MON
tjil
TUE
SHONA NGAVA
Who said taking part in pageants is only
for single and young women? Check
out a 31-year-old married
mother of one as she tells tjil
how married women only
choose to limit themselves.
Hello
Promote your
albums
NEW ALBUM IS SMOOTH AS HONEY
Jaleel’s era
[email protected]
Not for Sale
3
TJIL
NAMIBIA’S FINEST MISSUS IS ON HER WAY TO CHINA TO SHINE
Hot mama!
Saturday, 20 May 2017
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Sunday, 21 May 2017
ome Namibian artists need to stop with the
culture of releasing an album and not promoting it properly. You ind artists who release a
12-track album and only promote three songs,
shooting only one music video. What happens to all
the other songs on the album? Are they only there
for decoration or what?
The thing that has always bothered me as an ardent supporter of local music is when an artist
decides to shelve the whole album. I have noticed
over the years that many artists promote completely diferent “singles” just a few months after
dropping an album and these singles are not even
a part of the album. And you wonder why some
of your fans and potential fans don’t support you.
Maybe there are a few behind-the-scenes things
we do not know that you deal with, regarding
your labels and managers. But you can’t release an
album and then just decide you want to promote
a new single. Why even make an album then?
Just make the hit songs and then promote them if
that’s the case. That’s the reason why your album
is at Antonio’s collecting dust. Not enough is being done on the promotion end. We are still using
the same promotion tactics from the early 2000s
and we are not taking into consideration that
times have changed.
Instead of the usual tactics throw yourself onto
the internet. Instead of the usual album launch
event try having an album tour or signing session.
Have album listening sessions because they are
more intimate and you have better engagement
from your audience compared to album release
parties we’ve been having over the years. We’ve
seen over the years that album-launch parties or
events are getting emptier and emptier and we
need to counter that with digital album releases
-something which a few Namibian artists have
done. Many artists have also released visual albums which are also another great initiative to
promote your album. These days, album releases are becoming more digital. You don’t need to
worry about getting your album in the big stores
and then going to signings on the day of release.
Instead, you just have to press the upload button,
send out a few tweets, and call it a day. However, just because you can release entirely online
doesn’t mean you should. The person-to-person
experience is still extremely important in the music industry.
Don’t do the disappearing act!!
The last thing you want
to do is start working
on your next album
and disappear for a few
months. After months
of silence, when you
inally come out with
an announcement your
fans may not be listening or looking out for
your content anymore.
Social media is one way
you can engage your
fans. We need more
behind-the-scenes content and documentaries that shed light into
your creative process
as an artist. There are
many ways artists can
promote their albums
and you need to tap
into that.
The way you promote your album
plays a vital
role ,especially
with regard to
whether people will buy or
for ways
download it. Look
you can sell your album and put
your energy into that.
1-May
Mall, Ongwediva2-May
Maroela
Cell 081 734 7479
Tel: 065-238858
FRI DAY M AY 1 9 2 01 7
S
ON POINT: Jaleel’s new album thrills. PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED
haze of rhythmic and harmonic irmness. Jaleel
SHONA NGAVA
demonstrates that he is the full package through
the use of cohesive beats that allows him to sound
12:30 - 14:51 Gardian Of The Galaxy 3D
Exhibiting his vocal prowess,
honest and vulnerable when he talks about his
15:00 - 17:11 King Athur 3D
Jaleel’s new album shows why he
insecurities and his need for love in songs such
17:15 - 19:32 The Shack 2D
19:45 - 21:56 King Arthur 3D
as Making Moves, Only One and Believe.
is the holder of the NAMA Best
22:00 - 00:21 Gardian Of The Galaxy 3D
Another song that is guaranteed to catapult
Newcomer award.
Jaleel into success is Hot. The song sounds like
it’s an 80’s Nate Dogg sample and has a nostalgic
aleel’s debut album ‘Ever Since Sins Eve’ feeling laced with an impressive and impeccable
a
is an embodiment of sheer talent, musical low from Jaleel who raps about how beautiful
is
diversity and is illed with great moments. certain lady is. The overall theme of the album
is and how
The young music aicionado has a unique take love, it’s complexity, how diicult it
on music and has made a name for himself for to make sure you make it work.
Jaleel’s versatility and his ability to work on
morphing a number of genres to come up with a
many genres is a blessing and a curse. The al12:15 - 14:26 King Arthur 3D
beautiful sound.
