MIB Bulletin September - Namibian Government

Republic of Namibia

Government Information

BulletinSeptember 2007

IN Th

IS IS

Sue San are the oldest

people on earth

Page 6

OVC Policy underway

Page 11

Criteria for heroes and heroines

Page 15

Tatekulu Niilenge was among the more than 90 legends of the Namibian liberation

struggle who were conferred with honorary military ranks and medals during the Heroes’ Day commemoration on 26 August 2007 at Eenhana in the Ohangwena region by the President of the Republic of Namibia, H E Hifikepunye Pohamba. Tatekulu Niilenge received the honours as one of the pioneers of the liberation struggle of Namibia.

Namibia was engaged in a protracted war against apartheid colonialism that lasted for more than two decades, under the umbrella of the South West African Peoples’ Organisation (SWAPO) – a liberation movement that brought about the country’s independence on 21 March 1990.

Tatekulu Niilenge joined SWAPO in 1964 and he was initially involved in the distribution of membership cards and dissemination of information about SWAPO to the local communities. He later joined the South West Africa Liberation Army (SWALA) – SWAPO’s military wing that preceded the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) in 1965 when he was 69 years old.

He received his first military training at Otamazi, specialising in infantry. At 70, takekulu Niilenge was part of the first fighters who participated in the battle that marked the first step of the armed liberation struggle against the South African apartheid military force at Omungulu Wombashe, in northern Namibia.

According to a booklet: Trails and Tribulations of the Pioneers of the Struggle for the Liberation of Namibia 1960 – 1973, (2007), published by the Ministry of Defense in Windhoek, tatekulu

Niilenge was captured in 1966 and incarcerated in prison in Pretoria, South Africa. Two years later, he was found guilty under the Terrorism Act in the Pretoria court and sentenced to life imprisonment and banished to Robben Island where South African political icon, Nelson Mandela, had been imprisoned for close to three decades.

Tatekulu Niilenge was released from Robben Island in May 1984 at the age of 90 years, together with one of the living legends of the Namibian liberation struggle, Herman Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, who spent fifteen years on Robben Island.

Like most of the men who joined the struggle for independence, tatekulu Niilenge had worked in the central part of the country.He is 17 months older than Japan’s Tomoji Tanabe, claimed to be the world’s oldest man who celebrated his 112 years on September 18, 2007.

Tatekulu Niilenge returned to his home at Elondo, from Robben Island, where he reunited with his wife, Petrina Eeru, his children and relatives. His wife died a year later. He had 8 children, five of who are still alive. His last born is 18 years old and lives with him at his homestead at Elondo. It is estimated that tatekulu Niilenge is a grandfather of more than 20 grandchildren.

When he returned to his motherland, tatekulu Niilenge began to organise meetings with learners in his community to educate them about the political situation in their country. Tatekulu Niilenge lives about 8 kilometres from Outapi. The old man is in good health

and enjoys eating all kinds of the Oshiwambo traditional food such as pap, meat, fresh and dried spinach and drinks the non- alcoholic oshikundu (a traditional soft drink made out of a mixture of millet and sorghum flour). In addition, the family tries to get some fresh food for him from shops whenever they can afford it. Although he has lost memory of some events, friends and members of the community, including teachers continue to seek wisdom on the political history of his time. Mpingana Simon Niitembu is tatekulu Niilenge’s great grand niece (his sister’s grand daughter). She is 25 years old and elected

Tatekulu Wilhelm Shinima Niilenge “aka” Shelengane was born on 06 April 1894. He is still alive at 113 years and living in a village called Elondo in Uukwaludhi in the Omusati region in northern Namibia. Born before the turn of the 19th century at Okalonda village in Uukwaludhi, tatekulu Niilenge has lived across three centuries.

Colonel Wilhelm Shinima Niilenge “aka” Shelengane

The world’s oldest man is 113 years and Namibian

By Kaleni Hiyalwa

Continues on page 19

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Government Information Bulletin: Publicising GovernmentThe Government Information Bulletin was established through Cabinet Decision Number 13th/04.07.06/002 as an official information bulletin to publicise the Government’s programmes, policies and activities for the benefit of Government institutions and the Namibian public. All Government institutions contribute towards the Bulletin. The Government Information Bulletin is published monthly by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. To meet the specific information needs of communities, the public is invited to send

comments and suggestions on Government projects, programmes and policies, which will then be covered in the Bulletin. More Government news and information can also be accessed on the GRN News button on the Government Internet site at www.grnnet.gov.na

Private Bag 13344, Windhoek, Telephone 061 x 2839111, Fax 061 x 230170, E-mail [email protected].

The Bulletin is distributed free of charge to rural communities through the Ministry’s different regional offices.

The public and organisations are welcome to subscribe to the Bulletin, but mailing costs will be for the account of the subscriber. Design DV8 Saatchi & Saatchi, Windhoek.Layout Solitaire Press, Windhoek. and printing

From the Desk of the MinisterThis is a season that we, as Namibians, pay tribute to our heroes and heroines. It is a time to honour their work of selflessness and dedication to socio-political and cultural justice.

Our memories of their deeds can be preserved in many

ways. The establishment of memorial shrines and tombs in the country are some of the ways we can keep the memories of our heroes and heroines in our midst. Now that we are free and independent, it is time to organise ourselves, designate places and venues in our country where we

will bury our people with dignity and respect. At these places, we can converge, as a nation, at any time, to honour and pay respect to the people who have performed extraordinary work for the good of humanity.

Today we have named some of our streets, schools, sport stadiums, public parks, buildings, ships, trains, railway stations, and other places, after our respected heroes and heroines. It is an attempt to inculcate these names in our memories. However, we have a great responsibility ahead of us, as a nation. These names should not remain as street signs and building names. We need to record, write and document our country’s history by making known the significance of the course of lives of our people that necessitated the respect accorded to them. We have a responsibility to account and chronicle their roles and contributions they made for mankind.

Keeping records of our heroes and heroines do not only reinforce our dignity and integrity but also that our values will be guided by the motto of unity, liberty and justice. We will learn to embrace the fact that Namibia, as a multi-cultural society, needs to forge mutual understanding and a norm of peaceful co-existence and solidarity among its people.

As a nation that exists among nations of the African continent, Namibia has been named after one of the streets of Addis Ababa, the diplomatic capital of Ethiopia. This gives us a sense of belonging to a family of the African Unity (AU). Namibia Road in Addis Ababa makes Namibia visible among other Pan-African countries that are striving to forge unity.

Namibia is one of the few countries where the inhabitants are considered to be the oldest people on earth. The San people have lived since the Late Stone Age. Apart from being the oldest inhabitants of Namibia, they are also the poorest and most marginalised. They need to be assisted and be brought to the same living standard in terms of socio-economic development.

According to records, Namibia is a mother to the world’s oldest man, tatekulu Wilhelm Shinima Niilenge. Tatekulu Niilenge is 113 years old – more than a year older than Japan’s Tomoji Tanabe, reported to be the world’s oldest man in The Namibia of 19 September 2007. This means that longevity is not remote but part of the Namibian natural life.

