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Social investment pays dividends

August 17, 2016, 12:59 pm
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Niel Terblanche
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 - 21:00
A different take on the concept of social responsibility saw one fishing conglomerate move away from the usual donation of money and resources to the poor and needy members of society and entering into social investment. The concept took hold and the Fish-4-Business project was born. It was created and initiated by Erongo Marine Enterprises to supports small business entrepreneurship
in rural Namibia through empowerment and skills development, affording owners of small shops in rural villages the opportunity to grow
their business whilst creating and sustaining jobs. The project directly contributes to poverty alleviation, increased local fish
consumption and food security. The concept shop was launched in September 2015 (Fish Shop No 1) in Onandjila Village close
to Okahao in the Omusati Region and since then six more were added to the project. The shop investment included a walk-in refrigerated unit erected on-site, two in-store display fridges, improvements to the actual shop including a fresh paint job and branding, as well as astart up capital investment in the form of two tonnes of frozen horse mackerel and 100 trays of canned Efuta Maasbanker
for resale by the shop owner. The total capital injection by Erongo Marine per shop is valued at roughly N$300 000, which totals a project investment of N$2,1 million for the seven shops to date, excluding training and all other logistics costs. Total budget for
the Fish-4-Business Challenge 2016 is N$2,8 million. The project is done in partnership with Etosha Fishing, Oceana Namibia and SMEs Compete. Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Bernard Esau had the opportunity to evaluate the concept almost a year after it was first launched and had the opportunity to meet and reward the seven new entrepreneurs who joined the corporate ‘Fish-4-Business’ project. “You did not only take initiative by applying for the project but also outshone 600 other applicants and are among the few who had a proven track record of trying to bring fish to your communities and in doing so also assist government’s efforts towards food
security and poverty eradication,” Esau said. The investing companies originally foresaw a situation where they would open five new fish shops per year, a prospect already exceeded given the seven new businesses brought on board this year. The new business owners completed an intense four-day training workshop in business development presented by SMEs Compete. The training will be supplemented by a mentorship programme in the future. received a handout. It enables you to make a difference in your communities
and the country at large. Do not compromise on standards,” Esau said
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NDF commissions new officers

August 24, 2016, 11:30 am
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Niel Terblanche
Wednesday, August 24, 2016 - 19:30
AFTER a gruelling 17 week training course 83 members of the Namibian Defence Force were promoted and commissioned as officers. Non commissioned officers of all three branches of the NDF were selected for the course which started in April. The quartermaster commissioning course took place at the old Rooikop base outside Walvis Bay. The three branches of the NDF are the Army,
Navy and Air Force. The Minister of Defence, Penda ya Ndakolo officiated the commissioning ceremony where he handed the new officers their commissions from the Commander in Chief. “The gruelling course was designed to transform identified warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers, who possess good leadership qualities, into commissioned officers with the necessary military decorum
and competencies. No one dropped out during the duration of the course,” Ndakolo said. The defence minister noted the fact that 24 women completed the programme is a clear indication that the Ministry of Defence and NDF are adhering to government’s call to empower women, in line with government policies. “In view of this I’m calling upon young Namibian women to join the Namibian Defence Force and
urge those already in the force to be prepared and courageous enough to assume key staff and command functions within the defence force,” the minister said. Only 5% of force’s management positions are held by women, while women’s representation in the
entire armed forces stands at only 23%. Ya Ndakolo pointed out that the NDF wants to have at least 30%women to maintain Namibia’s pioneering status in its adherence to United Nations Security Council’s Resolution to have more women in commanding positions.
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40 years of production celebrated

August 24, 2016, 11:31 am
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Niel Terblanche
Wednesday, August 24, 2016 - 19:30
THE Namibian President will visit the Rössing Uranium Mine on the day before Heroes’ Day to preside over the fortieth year of uranium production in the country. Following the discovery of the uranium ore body in 1928, Rössing Uranium became Namibia’s first
commercial uranium mine in 1976 and has since been proudly working for Namibia. Since starting production, Rössing Uranium established
the town Arandis for the accommodation of their employees and their families. The company also established the Rössing Foundation in 1978 and it still serves the development needs of Namibians through the establishment of the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology, (NIMT) as well as various other community projects. The President, Dr Hage Geingob, will address the employees of the mine during a special ceremony that will be held on the mine at the huge opencast pit. The president will also be honoured when
a new viewpoint into the opencast pit will be named after him. This is a regularly visited viewpoint by international tourists and visiting groups from Namibia. The president will also visit the Rössing Foundation’s Math and Science Centre in Arandis for an overview of its activities.
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EBH diversifies for economic survival

