namibians and ensuring that capacity is built for first-time land owners, all these significant strides mean that we cannot fail but pass the Honourable Minister Alpheus !Naruseb.
Equally the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Environment and Tourism as well as the Ministry of Safety and Security are direct job creators for many unemployed young people. Honourable Ministers Nahas Angula, Uahekua Herunga and Immanuel Ngatjizeko pass with flying colours too. The administration of local authorities is at the heart of addressing bread-and-butter issues facing our people. The Honourable Minister Charles Namoloh must be commended for his hard work and dedication in that important ministry.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has been providing pension payouts to elderly in our society. The Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs has been honouring veterans of the liberation struggle in all parts of the country financially and materially. The Ministry for Gender and Child Welfare has been caring for the orphans and vulnerable children in our country. The Ministry of Youth, National Youth Service, Sport and Culture, through the National Youth Council and National Youth Service, caters for the needs and aspirations of the Namibian youth. Equally the Ministry of Works and Transport has been embarking upon various infrastructural developments, all of which have the potential to stimulate the national economy and therefore create much-needed employment. Therefore for all these interventions and the commitment of the Ministers responsible such as Minister Doreen Sioka, Minister Nickey Iyambo, Minister Rosalia Nghidinwa, Minister Jerry Ekandjo, Minister Errki Nghimtina as well as the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr Albert Kawana, and Minister Pendukeni Iivula Ithana, Director-General of the National Planning Commission Tom Alweendo are all hard working and capable of passing with flying colours just like Comrades Saara Kuugongelwa Amadhila and Cde Netumbo Ndaitwa.

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It is not amusing that as election fever takes root and the reality of certain defeat starts to haunt political losers; we are inundated with political vitriol from the lunatic fringe of the political divide. As usual, the media continue to unearth shadow “sources” and overnight experts in the brewing Swapo “cold war”. Suffice it to say that the “cold war” in Swapo is a figment of the imagination of Swapo detractors and agent provocateurs who are hell-bent on dividing the rank and file of Swapo. Undoubtedly, the outcome of the coming elections will once again expose the delusions about the existence of “camps” and the “cold war” in Swapo. It is small wonder that permanent political losers have become champions at regurgitating the same political drivel at every opportune moment.
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. In tandem with that, the RDP’s Hidipo Hamutenya assembled a horde of ex-colonial soldiers at Oluno to render his support to their demands to be recognised as war veterans, arguing that they deserve to be treated the same way as ex-PLAN combatants because of the policy of national reconciliation, adopted by Swapo at independence. Not to be outdone, the young man leading the DTA joined the fracas.
“I was the only MP who said this law discriminates against some people and can be challenged in a court. I do not see why they (ex-SWATF and ex-Koevoet) can’t be part of the war veterans. Some of these people were recruited in the government at independence, but why did you recruit them if you can’t recognise them”, fumes McHenry Venaani, according to the media.
It is important to contextualise the status of a veteran in our situation. We have veterans who selflessly fought to liberate the country. We also have veterans who placed their lives on the line to prevent Namibian independence for a price. Independence and counter-independence veterans should not be painted with the same brush. Who you honour and recognise between the two categories, defines who you are and what you stand for.
First things first: ex-SWATF and Koevoet soldiers were employees, with pensionable salaries – employed by the colonial regime to keep Namibia in perpetual bondage. On the other hand, PLAN combatants were selfless volunteers who waged a war to liberate Namibia from colonial rule. Arguments abound that many ex-SWATF and Koevoet soldiers were forced into the colonial army through military conscription. That argument cannot be contested. However, every one of them had a choice to make. The choice was simple but costly. They chose to side with the colonial regime in mercilessly killing Namibians and keeping the country under colonial rule. Thousands of indefatigable Namibians, such as Cde Johannes Kakuva, who was killed at Opuwo as a result of torture while in the custody of SWATF and Koevoet cells, refused to work with the colonial regime.
The military conscription theory is over-played. For example, by 1973, many primary schools had mushroomed in the Zambezi region with only two secondary schools – the Catholic Mission and the Caprivi State School. In January 1974, 108 students who had passed standard six could not be accommodated in Form One at the two secondary schools. The Education Department, led by a Mr Le Grange, advised the students to be conscripted into the army or police services or go to the mines in Kimberly, South Africa. These students embarked on protests that lasted about three days – demonstrations were held at the Department of Education and at the offices of the then two Chiefs – Mamili and Muraliswani, resulting in the building of Simataa and Sanjo secondary schools which opened their doors in 1975. The majority of the students defied attempts to be lured into the colonial army and police services and opted to go into exile to fight for independence, while others undertook underground political work to mobilise support for the liberation struggle.
National reconciliation should not be confused with the conferring of veteran status on individuals. The policy was instrumental in the recruitment of both PLAN combatants and SWATF/Koevoet into the Namibian Defence Force after demobilisation. It is no secret that many Koevoet/SWATF elements were infiltrated into the civil service, including at media houses, at very senior levels. It is also an open secret that the political leadership of Koevoet/SWATF is still intact in the civil service and in opposition parties. On that score, the policy of national reconciliation has ensured that these elements are accommodated, recognised and not discriminated against in terms of job opportunities

Dr. Charles Mubita holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Southern California.