ContentsThe world’s oldest man is 113 years and Namibian................ 1

From the desk of the Minister................................................. 2

Heroes’ Acre, memorial shrines, graves and

cemeteries in Namibia............................................................. 3

Namibia in Pictures................................................................. 4

Outstanding work of war veterans rewarded......................... 5

Modern-day Namibian culture in paying homage to

heroes and heroines................................................................ 5

San are the oldest people on earth......................................... 6

Amathila blasts alcohol sellers and exploiters of

San people............................................................................... 7

Amathila passionate about the San Development

Programme despite persistent anomalies

within San communities.......................................................... 7

Amathila on San Development tour of

Otjozondjupa region................................................................ 8

Media legislation consultation................................................. 9

Retooling the Public Service.................................................... 9

MPs watch HIV/AIDS video to promote lifestyle change........ 10

Gender Ministry donates blankets to kindergartens............... 10

African Women Ministers and Parliamentarians

met in Windhoek..................................................................... 10

OVC Policy underway............................................................... 11

ETSIP and ODL practical and realistic..................................... 11

Namibia Road at the heart of Addis Ababa............................. 12

Norwegian Parliamentarians explore Namibian fisheries....... 13

Government Liaison Officers sharpen skills............................ 13

Residents of Tsumeb cry loud on crime................................... 14

MTC opened new headquarter............................................... 14

Progress in constructing houses for Robben Island prisoners,

plan, war veterans and the brutalized persons....................... 15

Criteria for heroes and heroines.............................................. 15

African countries must vigorously pursue

scientific education................................................................. 16

FIFA World Cup, African Cup of Nations 2010 and

regional intergration will benefit Namibia’s economy............ 16

Etosha National Game Park is at a crossroad of a century...... 17

Etosha celebrates 100 years.................................................... 18

Walvis Bay Airport close to international Standard................ 19

Negotiations on a Bilateral Air Service Agreement

between Namibia and Ethiopia............................................... 20

Government orders closure of US Security Company.............. 20

Hon. N. Nandi-Ndaitwah

2

Government Information Bulletin September 2007

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Apart from the Heroes’ Acre, which was inaugurated in 2002, in Windhoek, as a common resting place for the national heroes and heroines who sacrificed their precious lives in the liberation struggle against colonialism, cemeteries have been erected in other parts of the country where the amateurs from the resistance struggle have been buried. Annual commemoration events take place at the memorial cemeteries at Okahandja, Omaruru and Okombahe, among others, in remembrance of some of the traditional personalities and leaders of the resistance struggle against the German occupation of Namibia.

The newly built shrine at Eenhana marks the first step on the road to decentralise

national memorial places to different parts of the country, as not all the national heroes and heroines would be able to be buried at the Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek. This decentralisation is envisaged to give citizens an opportunity to be able to come together to pay homage to their heroes and heroines at shrines closer to them. The opportunity is also aimed at restoring a sense of pride in all citizens who will need to visit these monumental places. Equally so, the young and future generations, from all walks of life of the Namibian nation, will have the opportunity to understand the historical experiences of their forefathers and mothers.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba unveiled the memorial shrine at Eenhana during the 2007 Heroes’ Day commemoration, 41 years after the start of the armed liberation struggle on 26 August 1966. In his keynote address, the President said the government has decided that if the remains of “our heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle are discovered in future, such remains will be buried at the locality where they are found”.

According to a Cabinet decision taken in August 2007, the Heroes’ Acre is not a cemetery but only persons who have been conferred the country’s two highest honours shall be entitled to be buried there. It is also expected that the heroes and heroines who are yet to be made in the struggle for socio-economic upliftment and social justice will be laid to rest in the shrines, countrywide. The nation will continue to make these heroes and heroines as President Pohamba envisages it: “We must endeavour to create more heroes and heroines whose contributions will be measured in terms of social upliftment of our communities, creation of employment, opportunities for our people, improvement of the standards of living of our people and the achievement of our development goals and objectives.”

The President also observed that the shrine at Eenhana was not a regional tomb but a national memorial since PLAN combatants whose remains are buried there comprise of Namibians from different parts of the country. “The remains buried there belong to sons and daughters from different parts of Namibia who fought under the banner of SWAPO,” said President Pohamba, who is also the SWAPO Vice-President.Namibians were engaged in the anti-colonial resistance and armed struggle for national liberation against foreign domination of the German and South African colonialists for

more than a century. The apartheid war machinery was built up throughout the country, particularly in the northern parts of the country with a view to counter attack the SWAPO freedom fighters and to contain support from the civilians.

Many Namibian sons and daughters went into exile in protest of subjugation, suppression and oppression by the colonial regime. Some of the people who fought from within the country endured hardships such as torture, imprisonment, detention and many others were murdered, massacred and maimed.

Many of the Namibian warriors have not been buried in dignified graves and cemeteries. Some of them are buried in shallow and mass graves, both inside and outside Namibia while some of them remain unburied and some of the remains are still not identified so that their names and identities could be attributed appropriately. For instance, the remains of Brendan Simbwaye, a Namibian brave warrior and others have not been found to date.

President Pohamba strongly believes that the country is confronted by the horrors perpetrated against Namibians at the hands of the apartheid regime. “Many sons and daughters of Namibia, cardres of PLAN, are today lying in unmarked graves. It is even more painful to note that some of those who fell in battle were not buried. Their remains are lying in the valleys, forests and hills both inside and outside Namibia,” he added..For more than a century, during which time Namibians were engaged in wars of resistance and the liberation struggle, people did not have an opportunity to burry or be involved in the decision-making and choice of the burial places of the many fallen country men and women. After independence, the nation has begun to accord those who sacrificed their precious lives descent burials to honour their contributions to the anti-colonial and liberation struggle. It has come as a relief when President Pohamba

noted: “We are, however, consoled by the fact that today we have just carried out a dignified reburial of our heroes and heroines whose remains were discovered in mass graves here at Eenhana and in surrounding villages.”

Despite the fact that Namibia has established common memorial places for the brave amateurs of the resistance and struggle for independence, many of the heroes, heroines and leaders are buried in scattered cemeteries and graves around the country and abroad. For instance, Captein Hendrik Witbooi is buried in a lone cemetery at Vaalgras in the south of the country, Captain Jan Jonker Afrikaner is buried at Tsoabis and Jonker Afrikaner is buried in Okahandja’s Lutheran Church grave yard, King Mandume ya Ndemufayo’s two memorials reside at Oihole and in Windhoek. Other heroes, such as Jacob Marengo, Chief Hosea Kutako and Rev. Theofelus Hamutumbangela are all buried in different cemeteries in different parts of the country. The mass graves at Cassinga, Ondeshifiilwa and others are other memorial places that must be engraved into the Namibian history records.

The majority of these heroes and heroines are considered to be part of those buried at the Heroes Acre. These may include the brave warriors of the liberation struggle who died and were laid to rest in foreign countries, especially Zambia and Angola. Some of these fighters were late Jonas Haiduwa and Abisai Hanghome, Deputy Comanders of the Military Council of the South West Africa Liberation Army (SWALA) which was replaced by PLAN of SWAPO, who died in exile.

