namib independent issue 126

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Namib Independent Great news for the coast! [email protected] Issue 126 - Thursday, 20 November 2014 to Wednesday, 26 November 2014 N$22 MILLION ART & CRAFT CENTRE PIRATES TO PLAGUE NAMIBIA SEAL MEAT RILES ACTIVISTS NORTH KOREAN CANNIBALISM FREE! Tel: 064 200497 04 05 14 09 Continued on Page 3 Continued on Page 3 Lana Groenewald The call has gone out for 2000 land grabbers to present the Municipality of Walvis Bay their ultimatums this Friday, requesting that affluent areas in the Lagoon and Meersig areas be redistributed. The Municipality has been given a period of eight months to respond unless they wish to risk Affirmative Repositioning mass action. On the back of the recent land grab incidents in upmarket Windhoek suburbs, spearheaded by the former Swapo Party Lana Groenewald The Ministry of Defense has confirmed reports that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy is seeking to develop a naval base in Walvis Bay as part of their ‘Overseas Strategic Support Bases,’ which will see approximately 18 naval bases established in various regions across the globe. It will be Land Grabbers Target Affluent Meersig and Lagoon Areas Chinese Navy to Get Base in Walvis Call for 2000 Land Grabbers Sent Out Youth League spokesperson, Job Amupanda, the land grab movement has gained momentum throughout the country, picking up more and more supporters as the snow ball rolls downhill. “Few want our heads, many want to stand with us,” was the gigantic response to the simple act in Kleine Kuppe. The manifestation has finally the first time since the occupation of Namibia by SA that a foreign standing army has a military presence in the country. The aim of this 10-year strategic plan is to protect China’s overseas investments and its people. According to the report compiled and released by the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), China’s expanding international economic interests are likely to generate increasing demands for its navy, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), to operate out of area to protect Chinese citizens, investments, and sea lines of communication. “The frequency, intensity, type, and location of such operations will determine the associated logistics support requirements, with distance from China, size and duration, and combat intensity being especially important drivers,” the report states. With the billions of dollars Harbour Expansion Project, it comes as no surprise that Walvis Bay is on PLAN’s list to develop a naval base. The Namibian Ministry of Defense confirmed that there are discussions between China and Namibia to establish such a base, but that no decision has been made and that the public will be informed once the Government has come to an agreement with China. The report also highlighted that Naval bases are much more likely than ground bases, but China might also seek to establish bases that could store ordnance, repair and maintain equipment, and provide medical/ mortuary services to support future PLA ground force operations against terrorists and other non- traditional security threats (like an increase of piracy threats on the West African Coast) in overseas areas such as Africa. Trade is not the only dimension of China’s growing international presence. Chinese companies have become major investors in Africa. Official data indicates that the cumulative total of Chinese outbound investment grew from approximately US$33.2 billion in 2003 to more than

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Page 1: Namib Independent Issue 126

Nam

ib IndependentGreat news for the coast!

[email protected] Issue 126 - Thursday, 20 November 2014 to Wednesday, 26 November 2014

N$22 MillioN Art & CrAft CeNtrePirAtes to PlAgue NAMibiA seAl MeAt riles ACtivists North KoreAN CANNibAlisM

free!

Tel: 064 200497

04 05 1409

Continued on Page 3

Continued on Page 3

Lana Groenewald

The call has gone out for 2000 land grabbers to present the Municipality of Walvis Bay their ultimatums this Friday, requesting that affluent areas in the Lagoon and Meersig areas be redistributed. The Municipality has been given a period of eight months to respond unless they wish to risk Affirmative Repositioning mass action.

on the back of the recent land grab incidents in upmarket Windhoek suburbs, spearheaded by the former swapo Party

Lana Groenewald

The Ministry of Defense has confirmed reports that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy is seeking to develop a naval base in Walvis Bay as part of their ‘Overseas Strategic Support Bases,’ which will see approximately 18 naval bases established in various regions across the globe. It will be

Land GrabbersTarget AffluentMeersig and Lagoon Areas

Chinese Navy to Get Base in Walvis

Call for 2000 Land Grabbers Sent OutYouth league spokesperson, Job Amupanda, the land grab movement has gained momentum throughout the country, picking up more and more supporters as the snow ball rolls downhill.

“few want our heads, many want to stand with us,” was the gigantic response to the simple act in Kleine Kuppe. the manifestation has finally

the first time since the occupation of Namibia by SA that a foreign standing army has a military presence in the country.

the aim of this 10-year strategic plan is to protect China’s overseas investments and its people. According to the report compiled and released by the institute for National strategic studies (iNss), China’s expanding international economic interests are likely to generate increasing demands for its navy, the People’s

liberation Army Navy (PlAN), to operate out of area to protect Chinese citizens, investments, and sea lines of communication.

“the frequency, intensity, type, and location of such operations will determine the associated logistics support requirements, with distance from China, size and duration, and combat intensity being especially important drivers,” the report states. With the billions of dollars harbour expansion Project, it comes as no

surprise that Walvis bay is on PlAN’s list to develop a naval base.

the Namibian Ministry of Defense confirmed that there are discussions between China and Namibia to establish such a base, but that no decision has been made and that the public will be informed once the government has come to an agreement with China.

the report also highlighted that Naval bases are much more likely than ground bases, but China might also seek to establish bases that could store ordnance, repair and maintain equipment, and provide medical/mortuary services to support future

PlA ground force operations against terrorists and other non-traditional security threats (like an increase of piracy threats on the West African Coast) in overseas areas such as Africa.

trade is not the only dimension of China’s growing international presence. Chinese companies have become major investors in Africa. Official data indicates that the cumulative total of Chinese outbound investment grew from approximately us$33.2 billion in 2003 to more than

Page 2: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 20142 | News

Tel (+264 64) 200 497 Email [email protected]

Sales Lorna Bock 081 350 0346 [email protected]

Gareth Amos 081 128 2197 [email protected]

Editorial Tanya Calitz [email protected]

Design Maggie’s Attic Graphic Design [email protected]

Address 127TheoBenGurirabStreet(MVAOfficeComplex),POBox5085,WalvisBay,Namibia

DiSCLAiMEr:Namib Independent is published by Halfround Communications CC. All rights arereserved.Whilsteverycarehasbeentakentoensuretheaccuracyoftheinformationcontainedwithin,noliabilitycanbeacceptedbythepublishersorcontributorsforanyerrors,misstatementsoromissionswhichmayhaveoccurred.Theopinionsexpressedin the publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Also, the publishersaccept no legal liability regarding copyright ownership for material which was supplied directlytothepublishersbyanyoftheadvertisersorcontributors.

CONTACTUS‘Oyster Fest’ Donates N$10 000 to Kids Haven

The Wizard of Oz Brought to Life by ISWB

Sharon Brooks

This weekend, the International School of Walvis Bay’s school hall will transform into the magical Land of Oz. The cast of 50 students from Grade 1 to 11 will be taking the audience for an unforgettable journey down the yellow brick road.

Parents, teachers and members of the Walvis community have been hard at work these past weeks to create the costumes and set, while the students worked diligently and with enthusiasm under director louise oosthuizen. According to her, a few very talented performers were discovered during the past weeks.