Afro Pop, RnB and Hip-Hop
14:30 - 16:51 Guardian Of The Galaxy 3D
The album is very personal and the artist col- bum is illed with
the artist can be praised for
17:00 - 19:17 The Shack 2D
laborated with a lot of other artists including hits and although
it can be very taxing and tir19:30 - 21:51 Guardians Of The Galaxy 3D
Oteya and LMPC on his 15 track album. My fa- his distinct sound
him. He should rather focus on
22:00 - 00:11 King Arthur 3D
vourite song on the album is titled is titled Up ing listening to
he sounds at his best and most
Town Down Town and it features LMPC and the RnB because
he hits those high notes and
Oteya. The song is a blend of RnB and Afro Pop comfortable when
of connection to his music espewith a very catchy and trendy hook laid down there is a level
is singing. The Namibian artist
by LMPC. Jaleel and Oteya are very playful and cially when he
for Best Newcomer this year
lirty on the song which is sure to be a fan fa- scooped a NAMA
with his music. He can
vourite because of the smooth and soaring vo- and is experimenting
only grow into a successful artist.
cals by the artists.
The production on the album is also comOn songs such as Wella and Block Block the
the quality and mastering of the
artist lexes his musical abilities proving that he mendable,
12:30 - 14:51 Gardian Of The Galaxy 3D
album is outstanding. Jaleel has a
15:00 - 17:11 King Athur 3D
has the potential and skills to be Namibia’s lead- songs on the
music with a great song choice abil17:15 - 19:32 The Shack 2D
ing RnB artist. Jaleel has shown on these songs good ear for
very relatable except on songs
19:45 - 21:56 King Arthur 3D
that he has the ability to hit the high notes and ity and he sounds
he brags about being inimita22:00 - 00:21 Gardian Of The Galaxy 3D TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA
because I always dreamed that I will
that he has great control and prodigious projec- like Rare where
graduate with a bachelor’s in acwill cater to every music lover
one day be in a position to be a Good Sation when it comes to his voice. It is pretty clear ble. The album
is
who is currently pursuing
the resounding character Jaleel counting
maritan to unfortunate people, promote
through songs like Wella that the artist knows because of
Who said taking part in
and studying towards her Honours,
goodwill, be an example of gentleness,
his voice is his most important asset which is a musically.
Jeanette Tlhabanello is the current Mrs
pageants is only for single
kindness and faith and most of all, be a
Globe Namibia, Mrs Africa Namibia and
tool of the Lord for spreading His will,”
and young women? A
Mrs Africa Elegant, and she has been
said. Being part of this
chosen to represent Namibia and the Af31-year-old married mother Tlhabanello
pageant, Tlhabanello is currently busy
rican continent at the Mrs Internationwith two projects which are ‘Dignity
of one tells tjil how married
with national holders
Stella Blackmonal Globe pageant 12:15
3D in
Dreams’, a non-proit organisation that
King Arthur
- 14:26
place
taking
women only choose to limit
from all seven continents
Galaxy 3D
Of The
Guardian
distributes washable feminine sanitary
14:30 - 16:51
An
year.
on this
October in China later- 19:17
themselves.
hat advice would you tion. You’re a smart girl, and meaner or crueller, or sweetShackof2Dire
pads to underprivileged girls and wom17:00 has The
a lot
outspoken Tlhabanello
Of The Galaxy 3D
give your younger chances are if you’re con- er or prettier, younger, richer,
19:30 - 21:5 Guardians
en in all participating Mrs Africa counabout her work.
in her and is passionate
self? Tricks I wish I’d fused, plenty of others are but they can’t be more human
22:00 - 00:11 King Arthur 3D
to tries and ‘DeskBags’ which are functionthat.She explained what makes Mrs Globe a ing care and nurturing way of living
are also
known earlier: Go on more too. And for heaven’s sake, than you. Remember
work for the community. “As a mother al, eco-friendly school bags that
pageant from the rest.