September 2, 2016, 1:21 am
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Niel Terblanche
Friday, September 2, 2016 - 09:15
Elgin Brown &Hamer Namibia is set to diversify into various other industries away from the marine industry in an aggressive attempt to stave off the effects of the poor performance of the international crude oil price.
The chief executive officer of EBH Namibia, Hannes Uys said EBH Namibia has suffered dire financial losses since the collapse of the international oil price. Uys said before the dip in the oil economy of Angola where most of the company’s business came from, 124 vessels underwent refurbishment in the shipyard. He pointed out that business fell by more than 50% in a short period of time.
“We expected the lag effect of the slowdown to reach us in 12 to 16 months but it came much quicker and business dropped sharply. We lost in seven month what we made in two years,” Uys said. He said that the company will now aggressively pursue opportunities in the ship building and mining industries. He pointed out that companies like De Beers Marine Namibia are not making use of their services simply because the EBH facilities in Walvis Bay is deemed to be of inferior quality.
“At the moment all the money for dry docking of the mining ships is spent in Cape Town while Namibia can benefit greatly from the same business. All we need is one chance to show that the assumption of EBH Namibia being inferior is far removed from the truth,” Uys said. EBH Namibia in collaboration with the Mining, Metal, Maritime and Construction Workers Union (MMMC) has also successfully concluded the restructuring of its human resources component at the end of July after more than nine weeks of intense negotiations.
Both EBH Namibia and the MMMC agreed on several points relating to the retrenchment process including terms surrounding an early retirement option and the criteria for selecting those employees to be retrenched. 
The number of employees affected by the retrenchment process totalled 102 people of which 82 chose voluntary separation. 
In effect only 20 permanent employees were affected by compulsory retrenchment. “The retained 364 permanent employees will continue to contribute to the economic growth of the company,” he said.
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EBH diversifies for economic survival

September 2, 2016, 1:21 am
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Niel Terblanche
Friday, September 2, 2016 - 09:15
Elgin Brown &Hamer Namibia is set to diversify into various other industries away from the marine industry in an aggressive attempt to stave off the effects of the poor performance of the international crude oil price.
The chief executive officer of EBH Namibia, Hannes Uys said EBH Namibia has suffered dire financial losses since the collapse of the international oil price. Uys said before the dip in the oil economy of Angola where most of the company’s business came from, 124 vessels underwent refurbishment in the shipyard. He pointed out that business fell by more than 50% in a short period of time.
“We expected the lag effect of the slowdown to reach us in 12 to 16 months but it came much quicker and business dropped sharply. We lost in seven month what we made in two years,” Uys said. He said that the company will now aggressively pursue opportunities in the ship building and mining industries. He pointed out that companies like De Beers Marine Namibia are not making use of their services simply because the EBH facilities in Walvis Bay is deemed to be of inferior quality.
“At the moment all the money for dry docking of the mining ships is spent in Cape Town while Namibia can benefit greatly from the same business. All we need is one chance to show that the assumption of EBH Namibia being inferior is far removed from the truth,” Uys said. EBH Namibia in collaboration with the Mining, Metal, Maritime and Construction Workers Union (MMMC) has also successfully concluded the restructuring of its human resources component at the end of July after more than nine weeks of intense negotiations.
Both EBH Namibia and the MMMC agreed on several points relating to the retrenchment process including terms surrounding an early retirement option and the criteria for selecting those employees to be retrenched. 
The number of employees affected by the retrenchment process totalled 102 people of which 82 chose voluntary separation. 
In effect only 20 permanent employees were affected by compulsory retrenchment. “The retained 364 permanent employees will continue to contribute to the economic growth of the company,” he said.
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NFCPT donates vital equipment