DR CHARLES MUBITA

Is it just me or has dating changed since the days of the Great Depression? Ask any woman around about the characteristics that she would like her ideal partner to possess, and you would hear “a sense of humour”, “independent”, “must love cats” and “he should be mobile”.
So women like guys who laugh a lot? Or is that men who can make them laugh a lot? I imagine my female friends going “duh, of course!” It is, however, not that simple, my dear friends.
Firstly, how will I make you laugh if I do not know what is funny to you? Oh, I get it. I ought to find out, right? Here is a thought for you; shouldn’t you also have a sense of humour to appreciate my attempts at being the next Charlie Chaplin?
As for being a cat lover, I am not a cat person. I am more of a dog person. Let’s face it, guys, cats are too soft, always clean and hardly outside in the sun - always snuggled up on “daddy’s sofa” in the living room. I am not even sure if cats respond to their names.
Imagine how you would call a cat. “Peanuts, come to Daddy, Peanuts,” or “Garfield, no … don’t touch that ball of wool … NO, GARFIELD!”
That, my dear friends is not how I roll! There is just no way I would make my gravelly voice soft so I do not scare the poor thing when calling a cat.
“Killer, get him! Get your lazy dog behind over here, Killer!” Now that is what I am talking about.?As for being mobile; does that mean owning an expensive cell phone or a car?
Seriously, and I am sure I am not the only one in this boat; since when has Cosmopolitan magazine been the ideal relationship guide? Imagine coming home to find your partner in the doorway, tears rolling down her face and panting heavily.
You immediately react. “Maria, what is wrong … what happened?”
She just stares at you, motionless as if stuck by lightning.
“Honey, what IS it?” you insist.
Finally she looks up, into your eyes, holding back her tears and as her lips part you barely make out the words: “You lied to me … you LIED to me, Charlie.”
You freeze, scanning your mind for all those dark, horrid lies you told her about you owning a farm and 50 shebeens in Kuisebmond.
At one point, you even think of confessing about Petronella – the woman she knows as only being a ‘sister’ to you. But you hold back the confession and bravely ask;
“What are you talking about, honey?”
“You said you loved me … it is not true … you lied to me, Charlie.”
At this moment your mind goes completely blank. Then thoughts of confessing about Petronella slowly come to the fore again.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, honey. Of course I love you!”
“No … I took the test … I did a test on our love and it came out the wrong way. According to Cosmopolitan you are not in touch with the inner me and ought to do more with the time you have on your hands…”
“Cosmopolitan, as in the French magazine, told you that?”
“American, not French. Cosmopolitan is from the States. And it didn’t tell me, I did the calculations myself based on the ‘Yes’ factor.”
“The ‘Yes’ factor?”
“Yes. It’s all about calculating how many times you said yes to me during our conversation over the past few days, and how many times you disagreed with me. The rate is then determined based on how many times we had an argument won by you…”
Eish, such is the new state of affairs nowadays.
I know of brothers who would try out every single piece of advice given to them by their friends about their partners. For instance, if a certain dude comes to his friends for advice, they would tell him, “Dude, you are too soft. You ought to show her who wears the pants in the house.”
When he gets home, and upon realising his partner is clad in her favourite blue jeans, he yells, “Take off those jeans! I should be the only one wearing pants in this house…”
Ja, that’s what happens when you take some advice literally.
Until then…
tjatindi@gmail.com

Aries
Let your imagination lead to alternatives that can help you make the most of whatever situation you face. Put your entrepreneurial talents to the test and reap the positive rewards.

Taurus
There is too much information hidden for you to make an honest assessment of your situation. Don’t let your emotions cause you to jump into something without sufficient thought.

Gemini
You should be working toward stabilising your life and not confusing issues. Emotional uncertainty will leave you questioning what you are doing in all aspects of your life.

Cancer
You may want to jump into something that appears to be helping a cause you believe in but, before you make a commitment, consider what’s actually expected.

Leo
A financial or business contract or concern can now be resolved. Don’t waste time talking when what you need is a written agreement. Don’t abuse your health or well-being.

Virgo
Emotions will surface and impulsive actions will follow. You will take others by surprise with your way of dealing with situations. Stand firm when it comes to finances.

Libra
A little tender loving care given to your home, along with some updating will make your life easier and improve your emotional well-being. Your relationship will be enhanced.

Scorpio
Make plans for the future that ensure your professional status. Take on clients or offer services through a freelance business. Your life may be going through a series of changes.

Sagittarius
You need a little excitement in your life. Sign up for an adventure or get involved in a challenging event. Put your skills to use in order to feel motivated to move forward.

Capricorn
Don’t give in to persistent nagging or emotional blackmail. Stop taking on other people’s responsibilities. Put yourself first and you will be better equipped to help others do for themselves.

Aquarius
You’ll have no trouble getting your way or convincing others to help you. Your charm will help you reconnect with past partners who have something to offer that you want.

Pisces
Your intuition may tell you one thing, but if you accuse someone based on what you feel and not facts, you may be disappointed at the results. Concentrate more on what you have to offer.