Dorothy will be performed by Kristen and lucinda rajzman while the tin man will be played by Kirsten viviers. the scarecrow

the organisers of the third annual oyster fest, Dewald Du Plessis and len Nel, once again decided to donate the proceeds from the festival to the Walvis bay Kids haven. the festival was held at the Atlantis sports Club in Walvis a couple of month’s back,

and featured well-known and popular south African musician, Dozi. last week the team handed over the cheques to Kids haven committee member, tanya Pretorius.

and lion will be brought to life by Nicholas Krauer and Juan lopez, respectively. the role of the wicked witch will be performed by Cara oliver and reynold Muashekele will be acting his heart out as the Wizard of oz.

the show will be performed on 21 and 22 December. there will be a matinee performance at 10am and an evening performance at 7pm. tickets are available from the international school reception at a cost of N$60 and N$30 for adults and children for the matinee, and N$100 and N$50 for adults and children for the evening performances. the ticket price for the evening performance includes wine and canapés.

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Page 3: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 2014 | 3 News

Chinese Navy to Get Base in Walvis

Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1

reached the coast in the form of a potential 2000 letters submitted to the Municipality, requesting Affirmative Repositions of land within a given period of time before mass action will ensue.

local resident and activist figorito ferdinand haikela seems to be heading the movement at the coast.

“Despite the fact that land is such a big issue involving a lot of anger, the Walvis bay movement is following correct procedures in terms of notifying the Municipality,” haikela said. “We are bringing the plight of high land cost to the Municipality in formal means.”

in order for the letter to have weight, it needs to have at least 2000 supporters. “We are following the book and i am convinced that we will get at least 2000 people to support our cause, protesting at the Municipality and requesting a response to our letter,” haikela

Land Grabbers Target Affluent Meersig and Call for 2000 Land Grabbers Sent Out Lagoon Areas

stated confidently. even though the letter is passive, it

is succinct. “since we took the only option

left towards addressing the issue of land … is to force solutions to the land question by imploring radical methods, a language that the elite will understand,” the letter stated. “We are very clear and willing to go all lengths to ensure that this issue is addressed.”

The main goal of the letter is to find a solution for the way forward.

in a speech on 18 November, Mayor uilika Nambahu, said, “i want to appeal to our community members to exercise patience while all modalities related to the allocation of land are being finalised and further, that an announcement in this regard will be made in due course.”

the letter asserted, “our objective is to have a solution. As we move towards that goal, there are several steps to be taken, of which Mass Action is one, necessitated by the excuse that the landless must follow proper procedures – procedures that we are convinced do not work.” it then called all landless Namibians to come

together for Mass Action on friday, submitting their application to the Walvis bay Municipality and giving them only a few months to respond favourably to the land demands.

“if the Municipality fails to respond, it will be clear that the Municipality is unable and unwilling to assist the landless through established methods,” the letter stated. After the submission of the land grabbers’ letters on 21 November, the Walvis bay Municpality has until 31 July 2015 to favourably respond to these applications. if not, the landless masses will find that the only method left to them is Affirmative repositioning, starting with the rich and affluent suburbs, such as Meersig, lagoon and Narraville.

“frantz fanon told us that each generation must discover its mission to fulfil or betray it. We are landless and we want land in our country. by 31 July 2015, we will not be held responsible for what the landless in general and youth in particular will choose to do in addressing the land question,” the letter concluded.

us$531.9 billion in 2012. Chinese government data shows that as of 2012, Chinese companies had invested more than us$21.7 billion in Africa, us$68.2 billion in latin America, and us$25.5 billion in North America.

Chinese foreign direct investment in overseas factories, mines, and energy projects is an important and growing national interest. it also involves a significant increase in Chinese expatriates living and working abroad, particularly in the developing countries of sub-saharan Africa.

“in addition to the 5.5 million Chinese citizens working abroad, more than 60 million travel overseas every year. Protecting these citizens—or evacuating them if the political or security environment becomes unstable—has become an increasingly important and politically sensitive task for the Chinese government,” the report further states.

Political pundits are quick to highlight China is following the same modus operandi as the last century’s two super powers, russia and the usA, both of whom built networks of strategically placed military bases in sovereign countries all around the world, in order to protect their investments or to limit the economic activities of would be competitors in those regions. these strategies have the very real potential to create global insecurity and the destabilisation of entire regions such as the Middle east.

in conclusion, the report summarises that in the next ten years, China is ultimately expected to have three “life lines”: one is the North indian ocean supply line, which includes bases in Pakistan, sri lanka and Myanmar. the second is the Western indian ocean supply line, which includes bases in Djibouti, Yemen, oman, Kenya, tanzania and Mozambique

while the last one is the Central-south indian ocean supply line, which includes bases in the seychelles and Madagascar. these three strategic lines will further enhance China’s effective to take responsibility for maintaining the safety of international maritime strategic channels and maintaining regional as well as world stability responsibilities and capabilities.

under the prediction of this report, some Chinese people forecast 18 possible overseas bases of the PlA Navy, which includes Chongjin Port (North Korea), Moresby Port (Papua New guinea), sihanoukville Port (Cambodia), Koh lanta Port (thailand), sittwe Port (Myanmar), DhAKA Port (bangladesh), gwadar Port (Pakistan), hambantota Port (sri lanka), Maldives, seychelles, Djibouti Port (Djibouti), lagos Port (Nigeria), Mombasa Port (Kenya), Dar es salaam Port (tanzania), luanda Port (Angola) and Walvis bay Port (Namibia).

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Page 4: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 20144 | News

Pirates To Plague Namibian WatersEdward Awaseb

Pirates? You laugh, but there is, especially this year, an overwhelming surge of evidence suggesting that pirates are moving down south the Atlantic coast, towards oil rich Angola and perhaps unsuspecting Namibia, bringing with them instead of rum and loot, corruption, multi-million dollar hijacking and a booming black market – is Namibia in the cross-hairs of pirate gangs and are we prepared?

Piracy is big business in Africa; overall annual costs of piracy for the world’s economy is in the billions. it is a violent business as well; pirates have held more than 5 000 seafarers hostage since 2007 - nearly 40 are still unaccounted for. indeed, according to the international Maritime organisation

(iMo) and Ngo oceans beyond Piracy, “West African pirates arm themselves heavily, and reports show they engage in extreme, violent behaviour.”

globally, piracy is on a decline; somali pirate activity has witnessed a sharp drop in the indian ocean. thanks to efforts by NAto and the eu to protect the high seas, many shipping companies have cut their spending on security.

Presence of pirates in the gulf of guinea in central West Africa is becoming considerably more frequent and with this shift happening rapidly, the gulf is now the largest stronghold for piracy in Africa.

in Nigeria, piracy has

infiltrated politics to such an extent that political candidates are funded by ransom money acquired from hijacking and kidnapping. Worryingly, Nigerian pirates are not afraid to move south; indeed more hijacking by Nigerian pirates occur away from the country’s border than inside them.