Part of the crowd that witnessed the unveiling of the Shrine at Eenhana

Heroes’ Acre, memorial shrines, graves and cemeteries in Namibia

By Kaleni Hiyalwa

4


Namibia in Pictures

Veterans paying respect to comrades A war veteran being honoured for outstanding work

The shared rich cultural heritage of Namibia, Botswana and South Africa

More than 30 000 people attended the Heroes’ Day 2007 at Eenhana

Wreath laid at the Shrine at Eenhana The first women member of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) receiving a medal from President Hifikepunye Pohamba

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Outstanding work of war veterans rewardedBy Kaleni Hiyalwa

The conferment of honorary military ranks and medals on Namibian veterans of the liberation struggle by President Hifikepunye Pohamba at Eenhana in the Ohangwena region on 2007 Heroes’ Day did not come as a surprise. The awards resulted from hard work of the sons and daughters who relentlessly dedicated their time, energy, blood and lives to the course of freedom and national sovereignty. Although the struggle they waged was bitter and costly, they fought on till victory.

When the pioneers of the struggle had given their first steps on a long walk to

freedom, they were determined to dedicate their lives for the good of all people of Namibia. They have selflessly given up all they had to fight for justice, not only for themselves, but also to liberate all the oppressed, exploited and enslaved masses of the Namibian nation.

In the foreword of a booklet: Trails and Tribulations of the Pioneers of the Struggle for the Liberation of Namibia 1960 – 1973, (2007), published by the Ministry of Defense, President Pohamba said that the pioneers of SWALA “waded rivers of blood, traveled long journeys, endured hunger and thirst and sacrificed their lives in the fight for the liberation of what is today a free and independent Namibia”. There were few mentors of the national liberation struggle at the time in addition to those who resisted foreign colonial domination. But they decided to pursue their goal by paving the way for the independence of their country, come sun or rain.

People like John Otto Nankudhu, known by the combat name, Koshiwanda, together with others, were some of the first people to receive professional military training from abroad. Using his talent and initiatives, Nankudhu had established one of the first military training camps for SWAPO in Kongwa, Tanzania in 1964.

More then 90 war veterans were conferred with honorary and military ranks and medals

John Otto Nankudhu, one of the beneficiaries of honorary ranks and medals

A skilled Nankudhu had used his ability, capacity and technique, as the mobilisation and training commander of the South West Africa Liberation Army (SWALA) of SWAPO, when he returned to Namibia, to mobilise the people to rally for the struggle against oppression and colonialism and trained new coverts in the process. He led a group of six fighters, including Patrick Iiyambo “Lungada”, the then SWALA Intelligence Commander and Secretary. By then, the plan to launch an armed struggle was already underway as a result of the colonialists’ defiance of the United Nations’ efforts to negotiate self-determination to the people of the then South West Africa.

Nankudhu also embarked on establishing camps for SWAPO fighters in places such as Otamazi, Uuvudhiya and Omugulu Wombashe. It was during his activities in northern Namibia that the militant was captured by the South African enemy and was imprisoned in Pretoria. In 1968, Nankudhu was prosecuted and sentenced to life imprisonment at Robben Island prison where he was incarcerated until November 1985 and finally released from prison in December 1985.

Having been trained in guerilla warfare tactics abroad, the SWAPO warriors in making set out from Tanzania on 04 March 1965, walking on foot, through trails and thick bushes of the Zambian and Angolan terrains.

There are three graveyards in Okahandja where most of the otjiserandu and otjingirine groups converge to pray for good luck and for other things, such as rain from the ancestors, among others, and pay homage to the late Chief Samuel Maharero and late Chief Kahimemua Nguvauva. Rituals and respect are expressed through warrior praise songs and eulogies.

Modern-day Namibian culture in paying homage to heroes and heroines

By Kaleni Hiyalwa

Experience taught us that the great attachment to the annual commemoration at Okahandja memorial shrines and elsewhere in the country is that people go and listen to the elders about who the heroes were, what kind of life they had led, their contributions and roles to humanity and what had happened to them. This gives generations a chance to understand and know their demonstrated bravery in their war against foreign occupation and roles they played in the fight for social justice in their communities. Namibians witnessed the 81st observation of the White Flag Day on the 7 October 2007 at the Ozongungu at Omaruru. As they paid homage to their forefathers, the Ovaherero/Ovambanderru/Ovahimba event was ushered with traditional songs and dance.Namibia has chosen to commemorate Heroes’ Day annually at a national level in a rotation approach, once in 13 years per region. The event is often marked by holding commemoration rallies or public meetings. The

nature of songs, dance and praise songs or eulogies is often related to those sung during the liberation struggle and different cultural dances have been the practice at public meetings marking the commemoration day.

Namibians will converge at Heroes’ Acre, at various shrines and cemeteries to commemorate Heroes’ Day where a moment of silence will be observed as a norm to pay respect to those who have died for good of humanity in addition to the Christian religious prayers conducted at every start and end of the commemoration events. National anthems also form part of the observance.

Part of the traditional memorial tributes in some of the African cultures and other places in the world include visits to shrines or heroes’ worshiping places, ritual performance and prayers for rain, good luck, peace, stability and God’s/gods’ blessings.

A wreath laid at the Shrine



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Continue on page 18

San are the oldest people on earthBy Helmut Angula

The San are the world’s oldest people, existing since the late Stone Age more than 20 000 years ago. According to historic evidence, the San have lived everywhere in the world including Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Africa. However, they seem to have survived to date in Africa, especially in the Southern part of Africa.

The San people are known to live in Angola, Botswana and Namibia, South Africa and

Zimbabwe. They live a nomadic life whereby they engaged in gathering fruits and collecting roots of trees. San people have been, since the arrival of the Dutch at the Cape in 1652, derogatively known as Bosjesmannes while the British call them Bushmen. They are said to belong to the Khoi-Khoi groups not only because of the ‘click’ languages they speak but also because of the original rock paintings and engraving artistic work they have exhibited.

Below is an extract of a history of the San people which could be interesting for the readers.

Tracing the history of the San, Namibia’s first inhabitants

Summary:

The present-day San communities in Namibia are regarded as descendants of a late Stone Age people tracing their origins back nearly 20 000 or more years. Helmut Angula looks at the existing literature relevant to this pre-history and attempts to demystify the racist interpretations which downgrade the importance of the San people’ ancestors and the sophistication of their artistic and spiritual culture, not only in Africa, but in Europe and the Middle East as well. As such, the ancient history of the San, argues Helmut Angula, is critical for humanity’s understanding of itself, yet the colonial genocide against the San communities and the current South African colonial war in Namibia is ruining the possibilities of the world understanding that history.

Introduction

The study of the question of Namibia from a pre-historic perspective is a difficult and challenging task. Much of the literature tends to confine itself with the immediate pre-colonial period. In that way the whole history of Namibia becomes restricted to colonial history. This attitude is partly intentional and sometimes unintentional.

Intentional in the sense that the European colonizers are usually happy to have it on record that they discovered that territory in a state of vacuum, this being the justification for the usurpation. And it is not rare to find that Africans are ashamed of writing about the ancient history of Africa, for they have been indoctrinated to hate the pre-history of their continent. This is actually a problem of their utter ignorance of Africa’s and in particular Namibia’s contribution to human development.

However, this neglect is also unintentional, for the pre-historic period is ignored because those for whom it might be in their interest to dig up the past, are often currently engaged in struggles for national liberation. Therefore,

colonial denunciation is the prime target of our current literary work.