She cheated, fell pregnant Dear Auntie Nangy My girlfriend cheated on me and fell pregnant now I’m confused because part of me wants to move on, but the other part just wants to think she made a mistake and I want to give her another try. What should I do auntie? It is your choice and nobody can make that choice for you, but you must realise that your choice will have far-reaching consequences. The fact that you want to give her another chance is commendable and yes, she did make a mistake and to forgive someone for a mistake is admirable. But the practical part of the situation is that you will have to raise a child that is not yours and for the sake of everybody involved, especially the child, you must be very honest with yourself that you can handle it and raise this child like your own. They say I ‘chess’ Dear Auntie Nangy I am a 16-year-old girl, pretty and very intelligent. I have a problem with my schoolmates, they always insist that I “chess” a lot. I like dressing as if I am going to work and they always spread rumours that I had sex with this one or that one, but it’s not true, I never had sex with anyone. I am just tired of being accused of something I didn’t do. I like people auntie, I always chat and say hi when passing by but it doesn’t help. I need advice auntie. You seem like a young lady, who is self-confident and knows exactly what she wants from life and where she is going and I applaud that. Unfortunately there will always be people that are intimidated by confidence, especially at your age where your peers are going through a lot of changes in the process of growing up with a lot of self-doubt. This is the time where they learn, who they are and become the persons that they will be when they finally do grow up. It seems that you have already sorted yourself out and are a couple of steps further on the road of self-discovery. You might feel slightly left out at the moment but never change who and what you are. Ignore the rumours that are spread about you as coming from petty people and keep on being the friendly outgoing person that you are and you will see that people around you change positively. Remember that what you think about yourself is more important than what others think about you and as long as you like the person in the mirror, all is well. My dad is having an affair Dear Auntie Nangy My parents have been married for over 20 years now and we are a big happy family. The thing is my father is cheating on my mom and she will never believe me if I tell her. It makes me so angry. I can understand that you are angry, but don’t do anything that you might regret later. I think that you should talk to your father and tell him that you think he is cheating on your mother. It might be that you have seen or heard something that you have misinterpreted, but the important thing is that your father must know that you have concerns and give him the chance to explain to you what the situation is. You can then let him know how important the happiness of the whole family is and if there is something wrong he should realise that what he does is going to have a huge impact on everything and will cause a lot of heartache. I’m not saying that your father is cheating but sometimes people just need to be reminded about how lucky they are to have what they have. Auntie wishes you only happiness. She is pregnant and moody Dear Auntie Nangy My girlfriend is six months pregnant and we have plans to get married next year. The problem is she is very moody and I heard its normal for a pregnant woman. Is this true? Her moods are driving me crazy in a bad way. Much of what’s happening to your girlfriend is beyond her control, so you’re going to have to be her lifeline to sanity. In addition to fear, anxiety, and body morphing, your wife will be subject to constant complex biochemical changes: sharp dips in blood sugar, hormonal fluctuations, and water retention. All of these things can cause her mood to shift in a nanosecond. As a result, you may have to re-evaluate the role you’ve played in your relationship up until now. For instance, try being more of a caretaker, making sure your wife snacks every few hours to keep her blood sugar steady, drinks enough fluids to avoid dehydration, and rests. Be as kind to her as you hope she would be to you during your worst-ever week, and remember that at least you’re not the one who has to give birth. I had a miscarriage Dear Aunty Nangy I am a 22-year-old lady and was pregnant for a month, but then had a miscarriage due to minor depression and stress. The doctor told me that he could not save the child. I would like to know if I could get pregnant again or how long must I wait to get pregnant again? Please help me. Angel, I’m sorry for your loss. This is an issue that you must discuss with your doctor as both physical and psychological factors are involved and I am not in the position to help you. Take care.

Namibia’s sevens rugby women’s team will be in action tomorrow in the 2014 Confederation of African Rugby’s Women’s Africa Cup Sevens in Kenya. The Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County is the venue of the one-day event. Eight of Africa’s best women’s sevens rugby teams led by champions South Africa, hosts Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Madagascar and Namibia will do battle in the quest to be crowned queens of African sevens rugby at the close of business tomorrow evening. The eight teams are divided into two pools of four each. Namibia is in Pool B with last year’s beaten finalists Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe, while Pool B is made up of Kenya, South Africa, Senegal and Madagascar. The top two sides from both pools will play in the cup semi-finals, with the bottom two playing the bowl semi-finals. It is Namibia’s first Confederation of Africa Rugby (CAR) Africa Women’s Cup Sevens participation. Namibian team captain Geraldine Louw told Nampa earlier that it is difficult to predict how they will perform, but she promised to give their opponents a hard time.