I
walks (even in the winter), let yourself really fail once The last strong woman diferent
for me to a portable desk solution.
be
The Mrs Africa Foundation is the oi- and a wife, it comes naturally
buy a coat that is actually in a while not some tiny lit- want to quote would
“Sanitary pads should not be a luxury
I am
said cial charity organisation of the Mrs Afri- show my love for diferent people.
warm, and truly listen to oth- tle mistakes here and there, Cheryl Strayed who
and this is and no women or girl should have to use
about
ca Pageant and is founded on the legacy an active community member
ers. So, in the spirit of listen- but big, glaring, conidence- don’t worry so much
believe socks, newspaper, toilet paper, or miss
and of the past and present Mrs Africa title- something I have within me as I
ing and learning, here are the shaking, dark-night-of-the- inding the answers
school during her menstrual cycle bewho changed lives in their com- charity starts at home,” she added.
sucwear,”
wise words of three smart soul-inducing failures. The inding love and inding holders
Admitting that pageantry was nev- cause she cannot aford sanitary
“These phenomenal women
Live
women. Michelle Obama great Maya Angelou once said cess. Just do your work. munities.
it was her she said. Tlhabanello believes that will
Be good.
graced various international stages and er her cup of tea, she said
said one should stop being something I would have told your life. Be kind.
have a negative impact on their educaGalaxy 3Dhigh school teacher who noticed her
Gardian Of The
12:30 - 14:51strong,
grathe powerful,
bill.
of povso afraid. That’s really what my younger self which was Pay your own electric showcased
Athur 3D to
- 17:11 King
15:00African
elegance and advised her to take part tion, self-esteem and the cycle
woman
out okay.cious and beautiful
Namibia is
strikes me when I look back to ind some beautiful art and It’s going to turn
The Shack
of2Dthe in the then Miss Jan Jonker Afrikaner erty will continue to grow.
in some
work- 19:32
the world. They 17:15
the sheer amount of time I admire it, and realise that that
3D
- 21:56
19:45
pageant in 2002. “I was very against it currently faced with many challenges
contiourArthur
onKing
areas
worst war-afected
spent tangled up in fears and was created by human beings *Stella is a
afecting the education sector due to
Of The Galaxy 3Dat irst as I was never the average girly
Gardianfemale
22:00 - 00:21
about
nent and are passionate
doubts that were entirely of just like you, no more human, fine arts phogirl. I liked hanging out with boys so the lack of teaching staf and adequate
development and education in Africa,”
$ 60.00 you can imagine my reaction when my classrooms in the country. Many chilmy own creation. Focus more no less. You will be able to go tographer
Tlhabanello said.
me to dren in the rural areas and in some casMrs Africa is a pageant for married teacher approached me and told
To her es in urban areas, are forced to study in
women only as the founders believe enter,” Tlhabanello explained.
bag the ti- tents or under trees. The DeskBag almost pageants and modelling competi- own surprise, she managed to
she won lows the child to carry his or her school
tions are limited to single women and tle. A few years down the line,
Miss Kho- books and stationery safely to and from
thus singling out women with poten- other competitions including
and Miss school, while the lap, which is reintial to make a change within their com- masdal, Miss Independence
forced with durable perspex, becomes
munity. “Their passion and humanitar- Windhoek Show. Her last participation
was the Miss an instant, durable desk when unfolded.
ian work lasts longer than their year of in a conventional pageant
Namibia pageant where she made it to Currently searching for funds to attend
J
Monday, 22 May 2017
PULL
OUT!
PULL
OUT
!
Friday, 19 May 2017
it Real
Column
Keeping
you!
FRI DAY M AY 1 9 2 01 7
TJIL
2
All entertainm
ent news for
FRIDAY MAY
19 2017
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Tjil
EDITION 10
NUMBER 167
A
tjil’s guestwriter of the week
Advice to my younger self
W
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
N$4
Thursday, 25 May 2017
• Friday May 19 2017
to Persons
Under the
Age of 18.
1
Drink Responsi
bly.
Mrs Globe…
.
YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Read inside
to
as she heads ind out more about
Jeanette Tlhab
off to China
in October
anello’s journ
to
things Afric represent Namibia, and ey
an.
all
“
“
Shafudah refutes allegations
Shoprite told to drop charges
Ministry of finance permanent secretary Ericah Shafudah has insisted
that the she has maintained compliance with regards to the issuance
of the tender for the construction of
the multi-billion dollar fuel storage
The Economic and Social Justice
Trust has called on retail giant
Shoprite to drop disciplinary charges
against its workers, saying they
cannot allow the “mistreatment” of
workers to continue. While Shoprite
Seven months
in hospital
without X-rays
ILENI NANDJATO
A family from the Omusati Region
is accusing St Martin’s Hospital at
Oshikuku of unprofessional conduct that has led to their 83-yearold relative becoming bedridden.
The family has lodged a complaint
with the Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA) seeking answers as to how the hospital could
have admitted Jonas Nehemia without doing an X-ray examination.