September 2, 2016, 1:25 am
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Niel Terblanche
Friday, September 2, 2016 - 09:15
The headmasters of 23 schools in the Omusati Region received computer equipment from the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) after a very successful year.
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Bernhard Esau handed equipment to both primary and secondary school teachers on behalf of the NFCPT, during the recently held National Fish Consumption Day Launch in Walvis Bay.
During the ceremony the minister placed emphasis on the fishing fraternity and corporate Namibia to continue with their support towards the NFCPT, as their unwavering backing enables the trust to reach out to all Namibians from all walks of life.
The donations, which forms parts of the NFCPT Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, is valued at N$273 600. The equipment comprised of laptop computers and printers. 
Players in the fishing industry and other corporate citizens made these donations possible through their pledges and contributions received by the NFCPT during their Gala Dinner held at Outapi last year.
This year the NFCPT will host the fifth Annual National Fish Consumption Day in the Oshana Region under the theme; "The Oshana meets the ocean" from 30 September till 1 October.
This year's event will see the introduction of a cooking competition where participants will be challenged to prepare a meal with horse mackerel as the main ingredient. 
The challenge will be to prepare a three-course meal within a certain time limit. Cash prises worth N$5 000, N$3 000 and N$1 000 will go to the top three competitors.
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NFCPT donates vital equipment

September 2, 2016, 1:25 am
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Niel Terblanche
Friday, September 2, 2016 - 09:15
The headmasters of 23 schools in the Omusati Region received computer equipment from the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) after a very successful year.
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Bernhard Esau handed equipment to both primary and secondary school teachers on behalf of the NFCPT, during the recently held National Fish Consumption Day Launch in Walvis Bay.
During the ceremony the minister placed emphasis on the fishing fraternity and corporate Namibia to continue with their support towards the NFCPT, as their unwavering backing enables the trust to reach out to all Namibians from all walks of life.
The donations, which forms parts of the NFCPT Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, is valued at N$273 600. The equipment comprised of laptop computers and printers. 
Players in the fishing industry and other corporate citizens made these donations possible through their pledges and contributions received by the NFCPT during their Gala Dinner held at Outapi last year.
This year the NFCPT will host the fifth Annual National Fish Consumption Day in the Oshana Region under the theme; "The Oshana meets the ocean" from 30 September till 1 October.
This year's event will see the introduction of a cooking competition where participants will be challenged to prepare a meal with horse mackerel as the main ingredient. 
The challenge will be to prepare a three-course meal within a certain time limit. Cash prises worth N$5 000, N$3 000 and N$1 000 will go to the top three competitors.
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Rössing celebrates 40 years

September 2, 2016, 1:27 am
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Niel Terblanche
Friday, September 2, 2016 - 09:30
Following the discovery of the uranium ore body in 1928 in the Namib Desert close to where the town of Arandis is situated today, Rössing Uranium became Namibia’s first commercial uranium mine in 1976.
Rössing Uranium managing director, Werner Duvenhage, introduced the history of the mine to the Namibian President, Dr Hage Geingob who was invited to witness the mine's 40th anniversary celebration, and to open a new viewing point into the open cast mining pit named after him.
Earlier this year Duvenhage announced that the mine will launch an independent research programme with current and former employees of the mine that will determine if radiation, from mining activities, has any significant effect on people and the environment. The study will be reviewed by peers of the researchers at various leading international universities across the world.
Speaking on the current state of the mine, Duvenhage said it was in a race against time to secure the right to develop phase four of its life-of-mine extension programme, and needed to reduce its unit costs significantly.
“The uranium industry is going through tough times but the long-term prospects of the industry remain positive. Rössing Uranium Mine invested substantial resources during the past few years to gain access to higher grade ore and reduced its uranium oxide production during 2015 in line with a decision taken in 2014 to downscale production and supplying mainly its long-term contract customers. The mine was also affected in the first quarter of 2015 by a fire which broke out at the Final Product Recovery Plant,” he said.
He said in terms of production, Rössing produced 1 245 tons of uranium oxide in 2015 compared to 1 543 tons in 2014.
Dr Hage Geingob witnessed how employees of the company receive long service certificates. Some of the employees have been working for the mine for its entire existence.
 Duvenhage also introduced the new generation of employees to the president, all of whom received bursaries from the mine and completed their studies in various fields that has relation to the operations of the mine.
Dr Geingob said with reference to the Harambee Prosperity Plan and other future equity projects: “Let us take care of each other, let us not just allow our employees to go on retirement without anything to survive on. We do not eat uranium, but others can use it for their specific needs. What we can do is partner with such investors and ensure that we create a conducive environment for them to invest in and so plough back into our economy to the benefit of our people.”
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Rössing celebrates 40 years