The ACT Brumbies, defending champions the Chiefs and South Africa's Sharks posted ninth-round wins to stay atop their regional conferences but the hard-fought nature of those victories underlined the closeness of Super Rugby.
The Brumbies beat the Queensland Reds 23-20, the Chiefs beat the Melbourne Rebels 22-16 and the Sharks needed a late try to hold out the Lions 25-12 to retain the top three places on the championship ladder, in which only nine points separate second from 12th place.
The resurgence of seven-time champions the Crusaders, who won in South Africa for the second straight week, and the rise of the previously unrated Western Force who beat the New South Wales Waratahs for a club-record fifth straight win combined to further tighten the standings and give the table an unfamiliar look.
Winger Nick Cummins scored three tries as the Perth-based Force beat the favoured Waratahs 28-16 to improve their record to 5-2 and to move up to fourth place. That's a heady position for a team whose best placing in nine years was seventh in 2007.
The Force led 13-9 at halftime, opened a decisive lead with two second-half tries to Cummins, then held out the Waratahs who closed with a try to Kurtley Beale in the 66th minute. Force captain Matt Hodgson said "it was a game won by our defence" and Waratahs captain Dave Dennis agreed.
"We put them under a lot of pressure," Dennis said. "We were a bit unlucky but good defence from them kept us out."
The Waratahs' attack was reduced in effectiveness by the enforced absence of Wallabies fullback Israel Folau. Folau, who scored eight tries in his first four games this season, was removed from the line-up on Saturday by the Australian Rugby Union which countermanded the Waratahs' medical assessment that he was ready to return from a throat injury.
Though Folau received a clearance from a specialist in Perth this week and from New South Wales team doctor Sharron Flahive, the ARU said its medical advice was that Folau was not fit to play.
"I've spoken to Sharron and the specialist that I've seen here in Perth," Folau said. "They said that I was good to go, with the risk that I was well aware of, but the ARU have stepped in and I'm very disappointed."
The Crusaders also benefited from a winger's hat trick as they beat the Cheetahs 52-31 in Bloemfontein for their first bonus-point win. Fiji winger Nemani Nadolo scored three of the Crusaders' six tries in a see-sawing match in which eight tries were scored after halftime.
The Crusaders led 19-10 at the break but fell behind 31-19 when the Cheetahs scored three tries in a 10-minute burst. The home side seemed spent after that effort and the Crusaders reclaimed the lead and the match, scoring three tries in the last 17 minutes.
Coach Todd Blackadder said their two wins in South Africa, which lifted them to seventh place with a 4-3 record, put their campaign back on track. He said the Crusaders "really worked hard on being a team, stripped back and just prioritized what we need to do to win these games and got rid of any clutter."
The Brumbies resisted a strong finish from the Reds to claim their sixth win of the season and to remain second overall, two points behind the Sharks. Queensland's fifth loss of the season dropped them to 11th place and jeopardized their bid to reclaim the Super Rugby title they held in 2011.
"We knocked on, not taking kicks, turnovers of kicks, simple things," Reds captain James Horwill said. "The second half was better but we couldn't convert our chances."
A late try to Lwazi Mvovo clinched the Sharks' 25-12 win over the Lions in Johannesburg, the first away win of the season for the Durban-based championship leaders.
Though the Sharks had substantial advantages of territory and possession they didn't lead by more than six points until Mvovo scored in the 67th minute.
"We had to get someone like Lwazi to break the deadlock," Sharks captain Bismarck du Plessis said. "You have to start well if you want to win this competition. But the most important thing is the last five games. We still have to go and travel."
WELLINGTON NAMPA / AP

MAGICAL: Palestinian youths play as the sun sets in Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip on April 9, 2014. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

Former Koevoet members and SWATF soldiers, represented by the Namibia War Veterans’ Trust (Namvet), are still demanding to be registered as war veterans and to benefit from the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs funding programmes. In a letter from Namvet leaders Linus Tobias and Lazarus Petrus, the former Koevoet members and South West Africa Territory Force (SWATF) soldiers said they are bona fide Namibians and should also be benefitting from the veterans funds of the Namibian government. Koevoet was a paramilitary-trained police counter-insurgency unit during Apartheid South Africa’s illegal occupation of Namibia. The unit was notorious for committing acts of brutality against civilians. Tobias is the coordinator of Namvet for the Oshana and Omusati regions, while Petrus is the Namvet coordinator for the Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions. In their letter, the two said: “Ex-SWATF and Koevoet members were trained soldiers. We want to be disarmed financially like the former People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) fighters.” Their demand is a direct response to the Deputy Minister of Defence Petrus Ilonga, who told a crowd at a belated celebration of Namibia’s Independence anniversary at Omusheshe village in the Oshana Region last Saturday that former Koevoet and SWATF combatants would never benefit from the Veterans’ Affairs Ministry. “We have forgiven them and even recruited them for jobs in our government, but we will not forget the atrocities they perpetuated against our people,” Ilonga told the gathering at Omusheshe. In their response, the former soldiers asked whether the policy of national reconciliation was not meant to unite the Namibian nation after the liberation war. Ex-SWATF and Koevoet members believe they also contributed to the peace and stability which Namibians currently enjoy, as they remained patient and never demanded what was due to them for the past 24 years. “For how long are the Namibian people going to allow themselves to be divided by those who are abusing State power to advance self-interest and to discriminate against fellow Namibians because they are not their relatives of favourites?” they asked. The former SWATF and Koevoet members said they want the Namibian government to refund them the N$24 million that was paid out to ex-PLAN combatants and channelled to the failed Development Brigade Corporation (DBC) shortly after independence, if they are not to be recognised as war veterans. The N$24 million was deducted from N$36 million which the then government of South Africa had earmarked as demobilisation allowances for SWATF and Koevoet members. The ex-SWATF and Koevoet members expressed unhappiness that they were excluded when “the Swapo government” decided to divide the N$36 million into three equal portions of N$12 million for them, ex-Plan combatants and the now defunct DBC. “Most of us did not receive a single cent from that amount. The DBC was created with that money, but none of the former SWATF and Koevoet members was recruited for the DBC despite the fact that DBC was created with our money,” they said. The SWATF and Koevoet ex-combatants also said Deputy Minister Ilonga’s statements are a violation of the country’s constitution, as he seemed to indicate that the government belongs only to members of the ruling Swapo Party. “Do you know the pain we suffered when the government created the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs only for the one side,” the former SWATF and Koevoet members asked Ilonga in their letter. WINDHOEK NAMPA