This paper is an extract from a book, yet to be completed, about the history of Namibia, embracing both antiquity and the modern period. The history of Namibia is the history of social interrelations between and within the Khoi-Khoi and San, then between and within the S a n - K h o i - K h o i and Damaras, and between and within the above and the Bantu peoples. Finally, it has become the history of social interaction between and within all Africans on the one hand, and the European invaders on the other. It is a history of inter-communal merger and/or rivalry, sometimes marked by internecine warfare. But above all it is a history of material and cultural development, of refinement full of social contradiction for that matter. It seems, therefore, logical to start by asking: who exactly were the San people?

Namibia has been the home of the San people, derogatively known as the Bushmen. In physical appearance they are of a small stature, yellow to light brown in skin colour and have black, peppercorn hair. Their traditional social organisation is nomadic and they construct only temporary shelters, usually from tree bark, palisades or grass.

They now live mainly in the Kalahari, and the areas stretching from Grootfontein to the Kavango river, and far into the Caprivi and the whole of Ovambo region. In the past and today, the San have intermarried with Ovambo people, but as a general rule San women married rich Ovambo men. As in the past, the San communities still mostly lead a food-gatherer and hunter mode of life. Much of the Stone Age art, stone painting and engravings found in Namibia today is probably the work of Stone Age San peoples.

It was the Dutch, when commencing the conquest of the southern tip of the African continent at the Cape in 1652, who coined the name Bosjesmannes, which when translated means ‘forest men’, ‘men of the thicket’, etc., and which British colonialists transformed into ‘Bushmen’. The Khoi-Khoi called them ‘the San men’.

They were termed Ba-roa by the Sothos, while the Zulus and the Hereros called them Abatua and Ovadorotua respectively, and Aakwankala,

by the Ovambos. However it appears that they call themselves Khuai (apron), the name currently applied to the hypertrophy of the San female pudendum’s outer folds of the labia (labia majora), known to Europeans as the natural apron of the ‘Hottentots’. One writer who has studied the San believes that this so-called tablier egyptien was a noted feature of the shape of the women of Ancient Egypt and was referred to in records of the Second Dynasty. The men were said to have been born, lived and died with their sexual organs in a semi-erect position.

The San men apparently accepted it as the most important difference between themselves and other men. They gave themselves the name Qhwai-xkhwe, which openly proclaims this fact. San men even painted themselves all over the rocks of Africa in naked silhouette plainly demonstrating this distinguishing feature. This was not done with obscene intent however, which some European archaeologists have assumed, but simply because their San God, in the great smithy of Africa, had forged them naked and unashamed, just like that.

Notwithstanding this apparent form of identity the San do indeed now also call themselves by the name San, a word which originally meant hoarding, collecting fruits, digging roots and capturing animals. Anthropological studies tend to classify the San people with Khoi-Khoi people in a ‘Khoisan race’.

This no doubt comes by extrapolation from linguistic classification, which places the languages of the San and the Khoi-Khoi in a single family, characterised by the use of phonetic ‘clicks’. Actually, the term Khoisan, suggested by Shapera and now adopted in many works, is a combination of two Khoi-Khoi words: khoi meaning man, and san, the root of sa which means to gather edible plants, pull up roots, collect fruits, and also to capture small animals.

San are the oldest people on earth

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Amathila blasts alcohol sellers and exploiters of San people

By Kaleni Hiyalwa

During her recent tour to Otjozondjupa region to visit San community projects, Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Libertina Amathila, angrily warned alcohol sellers and shebeen owners who are exploiting San people by stripping off their monthly pension incomes to stop the practice. The Deputy Premier was disappointed that people who have settled among San communities from elsewhere in the country are stripping off the scanty incomes of the poor San people. She noted that the government was working very hard to assist the San people to uplift their standard of living, but others are finding in them a lucrative opportunity.

The Deputy Premier is not happy that business people have established shebeens and alcohol outlets close to where the San people live to rob off their pension money. The government monthly grant is aimed at addressing the plight of poor San people.

The Deputy Prime Minister blames the excessive use of alcohol, among the San communities, on the non-San people who have established shebeens close to their settlements. She says that shebeen owners are deliberately targeting the San people’s pension money.

There are currently 27 shebeens in Tsumkwe alone, of which only two are registered. The Deputy Premier is also disheartened that people think that democracy is about the building of shebeens. She implores the government to stand up to protect the destitute communities against intake of excessive alcohol and to stop the mushrooming of shebeens in the San communities. She notes that the San people’s “pension money goes straight to shebeens”, adding that they are lured and tempted to develop a habit of indulging in alcohol.

Dr. Amathila notes that there is a need to take a strong step if destitute communities are to be protected. “We are not implementing our own

laws such as the Liquor Act. The government needs to stand up to resolve the situation,” she added.Like other population groups, San people of 60 years and above receive a pension grant of N370.00 from the government to alleviate poverty among them. Having been exploited and relegated to the background in terms of socio-economic and cultural survival by the colonial apartheid system, the San people rarely own any property or means of production. Many years after independence they are still the most marginalised communities in the country and they continue to live in deplorable economic conditions.

In an effort to find a solution, the government, through the Office of the Prime Minister, has set up a deliberate effort, the San Development Programme, to ensure that San people receive assistance and support from the government,

individuals, businesses and other development partners. The efforts are geared towards initiating development programmes in their communities.

Since 2005, the Deputy Prime Minister has been spearheading the San Development Programme to cater for their needs in terms of setting up income and wealth generating projects to ensure the survival of the people

San Community

Amathila passionate about the San Development Programme despite persistent anomalies within

San CommunitiesBy Kaleni Hiyalwa

San girl children in their beautiful attire

The San Development Programme is unshakable in keeping to its objective to improve the living standards of San people. The Government Information Bulletin spoke to the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Hon. Libertina Amathila, on the situation facing the San people.

The Deputy Premier observed that although the programme has not yet achieved the desired goals, in general, it is playing an important role in the lives of the San people.

Since its inception in November 2005, the San Development Programme has kept in check the rate at which San learners were dropping out of schools. More San kids and learners are today attending school. The programme has initiated five pre-schools in the Ohangwena region. Dr. Amathila, who is also the Patron of the five pre-schools, noted that the rate of drop-out among school going children is now relatively stable.

In the majority of schools in the San communities, there are mostly classes from grade one up to five or six. After completing grade five, learners move to schools in neigbouring areas to continue their education or drop-out of school all together and stay at home. Not withstanding, when learners move to other schools in other areas, they end up dropping out of school too, due to poverty. Since San learners are coming from destitute families, they often cannot afford paying school fees and get provisions such as soap and other necessities to take to school. They often find



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Amathila on San Development tour of Otjozondjupa region

The Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Libertina Amathila continues to solicit support for the San Development Programme since Cabinet directed the Office of the Prime Minister to spearhead the development of the marginalised San people in 2005.

Since then the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has helped establish numerous

small projects among the San communities to make sure that they too become part of the general economic mainstream.

Projects set up under the San Development Programme include scholarships for San learners, provision of animals and seeds, employment opportunities, a bee-keeping project, early childhood development centres, San women projects, resettlement programmes, coffin manufacturing, conservancies and donations.