Nehemia’s son, Silas Emvula, said
his father, who is the village headman of Oshiku Shomunkete, fell
while gathering livestock on the
facility. This follows the issuance of
a written warning to Shafudah about
her failure to Technical Committee
meetings, as required by her position
as permanent secretary by secretary
to cabinet, George Simataa.
PAGE 2
management indicated that they
would respond soon on the matter,
the Trust’s chairperson, Herbert
Jauch, said the exploitation of workers had been continuing for a long
time and should end.
PAGE 3
afternoon of 7 November 2010. He
was taken to Oshikuku hospital the
following day, where he spent ive
months.
“He was admitted the day he arrived in the hospital. They only
dressed him and nothing else was
done. And so he spent ive months
in that hospital. He did not move
his body at all until he was eventually discharged in in April 2011,” said
Emvula.
Emvula said the staf of Oshikuku
hospital could not provide him with
any medical diagnosis or tell him
what had happened to Nehemia
when they discharged him.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
IN GOOD AND BAD TIMES: Susana
Matheus beside her husband, Jonas
Nehemia, who became bedridden in
2010. PHOTO: ILENI NANDJATO
INDUSTRY FORCED TO LAY OFF WORKERS, FIRMS FACE CLOSURE
Construction bleeding
Rhino horns
intercepted
at airport
ELLANIE SMIT
CONSTRUCTION BLUES: Earthworks are being conducted on the Okahandja–Windhoek dual carriageway currently under construction. PHOTO: YANNA SMITH
A
s the diicult times continue,
the year 2017 is shaping up as
another down year for the construction industry.
The Construction Industries Federation (CIF) says unless new tenders are issued by June, up to 63%
of its members face closure.
The CIF has also indicated that
between 1 September 2016 and 31
March 2017, 30% of the workforce
in the construction sector was retrenched.
The situation has become so critical that the CIF has implored the
government to intervene by issuing
new tenders.
According to CIF general manager Bärbel Kirchner, the repercus-
Find us on
OGONE TLHAGE
The construction industry has pleaded with the
government to come to its rescue by issuing new
building tenders.
sions have been so severe that even
well-established construction irms
face closure.
This sentiment is echoed by Namibia Construction director Karl
Hans Junior, who says his irm witnessed a sharp decline in its workload, with an observable 20% reduction in the 2015/16 inancial year
and a sharp reduction of 40% anticipated for the 2016/17 inancial year.
“It is generally understood that a
consolidation of the national budget
and prioritisation of public expenditure was necessary for the long-term
gains of our economy, however, our
appeal is that the budget considered
for capital projects would be revisited and that related reductions will
be minimised.
“We know that our government
needed to take measures in the longterm interest of our country,” Kirchner said following an announcement
in September 2016 that the ministry
of inance would freeze all new tenders.
Asking for more, she said: “Our industry, which we believe can trigger
a multiplier efect and stimulate also
other sectors of our economy, ideally should receive a slice big enough
to make a meaningful contribution
to Namibia’s economy and to secure
employment.”
She said that contractors were
owed approximately N$1.8 billion
and sought clarity on government
projects that were approved in the
construction sector for the current
inancial year.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
A courier parcel containing 16
pieces of rhino horn was discovered at the Eros Airport on Friday.
The parcel was destined for Malaysia via Johannesburg.
The horns were concealed in a
parcel from a local courier company,
which contained cofee boxes.
This was conirmed to Namibian
Sun by the Inspector General of the
Namibian Police, Sebastian Ndeitunga, who said that the modus operandi was similar to previous incidents in which rhino horns had been
smuggled out of the country.
A poaching syndicate is suspected
to be operating in Namibia and sending parcels to China, declaring the
contents as “cofee”.
Earlier this year 12 pieces of rhino horn declared as “cofee” from
Namibia were seized by Hong Kong
customs oicers. The rhino horn,
weighing about 6.6kg and with an estimated value of about $1.3 million,
was found in two express air parcels
at Hong Kong International Airport
on March 22.
In another incident, three Chinese
nationals were arrested last year
December at a police checkpoint at
Kappsfarm with several rhino horn
products concealed in empty cofee
tins.
Ndeitunga said the syndicate was
changing its tactics and using diferent routes.
“We are still facing serious challenges with regards to poaching,” he
said.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Or visit our website: namibiansun.com Contact details: Tel (061) 383 400 | P.O. Box 86829 | 11 General Murtala Mohammed, Eros, Windhoek | E-mail:[email protected]
2
NEWS
F R IDAY M AY 19 20 1 7
The popular Namibia Town of the Year (NTY2017) competition is back and
readers are encouraged to vote for their favourite town.