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday voiced deep concern over the deteriorating situation in eastern Ukraine.
"The secretary-general is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Eastern Ukraine and the growing potential for violent clashes," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman on Saturday night.
"The secretary-general stresses that further disturbances will not serve the interests of any side," the statement said.
A new wave of unrest erupted in Ukraine's east last weekend, when pro-Moscow activists seized several government buildings in the cities of Donetsk, Lugansk and Kharkov, demanding a referendum on autonomy and closer ties with Russia.
Earlier Saturday, about a dozen gunmen seized a state security building and a police station in Slavyansk, a town about 100 km north of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
The armed men initially occupied the police station, where they seized at least 400 handguns and 20 automatic weapons, Ukraine police said in a statement.
The attack on the police station was followed up with the storming of the state security building. Casualties and hostages remain unknown.
Ukraine Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said on his Facebook account the attack was led by "armed men in camouflage fatigues" and he vowed a severe response.
In the statement, the secretary-general "appeals to all sides to work towards calming the situation, adhere to the rule of law and exercise maximum restraint."
"He calls again for urgent and constructive dialogue to de-escalate the situation and address all differences," said the statement.
"The United Nations stands ready to continue to support a peaceful resolution to the current crisis facing Ukraine," it added.
On March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Crimean leaders signed a treaty to make the southern peninsula part of Russian territory after almost 97 percent of Crimean voters backed secession from Ukraine in a referendum.
Kiev has rejected the referendum and Crimea's integration into Russia, saying it was unconstitutional.

UNITED NATIONS NAMPA / XINHUA

Pohamba congratulates PoN graduates

President Hifikepunye Pohamba congratulated more than 1 000 students who graduated from the Polytechnic of Namibia (PoN) on Friday.
In his speech, which was read on his behalf by Education Minister David Namwandi, Pohamba congratulated the graduates and all the people who have contributed to the students’ success.
“You are at a turning point in your lives in many ways, as you are now entering a transition from many years of schooling and training to a new phase where you will be expected to contribute to the socio-economic progress of our country,” he said.
Pohamba called on the graduates to generate solutions to some of the challenges facing the country.
“You will be expected to demonstrate that you are committed and knowledgeable workers in your various professions,” he said.
Of the 1 230 students who graduated, 579 are men and 651 women.

Geingob satisfied with China-Namibia cooperation

Prime Minister Hage Geingob has described his engagements with China on the political and economic front as successful, as he winds up his official visit to the Asian country.
Speaking during a visit to the Huawei Technologies company headquarters on Friday, Geingob said he was satisfied with the progress made in the talks he held with senior Chinese government officials and businesspeople.
“I am very pleased with the progress that we made in our bilateral talks with China. This is testimony to the ever-growing relationship between our two countries. The success of these talks will create an even stronger bond between our two sister countries as we move towards greater economic freedom,” he said.

Great mismatch in housing supply and demand

Oshikoto Regional Governor Penda ya Ndakolo on Thursday expressed concern about the huge mismatch between the demand for housing and the supply of affordable houses in the country.
Ya Ndakolo’s raised this concern in a statement read on his behalf by Tsumeb Constituency Councillor Lebbius Tobias at the official handover of 65 new houses built by the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) for the employees of Dundee Precious Metals in Tsumeb.
“Namibia is faced with a profound constraint of a mismatch between the supply of houses and its demand in the whole country. This remains a key concern for all policymakers,” Ya Ndakolo stressed.
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Reports by Nampa

The third round of the Namibian leg of the Windhoek Lager Africa Jacket Golf Championships (WLAJGC) was held on April 5 at the Windhoek Golf Club.
The Windhoek Lager Central Open 2014 was sponsored exclusively by Namibia Breweries Limited’s premium brand.
After the tournament, Gabriel Shikodi in division A is in the lead, while Philip Iifo in division B and S van der Merwe in division C are leaders of the pack.
The top leaders in the competition are currently number one in each respective division and have the best chance of being the champion of their division to go through to the ultimate final of the Windhoek Lager Africa Jacket Golf Championships.
Ian Stevenson, Manager: Sponsorships, Events and Brands at Namibia Breweries Limited, said the tournament is living up to their expectations.
“It is exciting to see how we are progressing toward the end of this newly launched golf championship,” he said.
“Our last game in Namibia which counts towards the WLAJGC will be the Namibian Open to be held at the Rössmund Golf Course in Swakopmund on May 3 and 4. This will be a three-round competition with two rounds on the Saturday and the final round on Sunday. Thereafter we will know who the Namibians are to participate in the final WLAJGC round to be held in June in Windhoek.”
According to Stevenson there has been a definite increase in players in comparison to last year and this is one of the main aims of this championship –to extend golf to more Namibians and to make it worth their while to play in as many tournaments in the country as possible.
When looking at the other participating African countries Stevenson concluded: “All countries have agreed that there is far more interest this year since the introduction of the WLAJGC and have even had to cap the number of entries for some of the tournaments. We are extremely happy with this turnout.”