The present figure of successful pirate attacks in the gulf for this year is in the 50s. however due to large companies’ refusal to report pirate activity (for economical and security reasons), some experts in the region estimate that up to 70% of West African piracy and armed robbery against ships goes unreported.

the largest concern for Namibia is the piracy incident in Angola at the beginning of the year; an outragous attack that has forced international organisations to reevaluate the risk of pirate activity south of the equator. An anchored oil tanker went missing near luanda in January - the crew was hijacked and communication was out. Within one week the pirates traveled 1 300 miles from Luanda to Nigeria and offloaded 12 270 tons of diesel cargo to different black market operators. the market price of the stolen diesel was valued at us$10 million. the hostages were released, although one of the tanker's crewmembers got injured during the hijacking.

A 2014 Namibian study titled “Anti Piracy Disaster risk Management” has outlined a number of factors that “could attract pirates to conduct attacks in the benguela coast region”, concluding that the pirate risk will increase from nonexistent (now) to medium in the next few years. this is due to port expansion and, paradoxically our stable political system.

Pirates in West Africa are exploiting the oil sector, preferring to raid ships for cargo rather than hijack personal. At the coast of Nigeria, benin and togo 63 percent of piracy acts involved vessels and tankers carrying refined petroleum products, which bring high profits on the black markets, as well as moving into unknown territory to attain it (i.e Angola). Part of Namport’s huge expansion project is a new gas and oil supply base that will be one of the biggest in the sADC region. As chemical and oil tankers increase, pirates may begin to exploit Namibia’s calm waters; this may two-fold in the event of oil exportation through or from Namibia.

somali pirates have had a nasty blow due to an international military collaboration on the wild east coast. this cannot be expected to happen on the west coast, where countries have their own navy and maritime guidelines, which have to be respected by NAto and others. even setting up security on vessels here becomes problematic as ships pass through waters belonging to many different territories.

Namibia (and Namport) collaborate with African countries on deterring piracy through a number of international organisations and agreements. there are procedures and frameworks in place, as well as tight security at the Walvis port, scanning devices to inspect suspicious cargo and an active navy. the Welwitschia military exercise held in Walvis late last year actually had a key focus on anti-piracy training. this, of course, means that there is a degree of preparation, but it also means there is anticipation that pirates mind find Namibia too tempting to ignore.

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Page 5: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 2014 | 5 News

Proposed Retail of Seal Meat Riles Activists

Siglinde de Villiers

Once again, seals are in the spotlight, this time for their meat. While Namibia once again to challenge European activists, the controversy of the cruel slaughter of cute and intelligent animals versus a sustainable indigenous product that can be sourced locally continues.

recent media articles have highlighted how seal meat is to hit coastal shelves next year. however, in a conversation with guys Cilliers, Manager of seal Products Pty (ltd), he pointed out that the media has jumped the gun.

“the project is still only in an experimental phase and a lot more market research is needed. Also, there are a lot of regulations and permissions involved, so we still have a long way to go,” he told the Namib independent.

Will seal meat on local store shelves be a far stretch for Namibian appetites? only the future can tell whether seal meat will find kudos amongst a menu of beef, lamb and game or whether it is better suited for export. Namibia will not be the first country to market seal meat, though. People in places such as Canada, greenland, China, Norway, sweden and Alaska have lived on seal meat for centuries, to the point where it has evolved from a staple food source to a delicacy on the menu of top restaurants, showcasing dishes such as slow braised seal, seal confit or seal served with chocolate gastrique.

seal meat is quite unique in that it is very dense, smooth and dark red in colour, due to high hemoglobin levels in the blood that supply. Culinary experts have described it as buttery soft like a bone and skinless chicken breast with a mild flavour.

According to Willie burger, who owned a seal factory in luderitz for many years reckoned, “it is very nutritious, rich and soft like lamb, tasting a bit of fish. The high protein content takes a little getting used to but it is a very lean cut, containing no cholesterol.”

While seal meat is an exciting prospect for Namibia, the global appetite for seal stays sour. various international chefs have expressed how they do not understand activists, considering that seals are a non-endangered, often local and sustainable product.

An international chef in Canada expressed, “City dwellers with little or no connection to the land cringe when they come face to face with animal slaughter, something that is usually kept behind closed doors. What is the difference between seal and lamb? lambs are also innocent creatures that are only a few months old when they get killed.”

“in a campaign, what will elicit a greater response? A cow or a seal pup with big dark eyes looking back at you?” another Chef asked.

A local resident in Walvis bay commented, “Why do activists not protest slaughterhouses.the seal hunt is no less cruel than the meat industry, the only difference is that seal culling happens outdoors, open to public scrutiny and not behind abattoir walls out of the public’s eye.”

“No one complains about game, but they are also harvested en masse in Namibia and

exported,” another resident contrasted. Despite the above arguments, activists

continue to protest the way in which the seals are harvested. sensational reports on the web sketch how wild club wielding savages beat innocent seal pups hardly a few weeks old to death, blood and brains spattering everywhere, during which the terrorised seal population vomit, defecate and urinate all over themselves and others in the process. this could not be further removed from the truth.

According to burger, seal harvesting is done in a controlled manner. “seal harvesting happens in a very organised way. those who cull are not just some random figures from the street, but well-trained personnel who operate under the supervision of inspectors from the Ministry of fisheries. Cullers need to adhere to restrictions. No cows may be harvested and bulls are shot,” explained.

Charlie Matengu, Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of fisheries, said, “Activists condemn our culling methods but what alternative do they offer? up to now they have not come up with anything. We as a Ministry feel that the current method still is the best way, because cullers can be selective and avoids incidents where they wrongly harvest undersized animals.”

in addition, seal pups have to be at least eight months old in order to be harvested. harvesting occurs annually from July to November and has a twofold purpose: firstly, it prevents seals from feeding too much and depleting fish stocks in Namibian waters, one of the country’s main economic pillars. According to burger, seals eat 10-14% of their own body weight per day. An adult seal can consume roughly about 270kg of food a year.

secondly, if seals deplete their food source, they will die a slow death by starvation, which is far crueler than the sustainable management of the seal population, which, according to Matengu, currently stands at 1.3 million. the 2014 quota allows for the harvesting of 80 000 pups and 6000 bulls. however, according to Matenge, these targets are not met.

“figures of 2013 show that only 51 464 pups and 3 968 bulls were harvested for the same quota amounts,” he said.

in the past, seals were controlled by natural predators such as sharks, killer whales, hyenas and jackals. however, these predators become less and less, allowing the seals to reproduce at optimal levels.

“i do not agree with the method used to harvest seals, however, until the activists come up with an alternative method that works the seal population has to be managed in an effective way,” a local resident commented.

“only using the fur of seals would be the same as poaching rhinos for their horns or killing sharks only for their fins. In this way, we at least utilise the whole carcass,” another resident in Walvis bay said.

seal carcasses were previously processed for animal feed, however, Matengu hinted at emerging markets in europe, which could place seal meat on more menus at restaurants worldwide.