Vote for your
best town
of 2017
The finalists are Lüderitz, Ondangwa, Otjiwarongo and Swakopmund.
One lucky voter stands the chance to win N$27 000 in cash. Only one vote per cell
phone number counts. SMS TOWN followed by the name of your preferred town to 51500.
Each SMS is charged at N$3. The voting competition ends on 2 June 2017.
INSISTS THAT SHE DID ATTEND MEETINGS ON CONSTRUCTION TENDER
Constuction
Shafudah denies
allegations
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“Businesses operating in the
construction sector need to
know when the additional funds
of N$1.8 billion for services delivered to the public sector will
become available and what the
proposed share will be for the
construction sector.”
“There is also great uncertainty about which projects, that already had been awarded, will
proceed and which projects will
be cancelled. The sector needs
to be provided with a list of all
projects that will be advertised
and for which tenders will be requested in 2017/18.”
OGONE TLHAGE
The finance ministry’s
permanent secretary has
denied any wrongdoing
in her handling of a
multibillion-dollar
government tender.
Calle to the rescue
Finance minister Calle Schlettwein has moved to allay fears,
saying that the government will
be using a loan facility secured
from the African Development
Bank to spur infrastructure projects. He also indicated that public-private-partnership arrangements would be sought.
Speaking to Namibian Sun
briely, he said: “We shall implement the budget and that
includes the development provisions. Secondly, we are intending to get public-private partnerships going and thirdly, with the
inancing facility from the African Development Bank (AfDB),
some infrastructure projects
could be started.”
The ministry of inance recently secured a loan facility with
the AfDB and will receive N$3
billion for the 2017/18 inancial
year. The AfDB, in consultation
with ministries, government ofices and agencies, will study
projects that would require inancing, Schlettwein said in a
recent statement.
M
inistry of inance permanent
secretary Ericah Shafudah insists that she has maintained
compliance with regard to the issuance of a tender for the construction
of a multibillion-dollar fuel storage
facility.
Cabinet secretary George Simataa
issued Shafudah with a inal written warning for her failure to attend
Technical Committee meetings as required by her position as permanent
secretary.
Giving her side of the matter, Shafudah said: “I want to place it on record
that I have attended Technical Committee meetings to which I have been
invited. I also have it on record that
where I did not attend, an apology was
extended.”
According to her, she also informed
the Technical Committee by way of
writing and verbally that the stated
currency of the tender must be Namibia dollar.
“Regarding the disputed issue of
currency luctuations on the tender,
I have maintained the position that
the tender was awarded in Namibian dollars. I presented this position
to the Technical Committee in writing,” she said.
“I have also verbally and in writing
stated this position on various occasions to the relevant authorities. This
consistent position that I have always
maintained has also been acknowledged as legally correct in the purported ‘inal written warning’.”
Shafudah said she was prepared
to furnish proof of her attendance to
whoever had permission to request
such information.
“I have given the correct advice on
the matter to the Technical Commit-
Hospital
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Nehemia returned home, but
he was conined to his bed and
could not move on his own anymore. Two months later, Nehemia took him to the Oshakati
Intermediate Hospital where
X-rays were taken.
“We were shocked to hear that
the X-ray showed his hip on
his right side was dislocated
and this is what caused his disability. They told us that it was
too late to put it back since it
had been dislocated for seven
months.
NAMIBIA
Today’s weather:
WEATHER FORECAST
the peop
Lacklustre growth
tee and to the relevant authorities. I
am also prepared to provide evidence
to any platform or persons with a
mandate to such evidence.”
Denying the allegations against
her, she said: “I reject any opinion
or insinuation from any quarter that
describes me as an oicial who is incompetent and was negligent in the
performance of duties as PS of the
Ministry of Finance.”
According to Simataa, Shafudah
did not attend Technical Committee
meetings pertaining to the fuel stor-
“They said there was nothing
they could do since he was Oshikuku’s patient and they did
not want to take any risks. They
only sent him for physiotherapy
to be done at Oshikuku hospital,” Emvula continued.
He said that they took his father
back to Oshikuku, but nothing was done and his father has
been disabled for six years now.
The acting chief medical oicer
at Oshikuku hospital, Dr Samwel Awe, said they could not locate the patient’s record.
“I cannot say anything now
since we could not get his medical report in our records,” he
said.
Windhoek
The latest research by stockbroking irm IJG Securities has
shown that construction activities have slowed down considerably.