WINDHOEK-SPORT REPORTER

It is now less than two months before the most watched event in the world kicks off in Brazil.
So here are some fast facts about some of the stars of previous World Cups.
Brazilian Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima holds the record for most World Cup goals scored. He scored 15 goals, making him top World Cup goal scorer.
The oldest player to lead a country to the World Cup title was the Italian goalkeeper and captain Dino Zoff, who at the age of 40 captained Italy to their 1982 FIFA World Cup title.
German national Franz Beckenbauer is the only player in the history of the World Cup who won the title as a player and coach for Germany. He led Germany to their title in 1974 as a player and then again won the title in 1990 as the Germany coach.

City land

I want to commend Margareth Mensah-Williams for her bravery and speaking up against her greedy fellow politicians who think they deserve land more than the poor who voted for them. Thank you Honourable Mensah-Williams for standing up for the voiceless. You are a true leader and I wish others were like you instead of just enriching themselves even though they already get all kinds of special benefits but they continue to want more.

* Windhoek Mayor Agnes Kafula is really beginning to disappoint me and I was so happy when she talked about wanting to help the poor landless people of her city. But now she is just involved in funny things such as defending the special prices being given to politicians on land while poor people have to pay exorbitant amounts for land. Different rules for different people, and she even denies knowing things.

Fishy project

I am curious to know what those Chinese will want in return for building a N$100 million school in Otjomuise. There is always a price attached to such things and those Chinese don’t give away things for free. They will come and collect. Open your eyes, politicians, and see that the Chinese are not your friends but your new colonisers and they will take over Namibia, if not Africa.

Wife swap
I was shocked to hear the Vice President of DTA campaigning for wife-swapping. It is shameful that politicians can suggest such things and it does not seem like others are taking this issue seriously in Parliament. Do they think women are objects just to be handed out like that?

Castration

Why is Swapo MP Ncube so ignorant of the law by calling for the castration of women murderers? Before Swapo's administration crime and all vices were minimal. Then came Swapo with its out-of-this-world laws, policies etc, messing up the once orderly situation. She must instead tell her arrogant party’s government to restore the situation to its original state.

DD Dirkse writes:
The Ministry of Regional and Local Government dispatched an investigating committee to Blouwes in November 2013 in terms of Section 12 of the Traditional Authorities Act. For clarity, the leadership dispute is not between the //Haboben and Kharo-!Oan clan but rather between a breakaway or splinter group led by Mr DC Gertze and the remainder of the traditional community which falls under Blouwes Traditional Authority (BTA). Gertze’s group calls themselves //Haboben whilst the traditional council’s group consists of //Haboben, Kharo-!Oan and all other members of community residing in their jurisdiction.
I can confirm that all speculation about Mr Gertze’s application was cleared. Mr S Kopper signed and submitted the application to designate Gertze. This he has done on behalf of BTA without being a member of BTA and without BTA’s authorisation and/or knowledge. Mr Gertze and then governor Mr Dawid Boois also signed the application. The governor is required by law to verify correctness of information on the application form and then endorse the document with his signature. Kopper’s application is illegal because Section 5(1)(a) of Act No. 25, 2000 clearly states Traditional Council must apply for the designation of Chief. Section 5(1)(b) only applies if no Traditional Council exists. The law declares such illegal application invalid (Section 9 of Traditional Authorities Act, 2000). Excuses offered by Gertze’s team were that they are not legal experts and that BTA could not handle the application because the traditional authority was apparently defunct. Their argument regarding BTA is obviously not true and as such no response was needed.
However more disturbing is the fact that it seems Kopper’s application was not simply a procedural wrongdoing but an intentional act. People who attended Getze’s election are claiming that he was never elected to lead Blouwes community, nor was he elected to lead //Haboben clan. It transpires that his election was merely for him to stand as candidate if the entire traditional community decides to elect a chief for the traditional authority. It is not clear at what point Kopper, Gertze and whoever was involved decided to submit an application to the ministry. But it obviously angered many people and disturbed harmony, peace and stability in the community. This information is very disappointing because a gross lack of integrity is displayed. Integrity is fundamental to our customary laws due to the fact that it involves qualities such as honesty, consistency, fairness, being responsible, unification, etc.
Apart from compliance with the Traditional Authorities Act, it is imperative that adherence to customary laws and practices be observed when designating the traditional leader. This is equally important for the investigating committee because it is a legal requirement, i.e. Section 12(4) states that: “...regard shall be had to the relevant customary law and traditional practices of traditional community within which the dispute has arisen”.
I sincerely hope that findings, recommendations and finally the minister’s decision shall resolve this pointless leadership dispute which should not have existed if applicable laws were enforced.