On her recent tour of the Otjozondjupa region to visit the projects, the Deputy Prime Minister inaugurated yet another project, aquaculture farming as a pilot project. Depending on the success of the aquaculture farming, Dr. Amathila promised to approach the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to establish

more projects of the kind among the San communities. She added that “if this current pond is managed well, I will further request the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to establish more ponds in this area so that more harvesting can take place”.

Depending on its success, the aquaculture pilot project will be replicated to other San communities in various regions.

Officiating the inauguration of the project, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that she had noticed, on her previous visits, that there was potential of aquaculture faming for the San communities in the region as a way of poverty alleviation. “There is no doubt that aquaculture farming can contribute to poverty alleviation and employment creation and we should extend the involvement of our San people as they are the most marginalised people of our country,” she said.

The aquaculture farming project came about as a result of the initiatives and participation of the people themselves. Because of their efforts, the Otjozondjupa Regional Council allocated some funds to assist in the clean up operation

in addition to the programme’s funds for renovation and the technical support the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has provided.

The Grootfontein Army Base has donated 400 fingerlings (tilapia) to stock the aquaculture fish pond at Okatjoruu. Fifteen San people have been trained as care-takers of the pond and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources office at Rundu will pay monthly visits to the pond to monitor the progress and give support.

“I call upon the care-takers to take their supervision of this pond serious, and make

sure that when harvesting comes, everyone benefits. Communities with means must buy the fish so that this project can generate some income for the San community and become self sustainable,” Dr. Amathila said.

San children paying attention

President Pohamba pays a visit at San’s homestead at Ekoka, in the Ohangwena region

The Deputy Prime Miinister said that the Otjozondjupa region has rallied behind the San Development Programme from inception and this has enforced the efforts of the government to the region to support more projects, such as the coffin manufacturing, feeding kitchen pilot project and school and transport fees to learners from the settlement to go to school at Goblenz Junior Secondary School. The Office of the Prime Minister is also planning to support a gardening project in the area on land which has already been allocated by the traditional leaders to the programme.

The Deputy Prime Minister urged the Otjozondjupa regional Council and traditional leaders to take up the challenge to give their support to all the projects and assist the government to uplift the standard of living of the people. She observed that government alone cannot alleviate poverty among the marginalised people. “We must, as a nation, urgently and vigorously address the socio-economic disparities, caused by underdevelopment and exclusion,” she reiterated. Dr. Amathila also implored development partners and other government ministries to join the noble course with the aim to achieve Vision 2030.

The San are probably the most pristine inhabitants, not only of Namibia, but of the African continent. Anthropologists believe them to be descendants of a Late Stone Age people who roamed southern Africa at least 30 000 years ago.

Some skeletal remains of so-called Bushmen have been found in deposits of the Stone Age. They are thought to have maintained close parental ties with the Khoi-Khoi in their ancestral lineage.

San are the oldest people on earth Continues from page 6

Nevertheless, the origin of the San people is a matter of controversy amongst notable scientific researchers. Some of these scholars have assumed that the migration of the San and their associates proceeded in the remote past southwards from the Great Lakes of east-central Africa. Yet others have maintained that the migratory process actually took place from the Mediterranean southwards, and from even further north in Europe. There are also scholars who assume that migration took a

northward course from Central Africa, their ancient home, after which they descended to southern Africa. Some researchers attempt to ascribe the San’s origin to Hittites, Australians, Hamites and Asiatics.

This extract is a historical perspective from: Namibia 1884 - 1984 Readings on Namibia’s history and Society, (1988), Namibia Support Committee in co-operation with the United Nations Institute for Namibia, London and Lusaka

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Media legislation ConsultationThe Namibian government believes that freedom of expression and access to information will lead to greater transparency and accountability, good governance and the strengthening of democracy and should not be used as breeding ground for insecurity. These were the words of the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah who was speaking at a stakeholders’ consultation on the audit of media legislation in Namibia in Windhoek on 19 September 2007.

The consultation meeting was attended by editors and senior media managers. Minister

Nandi-Ndaitwah explained that freedom of expression and access to information and the protection of sources are seen as the three main pillars supporting good governance and helping in the fight against corruption.

She said that the government is ready to invest resources in the development of an information policy, which has long been awaited to replace the outdated information policy of 1991. The policy will be guided by the outcome of the conference on ethics and the promotion of good governance of 1998 that dealt with

issues concerning access to information and the protection of whistleblowers. The recommendations from this conference were presented to and adopted by Cabinet.

To make the information policy effective and implementable, the guidelines will be laid against time and actions, which will be addressed by responsible authorities, institutions or organizations and will address the provisions of the instruments that Namibia is party to such as the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport and the Declaration of Principles of Freedom of Expression of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The consultation

follows the presentation of the audit of media legislation in Namibia, commissioned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and facilitated by the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation (FES). The aim was to examine all media legislation in the country and how they relate and can function in relation to each other. This would allow for the law reform process to put issues into perspective.

While the audit indicated that there is a need for media legislation that capture issues of freedom of expression, media pluralism and access to information, it also recommended that the country’s information policy be reformed.

Retooling the Public ServicePrime Minister Nahas Angula evaluated the current management and administration in the Namibian Public Service as reactive, complacent and blame apportioning driven, instead of goal oriented and achievement driven.

He stated his vision for the Public Service as objective and milestone driven with

deepening of delivery systems based on sharpening of administration and management systems. “Clearly defined objectives and milestones ensure effective resource allocation and tasks assignment,” the Premier observed.

The Rt. Hon. Angula was critical of the functioning of the Namibian Public Service during a special briefing on 30 July 2007 when he redeployed some key Principal Officers/Permanent Secretaries to “critical challenges facing Namibia”. In his briefing, he saw the need to re-focus operations in the Public Service delivery systems with the aim to identify core functions and time-lines in public institutions’ co-functions and subsidiary functions. He urged public offices, such as ministries and agencies to develop measurable strategic plans to be backed up by performance measurable procedures with a view to ensure accountability in the Public Service. For the government to deliver efficient, effective and accountable services to the populace, it must retool the machinery, deepen the delivery strategies and refocus operations. A functioning administration and management system is expected to identify core functions and develop flagship programmes which would command the necessary resources for their delivery. The Prime Minister cited time as the most important resource in the delivery of services. “Time management and unreserved commitment is crucial to service delivery to the people. The focus in public administration and management should, therefore, be on efficient resources allocation and on time on tasks,” he said.

The Premier noted that a strategic plan with clear objectives, adequate resource allocation and time lines for implementation ensures efficient, effective and accountable service delivery.

The following redeployments were effected:

1. The Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Steve Katjiuanjo, has moved to the Ministry of Justice and Office of the Attorney-General;

2. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Office of Attorney-General, Ms. Lidwina Shapwa, has moved to the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement;

3. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, Mr. Frans Tsheehama, has moved to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources;

4. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Adv. Nangula Mbako, has moved to the office of the Prime Minister;

5. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Dr. Malan Lindeque, has moved to the Ministry of Trade and Industry;

6. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr. Andrew Ndishishi, has moved to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry;

7. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Mr. K. S. M. Kahuure, has moved to the Ministry of Health and Social Services;

8. The Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, has moved to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism;

9. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ms. Loini-Nyanyukweni Katoma, has moved to the Office of the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretariat in the President’s Office; and10. Mr. Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana has moved to the Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana Permanent Secretary,

Ministry of Informations and Broadcasting

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting from the Cabinet Secretariat in the Office of the President.