Where to Walvis? Why Our Grand Vision May Crash and Burn

Opinion: Gareth Amos

Namibians - every last one - are a resilient people and over the last few centuries the ebb and flow of power from tribe to tribe, people to people have, if anything, taught us one important lesson that may be summed up the battle cry of Obama’s 2008 slogan… “Yes we can”.

or perhaps, more vulgarly - though as apt – is the catchphrase of the phenomenally successful 2006 blockbuster, team America... “f*ck Yeah”. Perhaps, though, in terms of the nation’s single most ambitious economic development plan, the building of an economic gateway hub for the sADC regions in Walvis bay, this very mind-set may well be our undoing.

over the last two weeks the Namib independent has reported in depth on the proposed plans, challenges, opportunities and threats that come to the fore with regards to the sADC gateway project. We have been able to do so on account of a recently held information sharing session hosted by the Walvis bay Municipality that featured a host of specialist guest speakers from the WbCg, the economic Association of Namibia and NACoMA.

each outlined the scope of activities that shall be required to turn the vision into reality and each did so with aplomb, delivering detailed strategies that put at ease the mind of the wonderer in terms of our technical, economic and environmental future. so, we need money, we need to build stuff, we need to make friends with our neighbours, we need faster trains, better roads and better, bigger towns. No worries. Yes, we can!

however, the real ‘take-home’ message from the event and from each specialist was “No, we can’t” - at least not if we are to rely, once again, on ourselves. the stark truth is that in this instance, no matter our commitment or will, as a country we are woefully unqualified for the undertaking. taking into consideration that the sADC vision (stage one) plays out over twenty years, the likelihood that we will find ourselves any better equipped by then, if current policy is to be continued, is so negligible that one is tempted rate our chances as slim to zero.

the political ideology of our current crop of leaders is handicapped by its tenuous reliance on the liberation struggle political mind-set. this particular handicap will in all likelihood devour its host in a decade or so (as it has throughout post-colonial Africa), as the “born frees” arise as tomorrow’s nation builders with their own particular liberation struggle to contend within the form of economic struggle against the already maligned effects of unfettered and unregulated capitalist system without conscience.

until then though, our people, who have for the last half century stood firmly behind the

current crop, whose sole purpose has been to drive out the foreigner to build a Namibian nation for Namibians and in so doing have instilled a national inferiority complex coupled with a blatant mistrust and hatred of any non-Namibian.

Nestled neatly between the two, lies unrecognised by most (politicians excluded) our own Achilles heel: our dogged determination to build this nation without seeking the assistance of the outside world – that is other than financial grants, loans and hand-outs.

A child learns by asking and so should our infant nation, but in the absence of experienced guidance our nation shall continue to labour on lessons that may be otherwise easily learnt.

At the centre of our wilful negligence lies a hostile immigration policy designed, it seems, to purposefully bring to a standstill our ability to learn and acquire much needed skills from those who by simple virtue of the geographical location of their birth, have acquired skills far superseding those of ninety percent of our people.

History teaches fervent focus on affirmative action: bee and other such policy practices bring about instant change, allowing the few previously disadvantaged lucky enough to have gained a strong education to prosper, but the gains are short-term and become incestuous in nature as the economic benefits benefit the same folk over and over again, without impacting the lives of the many.

After a quarter century, this is the position our nation now finds itself. It has run its course and if we are to see our people benefit from our resources and national projects such as the sADC gateway project we are going to have to commit to the wholesale importation of skills.

our own education and tertiary institutions are unable to produce the skill sets required to build the gateway, nor shall they be able to do so within another generation. Despite this, the authors of our national planning strategic documents seem ill aligned with the national policy makers on immigration policy documents, which remain consistently and stubbornly attuned to our national attitudes of hate and distrust borne from the struggle.

our leaders must understand that in the short term, skills importation shall indeed benefit the foreigner, but our country also benefits immediately and our people working side by side with professionals shall ultimately be the entity that is empowered. Call it smart based economic empowerment or sbee, if you will.

the stark reality is that our nation is faced with a struggle of a different and more immediate kind in the form of an economic liberation struggle. unless we open our minds and borders to allow skilled foreigners to set foot upon our shores to help us take up the cause, we shall find ourselves enslaved once more by a foe of our own making.

Page 6: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 20146 | News

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Page 7: Namib Independent Issue 126

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SAFETY AND hEALTh ADVISOR (PROCESSING)Location: Husab Mine, Swakopmund

Reports to the Superintendent Safety and Health (Processing)Apply and monitor the implementation of the SSHRQ Management Plans and the application of safety and health systems and procedures in areas of responsibility. Assist with the investigation of incidents in order to identify causes and prevent recurrence. Inspect areas in order to identify potential hazards and make recommendations for improvement. Advise and consult with line management, employees and contractors on safety and health practices, development and monitoring.

Key Performance Areas:• SHERQ Organisation / Development / Implementation / Monitoring / Enforcement• Inspections / Audits / Risk Assessments and Controls• Accidents / Incidents Investigations and close out• Education and Training• Administration Duties / Statistics / Reports• People and Performance Management• Professional Development & Growth• Co-worker Effectiveness• Safety, Health, Environmental, Radiation & Quality Effectiveness

Requirements and experience:• Diploma in Safety/Health Management • Gr 12 Senior Secondary Certificate• Similar experience in a mining processing environment: 3-4 years• Code B Driver’s License• Computer literate• Good communication, report writing and interpersonal skills logistics support preferably in the

field of fuel, lube and petroleum products.• Additional benefit if background is in lubrication products.• Fully computer literate in Microsoft packages, preferred SAP experience and SQL database

programs.SENIOR EmPLOYEE RELATIONS OFFICER (PROCESSING)

Location: Husab Mine, Swakopmund Reports to the Superintendent - Employee Relations

To develop and maintain and Employee Relations System in order to provide a quality service to line managers and employees, in an area of responsibility and to effectively achieve Human Resources and Employee Relations goals and objectives.

Key Performance Areas:• Employee Relations Systems Effectiveness• Employee Relations Policy and Procedures• Communication• Employee Relations Training• Professional/Personal Development & Growth• People and Performance Management

Requirements and experience:• Human Resources Diploma/Degree or equivalent HR qualification• 7 years practical experience in an ER environment• Code B Driver’s license

SuPERINTENDENT SAFETY AND hEALTh (PROCESSING)Location: Husab Mine, Swakopmund

Reports to the Safety, Health and Radiation ManagerDevelop, implement and monitor safety and health management systems for the Processing Department at Swakop Uranium (SU) as per the requirements of the Safety & Health Management Plan, Radiation Management Plan, Integrated Management Systems and applicable legislation, regulations and directives.

Key Performance Areas:• Conduct risk assessments and develop and implement standard operating procedures to prevent and/or mitigate risk.• Investigate incidents, identify causes and make recommendations for corrective action to prevent recurrences. • Conduct inspections and audits and identify potential hazards and make recommendations for improvement. • Enforce compliance to applicable legislation, regulations and directives. • Advise and consult with line management, employees and contractors on safety and health practices, development and monitoring.• Implement and manage applicable communication and training programmes for Processing.• Assist and guide line management to implement the Safety & Health Management Plan.• Manage Processing Safety & Health budget, reporting, document & data control, statistics and administration.• Set targets and review performance of the Processing Safety & Health team.