Ghana came awfully close to being the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals, their progress halted by a handball from Uruguay striker Luis Suarez and Asamoah Gyan's miss from the resulting penalty. Gyan is captain this time and Ghana still has the core of the side that eventually lost in a shootout at the 2010 tournament. They've set their sights on going a step further in Brazil. Midfielders Michael Essien and Kevin-Prince Boateng, who both took extended breaks from international duty after 2010, have returned to bring the squad back to full strength. The Ghana team left South Africa as the toast of the continent four years ago, but has struggled to live up to that promise between the World Cups, losing to Zambia and Burkina Faso in the semi-finals of the 2012 and 2013 African Cup tournaments. All that casts doubt on whether Ghana is Africa's best contender in Brazil, particularly with top-ranked African team Ivory Coast and continental champion Nigeria also in the mix. And then there's the opposition in the group stage: Germany, Portugal and the United States. Kwesi Appiah, a former national team captain who is coaching at his first World Cup, faces a serious challenge just to get Ghana into the second round. "It's a tough group but if you're going out there for a competition then you have to have the ultimate ambition, which is to win it and be prepared for any team you come up against," Appiah said. "For me, once you've gone through the first games and qualified then the confidence levels increase and for that reason you have to have the mentality that you cannot be afraid of anyone." Essien and Boateng give Ghana vital big-game experience, with Essien's form possibly the key. The AC Milan midfielder missed the 2010 tournament with injury and despite his success at club level, some critics aren't convinced he has fully delivered on his potential for his country. Gyan is the team's leader from the front, and there's also Juventus midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah, Marseille winger Andre Ayew and young Russia-based Wakaso Mubarak, who was outstanding as an attacking midfielder in the last African Cup of Nations. Almost all Ghana's best players play in foreign leagues, making World Cup preparations sometimes problematic. But Appiah sees the experience of the European leagues as an advantage. "All of my players are at very good clubs so there's no reason to be cautious," Appiah said. "We're going there full of confidence." Ghana's government has pledged nearly $10 million to help the players' preparations in Brazil, a small fortune for an African team. The financial injection and the success of 2010 mean very big things are expected this time around. ACCRA NAMPA/AP

For centuries, colonial era merchants tussled for access to Africa's raw materials, and huge swathes of Africa's geography became synonymous with the main commodity they exported: Gold Coast, Ivory Coast, the Spice Island of Zanzibar.
But the continent's booming economic growth and swelling population give it an opportunity to shift away from the traditional raw material export model towards consuming and transforming its own commodities and selling them to its own expanding local markets.
Miners, bankers and trading houses are seeking to position themselves to take advantage of emerging trade routes within Africa at a time when demand growth from China, the world's biggest commodity consumer, begins to tail off.
Management consultancy McKinsey estimates that African consumer spending will be US$1.4 trillion (N$14.7 trillion) by 2020 and forecasts a more than doubling of the working age population to 1.1 billion people by 2040.
"Any statistics you take are uni-directional so I don't see why demand should look the other way," said Venkatramani Srivathsan, head of Africa and the Middle East for Singapore-listed commodities trader Olam.
"For businesses like ours looking into Africa as a market, as a destination, countries like Nigeria and Mozambique are very, very interesting," he said in a telephone interview during the Reuters summit on African business, held in several African cities.
For Srivathsan, whose employer sources a quarter of its sales revenues from Africa and has invested 1.66 billion Singapore dollars (N$14 billion) on the continent, the secret is knowing how to adapt to the tastes and changing consumption patterns of each individual market in Africa.
Olam, which invests in plantations, food processing and the packaged food business, has introduced subtle differences in its West African tomato paste to suit different palates and is adapting to Nigerian demand for more sophisticated biscuits.
"You have to keep innovating. Even if you acquire brands you need to keep adapting to changing tastes and changing levels of income," he said.

Wealthier consumer market

Top oil trader Vitol has also targeted investments in Africa's downstream sector, and is bidding for a new refinery in Uganda, to help it meet demand for the US$440 million (N$4.6 billion) a day fuels market.
Oil traders still export Africa's crude oil to sell as refined products in the West, but Vitol now sees robust growth in fuel demand on the continent of around 3% a year, driven partly by growing power markets.
It is targeting supplies of niche fuels like liquefied petroleum gas - which can be easily distributed in portable canisters - into large cities of North Africa and Nigeria, a country of 170 million people which recently overtook South Africa as the continent's largest economy.
"LPG will be a growing requirement because it fills the wealthier consumer market that needs alternative fuel as biomass becomes unsustainable in most urban settings," said Chris Bake, director of origination and investments at Vitol.
One way that Africa could seek to supply local markets with commodities is by using mineral resources as bargaining chips to persuade investors to set up processing and manufacturing plants, according to Carlos Lopes, executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
He cited data showing the continent had 12% of the world's oil reserves, 40% of its gold, 80 to 90% of its chromium and platinum, 70% of coltan, 60% of its unused arable land, 17% of the world's forests, and 53% of the world's cocoa.
"Resources such as these should be leveraged," Lopes told African finance ministers in Abuja on March 29.
"We have to find our own recipe, our miracle recipe, if we want to become one of the factory floors of the world."