The Prime Minister described the deployment as the first step in the government’s drive towards ensuring on-going quantitative and qualitative improvement in the performance of all public offices. He said that Permanent Secretaries would now henceforth be subjected to performance indicators to serve as yardstick to determine if the level of output of services agreed upon has been delivered, whether deadlines have been met and whether the expected levels of output have been reached.

In the journey to meet the above challenges, Permanent Secretaries and Ministers are expected to work together in making crucial choices with regard to national development priorities, while ensuring continuity.

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MPs watch HIV/AIDS video to promote lifestyle change

By: Hileni Amakali-Mudhika

In an effort to draw support for behavioural change in Namibian communities and to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting organised a special screening event of an HIV/AIDS video for Members of Parliament (MPs) in July 2007, at the Nampower Convention Centre.

The 25-minute video, tells the story of a 19 year old model and student, Nelao

Martin from the Onguti Secondary School near Ondangwa, who fell pregnant and discovered that she was HIV positive. She gave birth to an HIV positive baby. Nelao was at the video show and freely answered Parliamentarians’ questions.

Nelao today spends her time creating awareness among fellow learners and various Namibian communities on the pandemic, which has claimed many lives and is still raging like wild fire. Information and Broadcasting (MIB) Minister, Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in her introductory remarks described Nelao as a “vibrant and courageous young woman” who has encouraged others to know their HIV status. Hon. Nandi-Ndaitwah told her fellow MPs that she has reliably learnt that Nelao’s openness to discussions in various parts of the country, including the Caprivi Region where

she had launched the video shows in August 2006, has yielded good results. “Many people whom Nelao has talked to have immediately decided to be tested to know their HIV status and behave accordingly,” she said. The purpose of showing the HIV/AIDS video to Parliamentarians was to reinforce efforts to design and conduct HIV/AIDS interventions and implement comprehensive Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) programmes in their areas of operation.

It is also aimed at challenging Parliamentarians to lead an exemplary life to the nation and to inform lawmakers to create appropriate laws to influence the budgeting process in favour of implementing HIV/AIDS initiatives.

Other interventions, Hon. Nandi- Ndaitwah said, include encouraging those who are HIV positive to seek prompt treatment, care and counselling. She appealed to Parliamentarians

to take advantage of the on- going mobilisation activities instituted by community leaders, faith- based organisations, NGOs, and community- based organisations.

“We need to support actions aimed at reducing high risk situations or to alleviate suffering associated with AIDS,” she said. She also cautioned that behaviour change initiatives that target rural communities should be approached with a cultural sensitivity to influence individual decisions. “In seeking to modify sexual behaviour, we need to consider the complex context of socio- cultural norms,” she observed. According to the Campaign Development Coordinator and Exhibitions Manager, Fednedy Kabunga, the Take Control Division in the MIB and other stakeholders will continue to support Nelao financially to enable her to run social mobilisation, communications and behaviour change campaigns,

Gender Ministry donates blankets to kindergartensBy: Hileni Amakali-Mudhika

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has donated blankets to six kindergartens in the Khomas region in July 2007. The aim was to keep the kids warm at schools, as this year’s winter presented surprising chilly mornings. Two hundred and fifteen children from kindergartens, located on private farms outside Windhoek, benefited from this exercise.

A total of 94 blankets and nine carpets worth N$ 6 681.50 were bought and

physically distributed to six of the targeted 8 kindergartens under the Integrated Early Childhood Development (IECD) Programme.

The team distributed the blankets and carpets to the Sunshine kindergarten at Aris,

Kwakwas kindergarten at Kwakwas farm, Naos kindergarten at Naos farm, Kapps Kindergarten, New Hope Crèche at Dordabis farm and Zebra Day Care Centre at Groot Aub. Distributing the much needed blankets and carpets were Mrs. Elizabeth Kambanza, MGECW staff assigned to the Khomas regional office and the University of Namibia (UNAM) Student Representative

Council. The Ministry recognised the role of Dr. Scholtz, owner of Naos farm, 85 kilometers outside Windhoek and his wife, Eva for having established a kindergarten for their employees’ children. The couple also supports the school with food, toys, carpets and other needs.

African Women Ministers and Parliamentarians met in Windhoek

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) hosted the 7th Sub-Regional Capacity Building Workshop for members of the Network of African Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (NAWMP) in Advocacy, Leadership and Resource Mobilization. The NAWMP workshop took place from 13-17 August 2007 at the Country Club Resort in Windhoek. This is the second time that Namibia is hosting a NAWMP event. Over 50 Regional African MPs attended the 4th Regional Conference of African Ministers and Parliamentarian in Windhoek in June 2000.

Thirty-two Parliamentarians from the following seven SADC countries namely, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, attended the sub-regional workshop. The Namibian participants consisted of five women ministers, the Chairperson of the Women Parliamentary Caucus, a member

of the National Council, and an Opposition Party Member of Parliament. The goal for this sub-regional project is to allow better involvement of NAWMP in the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action, particularly the formulation, implementation,

monitoring and evaluation of population and reproductive health policies and programmes.

The workshop was aimed at:

• bringing visions of national networks in line with those of NAWMP so as to identify

Continues from page 14

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OVC Policy underwayThe Ministry of Education is committed to strengthening the capacity of children and young people to meet their own needs by encouraging them to stay in schools. This is the way to impart skills and qualify them to become self-reliant and self-confident.

The Ministry is discussing the Education Sector Policy for Orphans and Vulnerable

Children aimed at identifying appropriate strategies to attract and keep children in schools. Its objective is to ensure that all school going orphans and vulnerable children attend school and are not deterred from participating through the lack of financial means, materials or psycho-social need, stigma, discrimination or any other constraints. Out of school orphans and vulnerable children will be brought back into school or provided with appropriate educational opportunities.

The policy is based on the national and international policy framework, such as the Namibian HIV/AIDS Charter of Rights, National Policy on HIV/AIDS for Education Sector, the National Policy on OVC and the Education Training Sector Improvement Programme (ETSIP).

The Ministry has completed the piloting of Educational Development Fund (EDF) in three regions, Ohangwena, Omaheke and Omusati with seventeen schools involved and 576 beneficiaries with the total amount of N$200 432.20. Three more regions, Karas, Kavango and Caprivi will partake this year and the rest will follow suit. The policy also guarantees a safe and non-discriminatory environment and provides for health and nutritional support. The National School Feeding Programme (NSFP)

supplements learners’ nutrition, allowing them to benefit from educational opportunities.

There are 674 schools with 98 910 learners and 5 938 volunteer cooks.

The Ministry has also resolved to provide emotional and psycho-social support to the OVC aimed at availing counselling services, including rehabilitation and treatment services for children with serious hehavioural problems. As a result, the Ministry will have to employ an educational psychologist. In-service training is being conducted to orient teachers to identify children with psycho-social needs and other counseling skills.