“A total of 143 building plans
were approved in April with a
value of N$112.9 million, while
nine buildings with a value of
N$26.7 million were completed.
“Thus far, 2017 is of to a poor
start; year-to-date 566 plans
were approved while 76 were
completed, the lowest number of
plans approved and completed in
the last 20 years.”
On the commercial property
COMPLIANT: Finance ministry permanent secretary Ericah Shafudah says her
hands are clean. Photo: FILE
o
o
08 | 25
Aranos
o
age tender.
DTA secretary for inance Nico
Smit came out strongly and criticised the government for not imposing harsher penalties on Shafudah.
“If negligence and recklessness in
the performance of your duties results in the government losing N$1.7
billion and this only leads to a temporary 12-month ‘inal’ warning, then
the question becomes, what level of
negligence is required to have someone removed from their position,”
Smit said earlier this week.
Nehemia’ 75-year-old wife,
Susana Matheus, said it hurt
her deeply that Nehemia went
to the hospital to get help and
came back disabled.
“We had hope at the beginning,
but now we have given up. My
husband cannot move by himself anymore. I also have to stay
home all the time to take care
of him.”
Sylvia Hamata of the HPCNA
could not provide any further
information on how far the investigation has progressed. The
Council informed the family
that they were waiting for answers from the practitioner at
Oshikuku hospital.
o
05 | 24
Gobabis
o
o
06 | 27
Rehoboth
Rhino horns
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
On Tuesday another poached rhino carcass was discovered at Kliprivier in the
Grootberg area of the Kunene Region.
The rhino had been shot and its horns
were discovered at the scene.
Ndeitunga said there was another incident of rhino poaching in the Erongo
Region this week. Further details are
not available at this stage.
Ndeitunga issued a stern warning to
courier companies that are being used
in these types of crimes.
He said their businesses were being tarnished and they should work on
identifying these crimes.
o
o
07 | 26
Otjinene
o
8 | 25
o
l e ’s c h o i c e
front, its report points to equally lacklustre growth in the construction sector.
The number of commercial
units approved in 2017 amounted to 13, valued at N$50.1 million,
according to IJG.
“This compares to 31 units valued at N$263.4 million approved
over the same period in 2016.
“On average, over the last 20
years, 19.2 commercial units valued at N$157.6 million were approved in the irst four months
of the year, which would indicate
that this is an especially slow
year thus far.”
Namibia Construction’s Hans
is also not too bullish.
“Our turnover has gone down
but we are still busy. It is problematic but we do not have to
close our doors. The whole industry is taking a knock.”
Blue-collar workers afected
Blue-collar workers have felt the
pinch of government’s decision
to freeze all tenders while nonpayment by the ministry of
inance has not helped matters
much. This is according to
Metal and Allied Workers Union
(MANWU) secretary-general
Justina Jonas, who spoke to
Namibian Sun on industry
matters yesterday. “We all know
that this is a serious problem
for the construction sector. We
have been engaging government
to ensure to ensure that the
retrenchments are not as severe,”
said Jonas of her union’s eforts
at inding a harmonious solution.
“Many subcontractors are
not working because government has not paid. It is a bit dificult for them to hold on. We
have embarked on consultations
with the Roads Authority and
will through our mother body,
the National Union of Namibian
Workers, seek consultations with
the Ministry of Finance.
“The RA has been positive and
has helped us on certain issues
that I cannot reveal. The NUNW
is arranging that consultation
and we are just waiting for that
arrangement.”
Jonas also said that blue-collar workers were hit hard by the
decision to freeze government
tenders. “Unfortunately this
has happened,” said Jonas. “Our
national leaders must consult
the people afected. The working class has been betrayed and
what has happened is not something that that must be repeated.
These are people that are exposed to so much.”
Ndeitunga said that very soon criminals would be using coins to smuggle
drugs, ivory and rhino horns out of the
country if they were not stopped.
“We have to be vigilant and suspect
any suspicious behaviour. It should be
the task of everybody, whether you are
working in the hotel, telecommunications, you should report suspicious behaviour to the police.”
Ndeitunga also congratulated the oficers at Eros Airport for being vigilant
in detecting the rhino horns in the parcel. “I called them in to congratulate
them and you can see that they have a
love for their job. We are proud of them
and all oicers should follow their example.”
Investigations are continuing.
Okongo
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09 | 28
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Sunrise in Windhoek: 06H54
Sunset in Windhoek: 19H08