Requirements and experience:• Safety and Health Management Degree or Diploma NQA Level 5/6.• Minimum of 5 years working experience in a processing mining environment of which 3 years

should have been in a supervisory capacity. • Integrated Management System / Risk Management implementation and auditing.• Safety and Health training.• Code B Driver’s Licence.• Good communication, report writing and interpersonal skills.

Through its commitment to its people, the company offers a competitive remuneration package and the opportunity to work alongside some of the most experienced and dedicated people in the industry. Interested persons should submit their CV and relevant supporting documents to [email protected] OR on www.jobportunities.net website by 28 November 2014. Previously disadvantaged Namibians meeting the above criteria are encouraged to apply. Clearly indicate the position you are applying for as well as your name and surname in the subject line of your application email. Applications received that do not meet this criteria will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted within two weeks of the closing date of this advertisement and no documents will be returned. Short-listed candidates must be willing to undergo pre-employment selection assessments.

For more information on the company, please visit www.swakopuranium.com

Passionately energise our World

Page 8: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 20148 | News

The Rise and Rise of the Office BlockDonna Collins

The booming property market in Walvis Bay is moving and shaking with many new projects underway, in particular commercial developments that are springing up to meet the growing demand for office space and extra shops in the CBD area.

the trend of taking down the old and putting up the new is something that Walvis bay is going to be seeing a lot of in the future, as the old railway houses and run-down buildings provide space for hungry investors striking whilst the iron is hot.

one particular multi-million dollar complex which is being developed by well-known entrepreneurs sue and Jerry Muadinohamba, is a modern trend-setting

dual purpose double storey structure comprising eight fully furnished self-catering flats and six shops, all of which were rented out before the first brick was laid.

the Namib independent spoke to Claudia lofty-eaton (owner of remax Coastline Property Centre), who stated that there is a long waiting list for these new style modern office blocks, especially in the centre of town. she added that the new Katulife Complex in sixth street is setting an up-market trend for future commercial properties, which are still being dominated by the old established buildings.

she said that construction has already started on the complex and that completion is expected to be in November next year.

Another double storey commercial

development starting soon, is business Park in sam Nujoma Avenue. Currently the bulldozers are busy at work tearing down an old railway house to make way for another modern structure.

Co-developer of the project, Alda-Mari breytenbach, explained that the building will comprise a mix of large and smaller units to fit the requirements of different businesses. it is expected that once the Municipality has given the green light for the plans, building of the foundations might even start this year.

“With building costs being so expensive, if you want to do it right, a development such as this costs a pretty penny,” breytenbach said, adding that business Park will cost in the region of N$8 million.

it was pointed out that the new architecture with its modern specifications will benefit the look of Walvis bay and change the look and feel of the ambience of the CbD. With the new surge of business flooding the harbour town, the move is going towards developing more office blocks and shops with flair to meet the demand.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST NO: NPDE0270

FUEL BUNKERING SERVICES TO DBMN FLEET – OFFSHORE AND IN-PORT

DESCRIPTIONDebmarine Namibia is seeking experienced Service Providers who have the technical and commercial capability to provide offshore bunkering service and all logistics associated therewith.

SCOPE OF WORKThe Contractor will be required to provide the Company’s five vessels namely Mv Debmar Pacific, Mv Debmar Atlantic, Mv !Gariep, Mv Grand Banks, Mv Mafuta and chartered Mv Coral Sea with the following Technical Service:

• Machinery and equipment for the supply and discharge of the Bunkers offshore onto the Vessels as required.• The supply of:

▪ Marine Gas Oil ISO 8217:2010 DMA (which is max+ 6 degrees Celsius), as required by DBMN and DBM.

▪ Intermediate Fuel Oil ISO 8217:2010 RME 180 and/or Heavy Fuel Oil, as required by DBMN and DBM.

CLOSING DATECompanies with the required experience and competency interested in providing such services to Debmarine Namibia are invited to provide a company profile, including all previous work experience, and detailed curriculum vitas applicable to Reference Number NPDE0270 not later than 5th December 2014 at 12h00 noon.

Please contact Mrs M. Isaacs at Tel: +264 61 297 8460 or email: [email protected] for further information.

DELIVERY ADDRESSCompleted documentation must be contained in sealed envelopes and addressed to the Procurement Department, Debmarine Namibia, 3rd Floor, Namdeb Centre, 10 Dr. Frans Indongo Street, Windhoek, in accordance with the dates and times indicated above. The submission should be deposited in the Tender Box situated in the foyer of the Namdeb Centre, 10 Dr Frans Indongo Street, Windhoek.

DISCLAIMERDebmarine Namibia shall not be responsible for any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a response to this tender and furthermore reserves the right not to extend this tender into any future tenders, negotiation or engagements with those companies which responded to the advert.

Debmarine Namibia also reserves the right without disclosure or explanation to engage with any of the Companies which responded to this tender or alternatively engage with companies which have not responded to this tender for which Debmarine Namibia is of the opinion that such company can provide the required services.

Page 9: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 2014 | 9 News

N$22 Million Arts & Craft Centre for Swakopmund

Donna Collins

The much anticipated multi-purpose Arts & Crafts Centre was officially opened with fanfare in Swakopmund. Last Friday, the N$22 million USA funded state-of-the-art centre was handed over to COSDEF (Namibia Community Skills Development Foundation).

the unveiling ceremony of the centre, which was five years in the planning, is a beacon of hope to those Namibian craftsmen and woman who have had to eke a living out of selling their wares on pavements and street corners.

the brightly coloured modern centre now provides an outlet for a variety of high quality Namibian products and skills, also serving as a tourist attraction.

the large, walled-in facility comprises a restaurant, 13 kiosk-like shops, an open air amphitheatre with a permanent stage, the CosDef shop, which is the centre's main selling point, plus training and production rooms, an art exhibition facility and conferencing area.

us embassy Charge d'Affaires John Kowalski pointed out that what started out as a donor-recipient relationship between the two countries, has ended in a

new partnership between nations committed to providing greater opportunity for economic growth and livelihood improvement of Namibian people.

"this is more than an arts & crafts centre, this is a new commercial venture that provides a platform for all local Namibian artists, musicians, and crafters to increase their income earning capacity and showcase their products. the Centre facilitates technical, design and business skills training, plus supports the marketing of the products," said Kowalski.

Upon officiating the new Arts & Crafts Centre, rev ludwig hausiku (special Advisor to the Minister of Youth, National service, sport & Culture) said that this facility is an expression of culture and will serve as a valuable contributor to the economy of the erongo region.

"the construction of the CosDef Arts & Crafts Centre in swakopmund is not only an innovative new hub for tourism, but it will add value in terms of job creation, increased economic activities, and an income earning potential for local crafters and artists of this region.

"Currently the arts and craft scene in our country is dominated by foreign artefacts, but this Centre

will be reserved exclusively for Namibians, who now have a market place to sell their products whilst being a prominent tourist feature in the region," he added and continued,

"the Community skills Development foundation (CosDef) is proud that the MCA-Namibia saw value in supporting our idea of promoting Namibian culture as a part and parcel of tourism development in Namibia,"

the reverend further stated

"Namibia belongs first and foremost to our cultural communities, and i would like to urge our people to ensure that their cultural artefacts are represented here in this Centre.