September 2, 2016, 1:27 am
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Niel Terblanche
Friday, September 2, 2016 - 09:30
Following the discovery of the uranium ore body in 1928 in the Namib Desert close to where the town of Arandis is situated today, Rössing Uranium became Namibia’s first commercial uranium mine in 1976.
Rössing Uranium managing director, Werner Duvenhage, introduced the history of the mine to the Namibian President, Dr Hage Geingob who was invited to witness the mine's 40th anniversary celebration, and to open a new viewing point into the open cast mining pit named after him.
Earlier this year Duvenhage announced that the mine will launch an independent research programme with current and former employees of the mine that will determine if radiation, from mining activities, has any significant effect on people and the environment. The study will be reviewed by peers of the researchers at various leading international universities across the world.
Speaking on the current state of the mine, Duvenhage said it was in a race against time to secure the right to develop phase four of its life-of-mine extension programme, and needed to reduce its unit costs significantly.
“The uranium industry is going through tough times but the long-term prospects of the industry remain positive. Rössing Uranium Mine invested substantial resources during the past few years to gain access to higher grade ore and reduced its uranium oxide production during 2015 in line with a decision taken in 2014 to downscale production and supplying mainly its long-term contract customers. The mine was also affected in the first quarter of 2015 by a fire which broke out at the Final Product Recovery Plant,” he said.
He said in terms of production, Rössing produced 1 245 tons of uranium oxide in 2015 compared to 1 543 tons in 2014.
Dr Hage Geingob witnessed how employees of the company receive long service certificates. Some of the employees have been working for the mine for its entire existence.
 Duvenhage also introduced the new generation of employees to the president, all of whom received bursaries from the mine and completed their studies in various fields that has relation to the operations of the mine.
Dr Geingob said with reference to the Harambee Prosperity Plan and other future equity projects: “Let us take care of each other, let us not just allow our employees to go on retirement without anything to survive on. We do not eat uranium, but others can use it for their specific needs. What we can do is partner with such investors and ensure that we create a conducive environment for them to invest in and so plough back into our economy to the benefit of our people.”
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Landies congregate

September 2, 2016, 1:30 am
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Niel Terblanche
Friday, September 2, 2016 - 09:30

Aiming for a world record, Land Rover owners and enthusiasts congregated on the small mining town of Uis over the Heroes’ Day long weekend to celebrate their vehicles in a way never done before in Namibia.
It was the very first time a Land Rover Festival was organised in Namibia and the aim of the event was to see how many Land Rovers could be assembled in the small mining town over the two day period, and for owners and enthusiasts to enjoy the outdoors and explore the rough terrain that a place likes Uis has to offer in the form of 4x4 and other competitions, and to pay tribute and display the iconic Defender in all its form and glory.Besides taking part in a procession through the old mining town, the old tailings heaps from the now defunct tin mining were the best place for owners to test their skill as 4x4 drivers. The event being a family-orientated one also focussed on the spectacular desert scenery to be had while the sun is sinking behind the Western horizon. The main meeting and gathering place was the Brandberg Rest Camp. However, all visitors made use of all the other accommodation spots and camping grounds in and around Uis.
The association of Land Rover Owners Namibia was formed during early 2015, and is a family of likeminded people that enjoy nature, support conservation efforts and love the Land Rover product. The association is affiliated to the world body Association for Land Rover Owner Clubs International. vehicles of all types and ages of the iconic vehicle were seen at the town and during a procession through the main street. The club categorises the vehicles on the suspensions they were built with. 
They are the so-called leafers like the old 1,2,3 and first models built with a standard V8 engine, the coilers like the more modern Defenders and independents like the Discoveries, Evoques and Range Rovers.
Event organisers said they expect the festival to grow from strength to strength as more and more people from outside Namibia’s border contacted them to participate in the next event
Proceeds of the Land Rover Festival will be for the benefit of Save the Rhino Trust.
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International recognition for Nam