The Ministry have trained close to 10 000 school based counsellors countrywide on basic counseling, bereavement counselling and cluster facilitation. The ESP on OVC is a product of extensive and intensive consultation, collaboration and hard work of stakeholders. The Permanent Secretary of

the Ministry of Education, Vitalis Ankama, called on the stakeholders to render their commitment towards the future activities. He was speaking at the Stakeholders’ Workshop on 18 October 2007. Closing the workshop, Chief School Counsellor in the Ministry of Education, E. Barrison, applauded the stakeholders for having contributed towards the development of a comprehensive framework that will ensure the production and promotion of the well-being of the OVC country-wide.The workshop was co-funded by USAID and the Academy for Educational Development (AED).

Vulnerable children

ETSIP and ODL practical and realisticThe Ministry of Education held a Consultative seminar on National Open and Distance Learning (OLD) Policy Development from 15 – 16 October 2007. Themed “Towards the development of a National Open Distance Learning Policy in the wake of Vision 2030, the seminar was aimed at providing input to the draft policy capable of addressing the educational needs of the country to enable the Ministry to realise the goals of the Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme (ETSIP)

This is a response to the provision of Vision 2030 that sets a target that by 2030

Namibia should join the ranks of high income countries and afford all citizens a quality of life that is comparable to that of the developed world. Vision 2030 calls for the rapid economic growth to be accompanied by equitable social development.

Although Namibia made considerable progress towards the attainment of Education for All (EFA), the country is still faced with many challenges, such as economic growth, productivity and unemployment among the youth. As a result, there is pressure on formal and non-formal education systems to meet the goals of Vision 2030, EFA, and the Millennium development goals. On its journey to attain Vision 2030, the government’s ETSIP represents the education and training sector’s response to such noble call. The system provides opportunities for both the Ministry of Education and other educational institutions in the country to be able to provide the needed skilled labour and assist in achieving the goals of the long term development strategy, Vision 2030. The draft

policy is being facilitated and compiled by NOLNET. The process was put in motion in 2005 at the NOLNET-ODL Conference Declaration with support from Cabinet to develop a national policy on open and distance learning. The national policy on ODL is aimed at addressing the weaknesses of the education and training sector. ODL has the potential to offer high quality, cost effective and sustainable solutions to the country’s education and training needs, provided it is led and managed through defined and well resourced national policies.

Educational institutions are challenged to use ODL approaches at both secondary and tertiary levels and they are expected to address geographical and gender inequalities and economic disparities. The policy is expected to continue to accelerate educational development across the country and should be made an appropriate mode for a country like Namibia with limited resources and a vast geographical area that is sparsely populated. ODL is regarded as a medium of promoting access to education for all through economies of scale, because it has the potential to reduce fixed

costs, including capital costs and to improve the quality across the whole educational system. It is expected to do a lot with minimum resources, which is in line with the ETSIP.

In her speech, Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, said that ETSIP plans of equitable pro-poor distribution of resources and services could easily be achieved by enhancing and increasing the use of ODL approaches. “ODL is especially a powerful tool to open up access to education for the disadvantaged and marginalised communities in our country,” she added.

She has high expectations that the policy will promote the ideals for the access to quality education, and must aim at improving the capacity and effectiveness of educational institutions through the use of information, communication and knowledge for sustainable human development. “It must assist Namibia to translate ETSIP plans and targets into real actions and measurable outcomes. I would like to see that this national policy is realistic and practical,” the Deputy Minister said.

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Namibia Road at the heart of Addis AbabaOne of the unique things the Administration of Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia, has done to get the metropolitan to deserve its name as the diplomatic capital of Africa, is the naming of most of its streets after African countries. Addis Ababa hosts the African Union Secretariat and is also the seat of many of its commissions and operational branches.

As an African country, Namibia has also been named after one of the roads in the city known as Namibia Road. The road is strategically and centrally located, running parallel to the Bole Road, - both leading to the Bole International Airport.

Many streets of Addis Ababa, including Namibia Road, require a face-lift to make them attractive and befit the significance of the diplomatic capital. Most other streets in the capital are yet to be marked with street signs. To add value to Namibia Road and give it visibility, the Namibian Embassy in Addis Ababa got a blessing from the mayor of the city and his administration to face-lift the road.

Since it is one of the first and last roads/strees to travel when leaving or arriving in the capital city from the main port of entry, there was a need to create a friendly environment. The effort is aimed at furthering the already existing strong and sound relationship between Namibia and the people of Ethiopia, especially the Addis

Ababa population. Visitors from the African continent and other world diplomats, who frequent Addis Ababa to AU and related meetings, traveling through Namibia Road to and from the Bole International Airport, would not miss to notice the significance of the route.

The Namibian Embassy in Ethiopia acquired some acacia trees, which are indigenous to both Ethiopia and Namibia. The acacia and some mopane trees, the latter acquired from home with the assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, have been planted along the Namibia Road. The process of planting trees along Namibia Road took

off in November 2006. To do this community work, Namibians currently living in Addis Ababa, together with their local colleagues e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y participated in the project to improve their relationship and team work.

The Namibian President, H E Hifikepunye Pohamba, inaugurated Namibia Road on 30 January 2007. He also unveiled a plaque, laid on a stone at the square at the entrance

Namibia Road in Addis Ababa

Staff of the Namibian Embassy in Addis Ababa at work

of the road during a ceremony attended by the Mayor of Addis Ababa, Ato Birhane Deresa and Namibia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr. Wilfred Emvula.

At that occasion, the President recognised the role played by Ethiopia during the time of the Namibian liberation struggle and urged the Namibian Embassy to continue to work hard to further strengthen political, economic and cultural relationships between the two countries.

Namibian Embassy staff has undertaken to clean the road and maintain its appearance constantly. The Embassy staff and other Namibians living in Addis Ababa will continue to take care of the plants to give the road an authentic Namibian outlook. To mark Namibia Road appropriately, road signs are to be erected at the beginning and the end of the road.

The process has attracted great interest from a number of developers who have already started to construct a number of buildings along the road.

Amathila passionate about the San Development Programme despite persistent anomalies within San Communities

Continues from page 7themselves uncomfortable and discouraged by the situation in the new environment. As a result, the learners end up dropping-out of school. The San Development Programme has come to the assistance of many of the learners. It has put many learners back in schools after completing grade five in their areas by paying school and hostel fees and providing pocket money. For instance, the project has been able to put seven children from Okatjoruu in a Secondary School at Kopland. Some of the San students have the opportunity to be enrolled at higher learning institutions such as the University of Namibia (UNAM), Polytechnic of Namibia (PoN) and at some colleges of education. The students have received sponsorships, through the programme, from Nampower, Michelle McLean Children’s Trust and from a Diplomatic Spouse. “I am holding my thumbs up that these children finish

school. But it takes time,” the Deputy Premier remarked. There are more than 36 learners who are currently helped and assisted to continue their schooling, excluding those from the San communities who are enrolled at nursery schools in Windhoek. When the Deputy Prime Minister found out that the San people buried their dead in plastic bags, the government decided to assist them to bury their loved ones in a decent and respectable manner. The San Development Programme has trained ten people on coffin manufacturing in the Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions. While the project is aimed at providing employment to members of the communities, it is also providing decent burial materials for them to bury their loved ones. To generate income, coffins will be sold to people from other communities, but not to destitute San people. The San people will be assisted by the programme to get coffins free of charge. The Deputy Prime

Minister said San people need to bury their loved ones themselves to avoid a situation whereby corpses were left in mortuaries for long periods, waiting for government to do the burials. At previous occasions, mass burials have been conducted due to the fact that corpses were left in mortuaries for periods of up to 12 months.