"this culture must be revealed to our visitors in all its diversity and panorama, with the Arts & Crafts Centre providing the space and ambience for cultural workers to demonstrate our cultural heritage to the world."

Rev Ludwig Hausiku (Special Advisor to the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport & Culture) shakes hands with US

Embassy Charge d’Affairs John Kowalski

Tel: +264 64 221 713Cell: +264 81 628 5010CELL: +264 81 128 7916email:[email protected]

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For more information please contact Tony on 081 128 3811 or e-mail: [email protected]

Belinda Fishing Namibia

Page 10: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 201410 | News

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N$5 Million Taxi Rank in Walvis Bay a White Elephant

Siglinde de Villiers

As previously reported on by the Namib Independent two years ago, taxi and bus drivers had a negative attitude towards the new taxi rank situated next to the fire station in Kuisebmond. In the meantime, the taxi rank was completed and has recently been officially inaugurated by the Mayor of Walvis Bay, Uilika Nambahu. Despite the fanfare of the Municipality, however, deeper investigation has revealed that not all is at it seems.

initially, the main complaint of the new taxi rank was that it was too small and too far for passengers to walk in comparison to the current taxi rank opposite Woermann brock. At that time, fillemon Paulus, committee member of the long Distance Driver Association said that the dispute between the drivers and the Municipality will not be solved swiftly.

“it will drag out for some time before a lasting solution is found. the rank is inconveniently located and too small,” Paulus had commented. it turned out that the completion of the taxi rank dragged out for two years, with no lasting solution found

yet. regardless of having been informed about the negativity surrounding the new taxi rank location, the Municipality went ahead with its plans. have attitudes changed in the meantime?

The new taxi rank was officially inaugurated last week thursday. Mayor uilika Nambahu highlighted that the facility will enhance the safety of passengers.

“the previous taxi rank has caused much chaos and we hope that this will be something of the past once all operators have moved to the new rank,” Nambahu said. According to Paulus, all taxi drivers are optimistic about the new taxi rank and looking forward to making good use of the facility. “Traffic officers will patrol Korris Street in order to make sure that no taxis operate illegally in that area. to maintain order, a queueing system will be used,” Paulus said.

unlike the positive picture painted by the authorities, a general consensus revealed that commuters as well as transport providers are reluctant to use the new facility.

“the new taxi rank is still too cramped and there is not enough space for all of us,” a taxi driver said. Another commented, “it is not convenient for my passengers.”

Page 11: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 2014 | 11 News

LSS Conducts Bourbon Heavy Lift Operation

Accused Girlfriend Killer Denied Bail

Sonya Amos

Logistics Support Services has once again demonstrated why they are at the forefront of the Namibian logistics industry, when they successfully organised a heavy lift operation at Namport on behalf of their client, Bourbon. The operation was successfully carried out on the morning of Friday 14th November, in the nick of time before high winds started to pick up in the early afternoon.

the heavy lift operation involved two bourbon vessels, the bourbon evolution 805, a multipurpose subsea services support vessel, and the bourbon surfer 324, a high speed crew boat. both vessels had sustained significant damage back in 2012 when a Monsoon had hit the

east coast of Asia. the vessels were subsequently repaired, and are now berthed in Namibia to be prepared and mobilised for their first charters following their repairs.

following repairs, the bourbon surfer 324 was loaded onto the larger bourbon evolution 805 in singapore. the evolution then sailed to Namibia with the surfer on deck, as it is much more cost effective to sail just one vessel rather than two. logistics support services acted as full vessel Agency for both vessels for the entire mobilisation process, including a crane test on the evolution 805, offloading the Surfer 324 from the deck, providing technical supplies, fuelling, equipment testing and crew changes.

the evolution 805 was brought into berth number one at Namport

in preparation for one of the largest heavy lifts that has taken place in Walvis bay. two 140 ton Mantis cranes were provided from Namport to conduct a tandem lift on the surfer 324 which weighs in at 120 tons. All rigging and equipment had been supplied with the vessel when it had been loaded onto the evolution 805 in singapore. Namibia stevedoring services performed the hook up of the two cranes to the 34.33 metre vessel, hooking up the straps and making sure they were in the designated position. the cranes then slowly started taking tension on the straps to make sure that all the rigging was in the correct position to optimally perform the lift.

the ship’s crew, together with Namibia stevedoring services, then unsecured all the sea fasting on the

Lana Groenewald

The 29-year-old accused girlfriend killer, Jomo Petrus, has been denied bail at the Walvis Bay Magistrates Court last week Friday, after being released from hospital due to a failed suicide attempt.

Petrus stands accused of murdering 24-year-old louise Alupe by shooting her with a pistol at close range on independence beach last week Monday. After killing Alupe, Petrus allegedly turned the firearm on himself in a suicide attempt, which failed when the pistol did not discharge any further bullets.

Petrus then allegedly cut his own wrists with broken glass in a second suicide attempt, but failed again. the violent,

senseless killing of Alupe sent shock waves through the distraught community. the Court was fully packed last friday for fisherman Petrus’ first court appearance on murder charges as well as theft of a firearm and the illegal possession of the firearm.

on behalf of the state, public prosecutor eden iyambo said the post-mortem report stated that two shots were fired by the suspect and that the victim showed four wounds. iyambo opposed bail, due to the seriousness of the crime and some outstanding statements by witnesses. Magistrate vicky Nicoladis then denied bail to the accused, Petrus, stating that he could apply for legal aid at his own expense. the case was postponed to 29 January 2015.

surfer 324, so that the cranes could start slowly picking up the surfer 324, ensuring that the vessel was lifted off the cradle cleanly. the crew boat was then lifted to approximately three metres above the deck of the evolution 805, and then the pilot was instructed to remove the larger vessel from the berth, leaving the surfer 324 suspended on the cranes.

Whilst the evolution 805 was relocated to berth number eight, the surfer 324 was lowered back into the water. the rigging was kept under tension, however, in order to ensure that the vessel was not leaking

in the areas where she had been resting on the cradle. only once the vessel had been thoroughly checked, the rigging straps were removed along with the wooden blocks which had been placed under the vessel to prevent hull damage.

the surfer 324 was then moved alongside her big sister in berth number eight so she could be crewed, resupplied and fuelled. once the mobilisation process is complete, the evolution 805 will tow the Surfer 324 towards their first charter in West Africa later this month.

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Page 12: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 201412 | News

*These posting dates serve as guidelines on when parcels and letters are likely to reach the respective destinations.It is not guaranteed that mail items posted after these dates will arrive on time. EMS (Expedited Mail Service) will, however, still be operational after the posting deadlines have passed.

CHRISTMAS SEASON 2014

LAST POSTING DATES TO DESTINATIONS ABROAD

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K!Natjie Our Very Own Road Safety Mascot At The Coast!