September 7, 2016, 1:29 pm
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Niel Terblanche
Wednesday, September 7, 2016 - 22:30
NAMIBIA has a high potential to be recognised by major role players in the international logistics industry because of its fast
and safe transport routes that connect the world with landlocked countries of the southern African region. The vision of developing Namibia into the logistics hub of choice for the southern African region has led to significant investment in upgrading the Namibian
transport infrastructure to meet international standards, according to the Minister of Works and Transport, Alpheus !Naruseb.
“I believe determination and hard work will see our goals become a reality. Although the road ahead is long and filled with many
challenges, it holds multiple opportunities,” he said at the Walvis Bay Corridor Group’s latest Logistics Hub Forum. “The development
of our ports and roadways is well underway, and as a result the attention of my ministry has now shifted to our rail system, because
without a well-functioning rail system, Namibia will find it difficult to realise its eventual development goals,” he said. !Naruseb said Namibia provides a favourable business environment, custom clearance with shorter duration, a lower risk of fraud and a modern financial
sector to customers. He said these aspects are essential for international logistics to take note of the country and its potential. These factors allow Namibia to have an international competitive edge. Frans Uusiku, an economist at Simonis Storm Securities, presented
the Logistics Hub as a quantified notion, calculating the traffic per corridor, cargo traffic per trading partner and traffic per trading
partner. “Transcribing the data numerically presents the significant scope to invest in infrastructure development to facilitate trade in a
new manner,” he said. Uusiku was of the opinion that developments within the logistics and transport sector will still be dynamic
in coming decades because of a heavy dependency on road transport. His calculations showed that Zambia emerged as the leading
trading partner as far as traffic on the road is concerned. According to Uusiku, the logistics hub initiative has developed a
comfortable margin for Namibia to develop itself further and to change the dynamics to benefit the region’s economy and that of Africa.
He said it is now up to the private sector to take up the opportunities that this initiative is creating.
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Namport empowers women

September 8, 2016, 7:07 am
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Niel Terblanche
Thursday, September 8, 2016 - 16:00
THE creation of viable skill sets of employees for the future of port operations is vital for Namibia’s development plans as the country continue to position itself to become the logistics hub for the Southern African region.In this regard, three employees of the Namibian Ports Authority attained bursaries to further their studies in maritime matters at a specialised university in Sweden.
Leena Kagola, Suoma Kalulu and Hileni Amakali received full scholarships to attend the World Maritime University for the next
14 months. The Chief Executive Officer of Namport, Bisey Uirab, said the state owned enterprise is proud to send three women into the world to attain valuable knowledge that will stand the ports authority in good stead for the future “The areas of maritime education
and training as well as port management are deemed as a critical scarce category of skills and it correlates to the demands
of our port expansion project as well as our transport and logistics hub initiatives. All the recipients are female and this fact is imperative
in our mission to accelerate capacity building and preferential empowerment of women in the company,” Uirab said. Uirab
stressed the fact that the recipients were chosen on merit and merit alone. “You are in a way, pioneers and your conduct will
pave the way for many more Namibians that would be chosen for studies. But if your conduct is not up to standard the doors of opportunity will close in the faces of those that might have followed in your footsteps. This places a huge amount of responsibility on your
shoulders,” he said. Namport has various programmes in place where high value is placed on investment in training and education to develop industry specific skills and knowledge for the so called Blue Economy. The ports authority has signed agreements to train current
and future employees with institutes with international accreditation to ensure the development of its human resource needs of the
future. “Our readiness as a country will be determined by skill availability. Not generic skills, but specialised skills to take full advantage
of the opportunities our ocean offers,” Uirab said. An aging skilled segment in the local maritime industry coupled with limitations to train staff locally largely due to industry specialisation lies at the root of Namport’s relentless drive to invest in the creation of a dedicated
pipeline that will feed its future human resource needs.
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Legendary visual artist passes

September 8, 2016, 7:11 am
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Niel Terblanche
Thursday, September 8, 2016 - 16:00
THE Namibian artist who gained renown around the world with his hyper-realistic paintings of celestial bodies and nature
scenes has died. Koos van Ellinckhuijzen was admitted to hospital this past week after suffering a stroke at his home
in Swakopmund. He was injured after falling in his home and was treated in two different hospitals of the coastal town.The artist was a well-known character in Windhoek and Swakopmund and was also well-known for driving around in his little Willys Jeep dating from the Second World War. Jacobus Johannes van Ellinckhuijzen was born in Pretoria, South Africa, on 20 September 1942,
whilst the Second World War was in full swing, the first-born of parents from Dutch descent. After resigning from the military almost eleven years of service later and four separate wars, he joined the then Department of Nature Conservation
and Tourism in the then South West Africa as a game ranger and with no formal art training he executed four paintings in brush
which proved to be the door into his surrealistic future.In 1979, Koos took the permanent step into visual art and became
a freelance artist. He became well known in the art of stamp design. His paintings deal with the Namibia Desert and ‘space art’ in a
realistic and surrealistic style. Van Ellinckhuijzen used mostly water colour or oil paints, acrylic, gouache, or airbrush. He has exhibited his work in Namibia, South Africa, the United States and partnered in the Gutzuf exhibition in the Crimean Peninsula of the Former Soviet Union in 1990 where he exhibited his threedimensional work. The art critic Adelheid Lilienthal wrote about Koos van Ellinckhuijzen in her book "Art in Namibia" (1997): "A special feature of his stamp designs - in fact all of his paintings - are scientifically accurate, clean
drawings and water colour technique. He uses impeccable, clear shadow and brings transparency to be typical of the Namib… Van
Ellinckhuijzen’s ‘Namib mirage’ is one of his early and specific works.” His own art collection and memorabilia from all over the world is a permanent exhibition in his Swakopmund studio.
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NASA’s ORACLE in Namibia