JOHANNESBURG NAMPA/REUTERS

No country would be successful in combating crime if the community does not get involved. No matter how many police officers are employed, the participation of the community is still crucial, said Oshana Governor Clemens Kashuupulwa at Uukwangula in the Okatana Constituency last week.
Speaking at the inauguration of an office that Chief Herman Iipumbu of Uukwambi made available to the Women and Men Network against Crime, Kashuupulwa said that trying to build the country while there is crime is impossible.
He said crime was rampant in the Oshana Region in the past, when livestock theft and housebreaking was common, businesspeople were demoralised because their stock was being stolen, and even churches were targeted.
“Criminals did not even show respect for holy places, but today the situation has changed and Oshana is a safe region because of the Women and Men Network volunteers,” he said.
He said volunteering is not new to Namibians. “Many young people volunteered in the past to participate in the armed liberation struggle. Namibians are still volunteering as fight for economic emancipation and against unemployment and income inequalities,” he said.
Kashuupulwa said he has noted that the WMN has mainly women volunteers and only a few men. “That is because men spend their time drinking at shebeens,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Rauha Amwele, who represented the regional police commander, said the Oshana Region has experienced a decline in crime since the establishment of the WMN.
She said it was difficult initially for people to accept the community policing concept because in the past people who collaborated with the police were viewed as traitors. But gradually the community policing philosophy was accepted and many volunteers joined the Network.
In a speech delivered on her behalf by Festus Shigwedha, Okatana Constituency councillor Rosalia Shilenga expressed happiness about the opening of a WMN office at Uukwangula, saying it should be used to intensify the combating of crime.
“I will be happy when I hear that you are working hard. In fact you have already succeed in recovering stolen property, apprehending cattle thieves on several occasions and brought an end to recurrent criminal activities at Uukwangula,” she said.
Handing over the office, Chief Iipumbu said crime is a national challenge and has to be tackled by all citizens, including traditional leaders, politicians and the churches.
He thanked the government for implementing the community policing concept.
He said he decided to make an office available after discovering that volunteers in the area were meeting under a tree.
“I and my council of traditional leaders promise to give our full cooperation,” Iipumbu said.
Warrant Officer Christine Fonsech, who is currently in the Khomas Region, was credited with the establishment of the WMN, starting with 10 members in the Okandjengedi location of Oshakati in 2009, but the corps of volunteers has now spread to rural areas and to other regions.
Hans Zee Iiputa, the WMN chairman in Oshana said the Network has achieved numerous successes in rooting out crime in the community.
He thanked Chief Iipumbu for giving them office space at Uukwangula.
The office was previous used by Clemens Kashuupulwa when he served as Okatana Constituency councillor before the new constituency office was built nearby.
Governor Kashuupulwa, who last year gave the WMN N$1 000 to open a bank account with, has done it again. This time he gave N$2 000.
This was followed by a number of pledges, varying from as high as N$3 000 by a local business man to as low as N$200.

UUKWANGULA PLACIDO HILUKILWA

Indileni Set Sam Iipinge writes:
In his introduction to the Vision 2030 document the Founding President of the Republic of Namibia, His Excellency Dr Sam Nujoma, said: “By the year 2030, with all of us working together, we should be an industrial nation enjoying prosperity, interpersonal harmony, peace and political stability.”
This noble vision can only become a reality if all of us, especially the youth, work together and become dynamically involved in the journey. The Vision 2030 aims to promote the creation of an industrialised and a free of unemployment nation by the year 2030.
Unemployment is still the biggest disturbing socio-economic challenge facing Namibian youth.
The 2012 Labour Force Survey indicated that almost half of the Namibian youth were unemployed.
The report recommended that young people should acquire skills through education and training for them to be prepared for employment and contribute to the accomplishment of targets set in the National Development Programme 4 (NDP4) and Vision 2030.
Yet before any argument regarding achieving Vision 2030 can be made, young Namibians should first above all things become educated, trained and motivated to start up their own businesses.
Young people should take education seriously and never to drop out of school. Government should be applauded for providing free universal primary education and lately announcing that free secondary education will be starting in 2016.
The youth should therefore acknowledge this government’s efforts by yielding good educational results.
Nevertheless, young graduates should not depend only on government for work, but should create self-employment by generating innovative and entrepreneurial ideas that can be funded by government through its financial institutions.
It is every young person’s responsibility to approach State finance agencies such as the Development Bank of Namibia, SME Bank and Agribank with a business proposal.
Moreover, Vision 2030 predicts that the country’s economy will be diversified with exporting industries and a modernised agricultural sector.
Besides the current situation, where every household has minor agricultural activities, the youth too should establish more small-scale manufacturing operations adjacent to their parents’ operations.
The youth should continue actively working in rural areas where land is available and produce more food to feed the nation, create more jobs and make a living through farming.
It is envisaged that by the year 2030, Namibians will be enjoying interpersonal harmony.
For this reason, the youth should say no to gender-based violence, so that they can avoid being jailed for life.
The nation needs more dynamic youth in the community working, instead of more young people filling up prison cells.
Namibia cannot achieve Vision 2030 if the youth are focused on cruel agendas such as heartlessly killing each other.
Young people should respect one another and uphold the Namibian Constitution.
To maintain the peace and political stability, those qualifying young Namibians should patriotically join the army to defend our hard-fought independence, sovereignty, territory and its people.
The eligible youth voters should keep going to the ballot boxes to vote for the continuation of democracy in the Republic of Namibia.
Conversely, the pressure is on the youth to study, study and study and work, work and work.
Therefore community youth organisations should continue advocating for genuine youth and economic empowerment in their meetings or congresses resolutions.
Indeed, the Vision 2030 is achievable, provided that the current youth have the passion and dedication to study and work hard. Let all the young lions of Namibia from all 121 constituencies in 14 regions roar toward Vision 2030!