Tara van Eck

Children and young people are at the heart of road safety. Road crashes and casualties are the biggest non-medical cause of death and serious injury among children and young people. In recognition of this a Swakopmund organisation has taken positive action to help educate our children on all matters related to road safety.

inspired educational Concepts proudly introduced their very own road safety mascot K!natjie last weekend with a fun filled day at the go-cart track just outside Swakopmund. The day included exciting traffic educational activities for kids and teachers.

A section of the go-cart track was transformed into a mini town with stop signs, zebra crossings, a train station, a petrol

station, even mini vehicles were provided for the little ones to test their road safety skills with traffic officers guiding them through the rules of the road and even issuing them with “mini vehicle licences” after completing the road safety course.

Kids were also taught a brand new road safety K!natjie song and received buckets full of activities to keep them busy on the roads this festive holiday season.

Natalie and theo Whittaker are the proud owners of inspired educational Concepts. theo a retired teacher and Natalie educated in early childhood development are driven by their passion to teach and make learning fun.

What is inspired educational Concepts about?

“We create, develop and manufacture

learning support materials and supplementary materials for pre-school and lower primary schools in Namibia. We use the end product from the Ministry of education, the curriculum to develop all our materials. these materials are authentically Namibian. We have received so much support from various educational directorates countrywide,” said Natalie Whittaker from inspired educational Concepts.

The Swakopmund traffic department, fire department and eMed rescue service came to witness and take part in the K!natjie initiative expressing their gratitude toward Natalie and theo Whittaker by providing them with a gift from the traffic and fire department.

“the day was a big success and we cannot wait to see the impact K!natjie

will have on the new road safety curriculum that will be implemented in our schools from 2015.” a teacher said.

Page 13: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 2014 | 13 News

IQ Decline Across the WorldFor at least a century, the average IQ has been on the rise, thanks to improved nutrition, living conditions and technology, but now, scientists think the trend is going into reverse.

in Denmark, every man aged 18 is given an iQ test, to assess them in case of military conscription. it means around 30,000 people have been taking the same test for years — and scores have fallen by 1.5 points since 1998. the pattern is repeated around the world, according to New scientist, with tests showing the same thing happening everywhere from Australia and the uK to brazil and China.

the most rapid signs of iQ growth in the us appeared between the 1950s and 1980s, the magazine reported, with “intelligence” rocketing by around three points per decade. the trend for rising IQs was first documented by New Zealand scientist James Flynn, and is known as the flynn effect. it has been attributed to advances in health and medicine, as well as ever-expanding technology and culture forcing us to contend with a multi-layered world.

Now, the theory is that in developed countries, improvements such as public sanitation and more stimulating environments may have gone as far as they can in terms of increasing our intelligence.

The first evidence of a dip in IQ was reported in Norway in 2004, closely followed by similar studies emerging from developed countries including sweden and the Netherlands. Dr flynn has said that such minor decreases could be attributable to reversible issues with social conditions, such as falling income, unhealthy diet or problems with education.

however, some experts believe our iQs are in a state of permanent decline. some researchers suggest that the flynn effect has masked an underlying decline in our genetic intelligence — meaning more people have been developing closer to their full potential, but that

potential has been dropping. this has been attributed in some quarters to the fact that the most highly educated people in society are having fewer children than the general population.

it is an uncomfortable thought, and one that strays worryingly close to controversial theories on genetic modification and even eugenics.

the idea that natural selection pays little heed to intelligence was explored in the 2006 comedy idiocracy, made by the creator of beavis and butthead. it has become a reference point for those who despair at what they see as relentless dumbing down of society. richard lynn of the university of ulster in the uK says our iQ has declined by one point between 1950 and 2000, which seems very small. but Michael Woodley, a psychologist at free university of brussels in belgium, said even such a small drop can mean a dramatic reduction in the number of highly intelligent people — those geniuses who are responsible for our greatest innovations.

in fact, Dr Woodley says our iQ has been in decline since victorian times, while Professor gerald Crabtree says it happened as soon as we started to live in densely populated areas with a steady supply of food — 5 000 to 12 000 years ago.

the importance of iQ trends is up for debate in itself, since iQ tests can be an unreliable measure of intelligence, skewed by education and preparation for solving certain kinds of problems.

furthermore, many experts say there are multiple forms of intelligence. While academic intelligence is important, it is often people with other qualities, such as determination and self-control, who are most successful or socially productive.

When we say we are becoming more intelligent, are we simply learning different ways of thinking?

As Dr flynn himself said: “there are other intellectual

qualities, namely, critical acumen and wisdom, that iQ tests were not designed to measure and do not measure and these are equally worthy of attention. “our obsession with iQ is one indication that rising wisdom has not characterised our time.”

Source: http://www.news.com.au/

Antioxidant Found in Red Meat, Eggs and Leafy Greens Can Help Women Fall Pregnant

Chicken eggs can aid egg production in women who want to fall pregnant, research from the University of Adelaide has found. The work has highlighted the critical role the natural antioxidant selenium plays at the earliest stages of a woman’s fertility.

selenium is a trace element found in protein rich foods such as red meat, seafood, nuts, eggs and leafy green vegetables. PhD student Melanie Ceko investigated the role and location of selenium in the ovary and a specific protein that includes selenium. the results show how important selenium is to the development of healthy ovarian follicles responsible for the production of eggs in women.

“selenium is important for many biological functions, such as immune response and thyroid hormone production, and acts as an antioxidant helping to detoxify damaging chemicals in the body. We have known for some time that selenium is important to men’s fertility, but until now, no one has researched how this element could be involved in healthy reproduction in women,” Ms Ceko said.

the research team, including Associate Professor hugh harris and Professor ray rodgers, used the Australian synchrotron in victoria to pinpoint exactly where selenium is located in the ovary. they then turned their attention to the selenoprotein known as gPX1.

“Our findings are important, because they show that selenium and selenoproteins are at elevated levels in large, healthy ovarian follicles. We suspect they play a critical role as an antioxidant during the late stages of follicle development, helping to lead to a healthy environment for the egg. We found that gene expression of GPX1 was significantly higher — in some cases double — in egg cells that yielded a pregnancy,” Ms Ceko said.

Ms Ceko emphasised that women wanting to fall pregnant should stick to a healthy, balanced diet rather than rushing to health food stores for supplements, because too much selenium can be toxic.

Selenium deficiency is not usually a problem in Western diets, although people who avoid certain food groups or eat food mainly grown on selenium-deficient soils are at risk.

“too much selenium can be toxic, so it is not just a case of taking multiple supplements — we do not know the optimum amount yet, so more research is needed,” Ms Ceko said.

she stated the recommended dietary intake of selenium is 60 to 70 micrograms a day, with an upper limit of 400 micrograms. the research is published in the international journal Metallomics and was supported by the Australian research Council and the National health and Medical research Council.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/

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Page 14: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 201414 |

Drunken Teacher Wets Himself in ClassWe are not sure what pupils were meant to learn from their teacher when he allegedly turned up drunk and wet himself.

i suppose the educator at southington high school in Connecticut, may have inadvertently taught them never to consume alcohol before work, which would have been the only positive taken from the incident. the us high school teacher had allegedly stumbled into the classroom on thursday after having one too many, which was a detail strangely left out by school officials in a letter to parents.