September 14, 2016, 12:16 pm
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Niel Terblanche
Wednesday, September 14, 2016 - 21:15
OPERATION ORACLE of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States of America, the largest science mission of its kind to come to African shores in recent history, has begun off the coast of Namibia.
The first flights by NASA to study biomass and smoke particles in a semi-permanent cloud mass off the coast of Namibia in the south eastern Atlantic Ocean have already been undertaken. The presence of large amounts of biomass and smoke particles in the cloud is caused by the annual burning of vegetation on large tracts of land by subsistence farmers at the start of the rainy season in central and southern Africa.
The lead NASA scientist on the project, Professor Jens Redemann, said he is not aware of any other mission of this kind ever being undertaken by an organisation like NASA on African soil. He said this is the first of three science missions that NASA aims to undertake from Namibian soil.
The ORACLE mission is aimed at measuring the amount of biomass particles under, within and above the cloud. The data collected will be used to build more accurate computer climate models to determine the effect of the particles in the formation of the cloud mass itself and what influence it might have on future weather patterns both locally and globally. 
Redemann said two more missions will be undertaken next year during August and the year after during October. He said that the mission needs to be stretched over three years to acquire the full spectrum of data needed to build exact climate models.
“Five NASA research centres, eight universities in the USA, two universities in South Africa as well as two universities from Namibia are collaborating to capture the data collected by the specialised aeroplanes,” he said.
Professor Redemann said six eight-hour long low level flights have already been undertaken with a highly modified mission specific P3 aircraft. The aeroplane can take measurements with its super sensitive measuring equipment while flying between 50 and 20 000 feet above sea level.
The mission is also utilising a modified U2 Spy plane designated by NASA as an ER-2 to undertake high level measuring missions. 
The ER-2 can fly to heights on the very edge of the atmosphere where the air can still provide lift for an aircraft.
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EBH still in rough waters

September 14, 2016, 12:22 pm
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Niel Terblanche
Wednesday, September 14, 2016 - 21:15
WITH the ink hardly dry on an agreement between the workers of Elgin Brown & Hamer Namibia (EBH) and the company’s management on reaching an amicable solution to restructuring difficulties, an illegal work stoppage has put everything in disarray. 
The illegal mass action follows an email message from the Workers Committee to Hannes Uys, the chief executive officer of EBH Namibia on Thursday, 8 September.
When the employees did not receive an answer in the time frame they requested they went over to mass action on Friday morning.
The workers were subsequently issued with two notices to return to work immediately because their action is being deemed as illegal, and that their action will result in a ‘no work, no pay’ situation. In both notices management requested the Worker’s Committee to engage in the appropriate forum later on Friday and assured them that Uys will attend.
“As workers have unfortunately embarked upon this work stoppage without following the established channels as specified in our recognition agreement with the union, we cannot engage with them under these circumstances,” said Uys. 
“However, EBH Namibia’s management are always open to engage with our workers in constructive dialogue, when the correct channels of engagement are adhered to. To this end, we will also be doing a CEO briefing that was arranged prior to the illegal work stoppage,” he said.
Mbiandja Kandjii along with Alfred Bosman of the Workers Committee said they did not agree with a sudden change in company policies following the retrenchment of 134 workers earlier this year.
“We as the workers were told that we are strategic partners in the company and that we along with management will have to work hand in hand to ensure the company’s future. Now they changed the policies without consulting the employees,” he said.
The representatives from the workers’ committee claimed that the company, after retrenching their fellow employees in July this year, is now employing outside contractors at a much higher pay rate. The workers also claimed that the compensation of retrenched workers were calculated on the wrong scale.
They claimed that their mass action did not constitute an illegal work stoppage and said that they just wanted to show their dissatisfaction with what is transpiring within the general management of the company.
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Additional levies for fishing sector