"they said he was a spanish teacher who came into school fairly intoxicated to the point where he soiled himself. he wet himself," an anonymous source told wwlp.com.

North Korean Parents Eating their Own ChildrenA starving man in North Korea has been executed after murdering his two children for food, reports from inside the secretive state claim. A 'hidden famine' in the farming provinces of North and South Hwanghae is believed to have killed up to 10 000 people and there are fears that incidents of cannibalism have risen.

the grim story is just one to emerge as residents battle starvation after a drought hit farms and shortages were compounded by ruling party officials confiscating food. Despite reports of the widespread famine, Kim Jong un, 30, has spent vast sums of money on two rocket launches in recent months. there are fears he is planning a nuclear test in protest of a uN security Council punishment for the recent rocket launches and to counter what he sees as us hostility.

one informant was quoted as saying: "in my village in May a man who killed his own two children and tried to eat them was executed by a

firing squad." the informant said the father

killed his eldest daughter while his wife was away on business and then killed his son because he had witnessed the murder. When his wife returned the man told her they had 'meat' but she became suspicious and contacted officials who discovered part of the children's bodies.

Jiro ishimaru, from Asia Press, which compiled a 12-page report, said: "Particularly shocking were the numerous testimonies that hit us about cannibalism." undercover reporters said food was confiscated from the two provinces and given to the residents of the capital Pyongyang. A drought then left food supplies desperately short.

the sunday times also quoted an official of the ruling Korean Worker's party as saying: "in a village in Chongdan county, a man who went mad with hunger boiled his own child, ate his flesh and was arrested."

United Nations officials visited

the area during a state-sponsored trip but local reporters said it is unlikely they were shown the famine-hit areas.

It has not been the first time that reports of cannibalism have come out of the country. in May last year, the south Korean state-run Korean Institute for National Unification said that one man was executed after eating part of a colleague and then trying to sell the remains as mutton.

one man killed and ate a girl and a third report of cannibalism was recorded from 2011.

Another man was executed in May after murdering 11 people and selling the bodies as pork.

there were also reports of cannibalism in the country's network of prison camps.

North Korea was hit by a terrible famine in the 1990s - known as the Arduous March - which killed between 240 000 and 3.5 mil people.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

After Being Driven Mad by Hunger in Famine-hit Pariah State

they added: "the kids were videotaping it and he preceded to pin a student up against the wall. he did make physical contact with a student."

there is no word yet on what has happened to the teacher but we doubt he will be returning to work.

Source: http://metro.co.uk/

WOrldWIdE

Page 15: Namib Independent Issue 126

Thursday, 20 November 2014 | 15 Motoring

Drunken Teacher Wets Himself in Class

Dangerous driving habits at 100km/h

What risky behaviour do you engage in while you are driving? New research has revealed drivers’ worst vices at about 100km/h on the UK’s busiest roads.

the survey found that 57% admitted opening a bottle and having a drink while driving, 48% change CDs, 35% have eaten a sandwich and 29% are distracted by adjusting their satnav.

in south Africa, according to Arrive Alive, distracted driving is described as "an epidemic sweeping our roads". The National Highway Traffic Administration puts cellphone use at the top of the list of our driver distractions.

DEADLY HABITSMany south African respondents in an informal survey admitted the following misbehaviour while driving at about 100km/h: putting on lipstick, doing their hair, checking their appearance in the mirror, turning around to check on children, brushing their teeth and even shaving!

According to John october, spokesman for Dial Direct: “research showed that 15% of people surveyed reached for items in the glove compartment at the same time as driving at about 100km/h. While this activity might seem innocent and actually has become commonplace, it could be deadly, as could all these other driving habits.”

local drivers claimed that because of rushing to get to work they often finished getting ready in the car.

the informal survey also revealed that eating and drinking was commonplace with many south Africans sipping their morning coffee in the car (accident waiting to happen!) or eating breakfast or lunch while on the road.

tuning on the radio or inserting a CD was another major vice for south Africans.

“it’s very important to concentrate at all times while driving by making sure that your focus is always on the road ahead. even taking your eyes off the road for just a second can cause you to have an accident,” says october.

take control of bad driving habits by following these tips: • If you use a GPS then follow voice-

activated directions.• Tune your radio, or plug in your

iPod, before you get in the car and insert any music you want to listen to before leaving home.

• Keep arguments and intense chatting for when you are not driving. Avoid this kind of interaction until you reach your destination.

• Keep youngsters occupied with electronic devices or sing-a-long CD's of their favourite music and snacks so that they do not distract you while on the road.

• If something falls into the footwell while you are driving then leave it there until you reach your destination. if you must retrieve it, pull over.

• Never text, browse the web or catch up on social media while driving. Your phone is a massive distraction so turn off the internet access on your phone while you drive.

• Use a hands free device if you cannot bear to be separated from your cell phone.

• Keep your eyes on the road at all times. if there is something that simply cannot wait, then pull over safely onto the side of the road.

Source: http://www.wheels24.co.za/

MOTOrING

Process and Project Manager

Key Responsibilities

Key Technical/Professional Competencies

Key Experiences

For our Marine Services business in Walvis Bay, Namibia, we are seeking to employ a high calibre Process and Project Manager. The Process and Project Manager is responsible for the operational management of spare parts processing, project and contract management and service administration. The role reports to the Service Centre Manager.

• Manage the customer services support teams to drive on-time delivery and responsiveness through processes that focus on cost, quality, customer satisfaction and profitability. Monitor the processes using relevant metrics and reporting and keep in close contact with the customer.

• Ensure working procedures are defined and adhered to, to maintain quality in service delivery and meet customer timescales.

• Support the coordination and development of working procedures for repair & overhaul, upgrading, and turnkey projects, including pre-calculation and invoicing in the Area

• Identify preferred suppliers for equipment, technical capability and resources required for service projects/activities. Act as the key interface for managing the supplier relationships

• Pro-actively improve, monitor and report compliance against Rolls-Royce quality management requirements (as in QMS) and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE). Prepare for and manage internal and external audits as required

• Develop manpower plans for the Back Office to support the service activities across the locations within the Area. Manage performance and training of the team

• Work with the Area finance team to ensure periodic and ad hoc financial reporting requirements are met in a timely and accurate manner. Provide commentary and background information enabling users to understand the processes in the Back Office

• Work with the Services Development Manager and Service Centre Manager to actively seek opportunities to grow and improve service delivery

• Support the implementation of CBP (Common Business Process) across services activities in-country

• Support and implement the Journey to Process Excellence (JtPE) improvement plans

• In depth knowledge of the maritime industry & market• Demonstrated management capability, preferably within the marine sector• Good verbal and written communication skills• Fluency in English• Pro-active self-starter• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant discipline

• Preferred experience working in the Marine sector• Preferred experience with Marine Products and Systems• Relevant experience in previous Service / Management roles

To apply, please submit your CV in English to Calandra Beukes: [email protected] Closing date: 30th of January 2015

Page 16: Namib Independent Issue 126

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