September 14, 2016, 12:24 pm
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Niel Terblanch
Wednesday, September 14, 2016 - 21:15
STRINGENT restrictions on the Namibian Government and its various agencies to cut back on spending will in all probability see companies and right holders in the fishing industry picking up the bill for its line ministry, to ensure sufficient surveillance and regulation in future.
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Bernhard Esau, mentioned the possibility of yet more levies on players in the fishing industry on the day that the finalisation of new system, whereby right holders will be allocated fishing quotas, was announced.
 Esau said the step will be justified by the continuous depreciation of the Namibian Dollar against major world currencies and the subsequent higher earnings of fishing companies involved in export to international markets. 
“The fact that the industry has been able to show bigger earning was helped by consistent lower fuel prices for the past year. The ministry will still manage the necessary surveillance and monitoring responsibilities, but without the assistance from the private sector these functions will have to be cut back drastically, which will have a detrimental effect on Namibia’s fish resources,” he said.
 Esau said that at this stage it is still just a possibility that is being discussed with the relevant role players in the fishing industry.
“I realise that the various taxes and financial responsibilities are already weighing heavily on the industry, but to ensure the viability of the country’s resource in future, drastic steps will have to be taken. In this instance we need a smart partnership more than ever,” he said.
Esau referred to the revised economic outlook of the Namibian National Economy by the Fitch Rating Agency recently and said this issue compounded the impact of reduced government spending on the private sector. 
Fitch Rating revised Namibia’s economic outlook from stable to negative at BBB-minus status. “The Namibian Government is committed to cutting expenditure in response to the current economic challenges, because the President decreed it and especially in light of the downgrade by the Fitch Ratings Agency,” said Esau.

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No more easy money

September 14, 2016, 12:25 pm
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Niel Terblanche
Wednesday, September 14, 2016 - 21:30
NEW criteria by which fishing quotas will be allocated in the years to come to ensure the future viability and pro-fitability of the Namibian fish resource was introduced to stakeholders in the fishing industry.
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine resources, Bernhardt Esau, introduced the forms which stipulate the new set of rules, said that the days of earning huge amounts of money quickly has come and gone.
“Currently we have 358 right holders who will have to share the total allowable catch of approximately 550 000 tonnes in the coming season. The new system is based on the performance of individual right holders and is aimed to ensure more transparency, accountability and predictability,” he said.
The finalised proforma forms were distributed to the right holders last week. The forms backed by the Marine Resources Act will gauge the economic performance and contribution within the Namibian context of right holders. The stake holders will have to complete the forms before the end of September. 
 Esau said that from 1 October, the process of verifying the information will begin before being added to a database. The scores of each right holder will determine the size of the quota that will be allocated from the next fishing season and beyond.
The minister said the officials will spend more time evaluating performances and allocating quotas to right holders, rather than only verifying whether or not the information it receives is true and complete. He warned right holders that some of them might not even be considered for quotas if the necessary criteria are not complied with.
“I have instructed my officials to ensure that there are sufficient penalties, ranging from a loss of proportions of quotas to complete denial of quotas for right holders who deliberately provide wrong information, or omit vital information on the forms provided,” Esau said.
The information provided by any right holder will not be treated as confidential according to Esau, but it will be shared within the industry to ensure scrutiny and enable peer verification.
He said the essence of the criteria is to increase inclusivity in the fishing sector and to increase job creation, especially through value addition.
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Opportunities in trade agreement

September 22, 2016, 1:12 am
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Niel Terblanche
Thursday, September 22, 2016 - 10:15
The trade agreement between the Southern African Customs Union and the sub-regional block of South American countries known as Mercosur holds lots of opportunities for Namibia and its landlocked neighbours.
The Walvis Bay Corridor Group especially is ideally positioned to capitalise on the agreement with an office already established in Sao Paulo in Brazil.
The Walvis Bay Corridor Group along with the Namibia Trade Forum presented the findings of a study launched since the Mercosur agreement made Namibia eligible for preferential trade opportunities with the South American economic block. The presentation was attended by stakeholders in the field of logistics and forwarding in Walvis Bay.
 Clive Smith, project manager for the logistics hub of the WBCG, said Namibia can play a vital role in facilitating future trade with Mercosur countries in the interim. He was of the opinion that creating a larger manufacturing industry in Namibia would hold the key to more long- term trade with the South American Economic Block which is structured in much the same way as the Southern African Development Community.
 “The private sector in Namibia holds the key to these developments and more smart partnerships between the government and local business is needed to benefit from the agreement. It’s also very important to implement policies and plans created on such a forum. Implementation will determine the eventual success of any plan or policy,” he said.
Namibia would be wise to consider carefully its implications on existing and future business according to senior trade and investment analyst at the Namibia Trade Forum (NTF), Maria Lisa Immanuel.
“Indeed, trade agreements such as this one should be embraced from a point of government effort to create alternative market access for the private sector to trade and also to participate in global value chains, especially for a small market like Namibia. On the other hand, what really matters is how the private sector embraces this agreement, as they are the ones to implement it,” Immanuel said.
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Huge savings from solar

September 22, 2016, 1:15 am
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Niel Terblanche
Thursday, September 22, 2016 - 10:15
The signing of a new 25-year power purchase agreement between the Erongo Regional Electricity Distributor and private partners will ensure huge cost saving for consumers in the next 25 years.
Adhering to stringent tender regulations, the choice of a supplier of alternative renewable energy in the form of electricity generated by the sun’s rays fell on Ohltaver & List Energy and their technical partners Cronimet Mining &Power Solutions. Cronimet also engineered and constructed the Omburu Photo-Voltaic plant at Omaruru recently. The project took six months from signing the power purchase contract from site establishment to completion. The Omburu plant will supply electricity to NamPower for at least the next 25 years.
The new project is a contract between Erongo RED and OLC Arandis Solar Energy and will be constructed at a cost of N$80 million at Arandis. Construction of the new solar photo-voltaic power plant will commence in November this year and will culminate in the new 3,4 megawatt (MW) plant on a stretch of desert, measuring 12,5 hectares that will be leased from Arandis Town Council. According to Erongo Red CEO Robert Kahimise the power plant is expected to save the regional electricity distributor close to N$5,8 million a year and an estimated N$127 million over a 25-year period. “The utilisation of the new power plant will not only reduce Erongo RED’s electricity bill from NamPower, but it will also allow consumers access to clean energy at a reasonable price,” he said. According to Kahimise, the Electricity Control Board will provide regulatory oversight and OLC Arandis Solar Energy will be the operator of the plant and the seller of generated power. 
During the plant construction phase around 50 Namibians will be employed and trained to install the PV panel tracking tables, as well as to mount over 1 000 PV panels per day. In the end less than ten permanent employees will be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the plant according to Steffen Kammerer, one of the directors of OLC Arandis Solar energy.
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Mining ship for De Beers

September 22, 2016, 1:23 am
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Niel Terblanche
Thursday, September 22, 2016 - 10:15
The brand-new diamond exploration and sampling vessel of De Beers Marine Namibia currently undergoing final conversion and construction in the Cape Town docks was co-financed by a local commercial bank.
 The vessel, constructed by shipbuilders Kleven Verft in Norway, embarked on its maiden voyage to Cape Town for outfitting with mission equipment, which consists of a technologically advanced sampling system and treatment plant, on track to have the vessel operational and ready in early 2017.
The commercial bank partnered with De Beers Marine Namibia in the N$2,3 billion deal to procure the new vessel in 2015. The state-of-the-art fully-fledged marine diamond exploration and sampling vessel, MV SS Nujoma, has factory capabilities and will be put into operation from 2017.  “The bank is pleased to have been a partner in this formidable transaction as we are not only a key financial player in the local banking industry but regionally and internationally as well,” said Amit Mohan, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking.   Mohan explained the commercial bank will continue offering its funding solutions on sectors such as power and infrastructure, mining and metals, consumables, real estate, construction and the financial services sector in the public and private sectors.
 “In 2015 this was one of the largest corporate deals concluded in Namibia and further underscores the bank’s support to mining, one of the core economic sectors of the country,” he said.
 The N$2,3 billion asset based finance facility will contribute towards the sustainable provision of revenue for the country. 
The 50% ownership of De Beers Marine Namibia by the Government of the Republic Namibia facilitates the transfer of wealth creation in Namibia. 
“This N$2.3 billion investment by De Beers Marine Namibia positions the company for future growth opportunities to maintain its status as the single biggest contributor to the Namibian national economy.  We are indebted to our co-financier, Standard Bank Namibia for the confidence in our business and the willingness to partner with us on this historic journey to unlock the mineral endowment of the Atlantic 1 mining area for the benefit of our shareholders and stakeholders.” Willy Mertens, Senior Financial Manager at De Beers Marine Namibia said.
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