Although Dr. Amathila said that destitute people will get the coffins free of charge, she also made it clear that depending on the economic status of the affected people, a fee will be charged for coffins. Asked whether there is visible progress on the ground to indicate a solution to the plight of the San people, the Premier remarked that “there is light at the end of the tunnel”. “I am passionate about the programme and I travel to visit the places with my team to see the progress made,” she concluded.

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Norwegian parliamentarians explore Namibian fisheries

Namibia has benefited from economic support from the Kingdom of Norway. The country has already benefited from the support rendered in the fisheries and marine sector through the funding of capacity building in areas of scientific research and stock assessments, marine resources management, monitoring, control and surveillance, maritime engineering and navigation.

Since independence, Norway had also provided a team of Scandinavian marine

officers to Namibia for advisory purposes and to impart knowledge and expertise to the Namibian marine practitioners. Norway is also among the countries that provided assistance to Namibians during the national liberation struggle that paved the way for independence on 21 March 1990.

Twelve members of the Norwegian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign

Affairs visited the country and held a meeting with the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources with the aim to explore areas of cooperation in fisheries and marine resources.

Although direct assistance from that country to the Namibian fishery sector ceased in December 2004, the Namibian government has identified new priority areas such as aquaculture, value addition and the development of new markets

and marketing promotion, which would need Norwegian attention. The Ministry used the opportunity to present its newly identified priority areas to the visiting delegation to attract interest for assistance. In his welcoming remarks, Hon. Dr. Abraham Iyambo, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, solicited Norwegian support and assistance to the presented priority areas. The seminar was held in the coastal town of Swakopmund, which is at the heart of fisheries, on 15 September 2007.

Government Liaison Officers sharpen skillsTwenty-five Government Media Liaison Officers recently completed a training course conducted by the University Central Consultancy Bureau (UCCB) of the University of Namibia (UNAM).

The training course was a follow-up of a programme that took place in 2006 aimed

at training participants and impart on them written English, leadership and management skills.

Participants came from government institutions such as, among others, Home Affairs and Immigration, National Assembly, National Council, Trade and Industry, Information and Broadcasting, Defence, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Gender Equality and Child Welfare and National Planning Commission.

Topics taught include, Organisational Communication, Multiple Intelligence – Seven Kinds of Smart, Learning and Mentoring in the Workplace, Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Emotional Intelligence – acting, or not acting on your feelings and Promoting the image you want.The course was coordinated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as a mandate emanating from a Cabinet decision dating back to 1996, entrusting MIB with the coordination of media liaison in government, including the coordination of training for government liaison officers.

Speaking to the Government Information Bulletin, a week after the course, one of the participants, Welma Enssle, Deputy Director in the Ministry of Finance, noted that the course was useful and has helped polish

her interpersonal and writing skills. She observed that since government is a service environment, the course needs to be continuous and expanded to other officials at all levels of government service. “We need the skills,” she remarked. Another participant, Aino Humphrey, Administrative Assistant to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, observed during a presentation at the course that the course has improved her skills in dealing with customers, making inquiries at the office of the Permanent Secretary. She said her office is inundated with queries from the public on various issues and the course has just come at a right time, enabling her to perfect her skills on customer relations.

A Liaison Officer from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Norbert Shithigona, remarked that he would implement the skills he obtained from the course in his work environment, as he felt that they were useful in terms of interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence. This, he observed would improve the communication ability and capacity at his workplace. He also cited Emotional Intelligence as the topic that had made an impact on him.

He remarked: “The course was useful because in our workplace we deal with different people from different cultures. It was a good topic that taught us how to accept others, accommodate them and develop mutual understanding and relationships.” Dr. Francis. Nyathi, Director of the Language Centre at UNAM co-facilitated the course with Professor Dianne Ashton of the University of Namibia, the course Director. The course took place from 3 – 7 Septermber 2007 at the Restaurant Nice in Windhoek.

UNAM’s Professor Ashton and Dr. Nyathi during the course

Outstanding work of war veterans rewarded Continues from page 5

They finally arrived in Namibia in August the same year. Today, their footprints are not only along the Tanzanian, Zambian and Angolan landscapes, but they are also on the forests, hills, valleys and plains of the Namibian soil. They became symbols of freedom and independence for Namibia. Their dedication and resolve taught the

Namibian youth to become selfless cadres of the liberation struggle. It was the courage and bravery of these combatants who fought at Omugulu Wombashe and who were engaged in other subsequent battles that had captured the attention and had inspired the youth exodus into exile from 1974 onward. Had it not been

for their bravery and heroism, Namibia could have been still under the apartheid colonial domination. The footprints of these noblemen and women remain unflagging and tenacious, as inspiration in the fight for socio-economic and cultural justice for the betterment of all the people in an independent Namibia.

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Crime is slowly penetrating the moral fibre of the once crime-free Tsumeb. A few years back, Tsumeb was a peaceful community, free from violence and crime. It has also been considered one of the cleanest towns in the country.

Residents of Tsumeb cry loud on crimeBy Tsusnelde Nghilinganye

With a rapid increase in crime cases in most parts of the country, the copper mining

town is experiencing a crime upsurge of 10%.

The police and residents are up in arms against criminals. In August 2007, the Town Council convened an urgent public meeting, following a recommendation from an earlier meeting after shootings took place at the Nomtsoub location.

The meeting was attended by community and church leaders, the police, officials from various government departments, school principals and parents, to discuss and have input in the efforts to fight crime among the Tsumeb community in particular and in Oshikoto region in general.The town council is worried about the escalating crime situation at the town and decided to mobilise all residents to work together in the fight against it. At the meeting, which took place at the Nomtsoub Community Hall, the Councillor for Tsumeb Constituency in the Oshikoto Region, Hon. Lebbius Tangeni Tobias, pointed out that children in Tsumeb are abusing alcohol and drugs unabated. He urged the police to arrest any drunken adult and

children loitering the streets at night. He called on parents not to let their children wander in the streets at night. To free the town from crime, the councillor informed the meeting that the police have been empowered to arrest any person involved in criminal activities. The local authority is worried that serious criminal cases are taking place in schools. Toping the crime list at the town are break-ins, shootings, theft and rape. Often young people are involved in such crimes, taking sharp instruments, including knives to school.

The law enforcement and local authority are complaining about the deteriorating behaviours of young people. “Parents do not have time to discipline their children because of their rights. Parents are afraid of the law,” said Police Deputy Commissioner, Anna-Marie Goagoses, who called upon parents to join hands with the police to combat crime at the town.

Goagoses noted that the unacceptable behaviour of the children is due to the fact that they, as minors, cannot be arrested and locked up, and that young people are indulging

in alcohol and abusing drugs. She added that this renders institutions such as the Women and Child Protection Unit weak since they do not have the power to reprimand children who misbehave.

The Police are planning to stage a campaign to educate the public about the effects of crime, starting with schools. The police are also adamant that parents should play an active role in the proper upbringing of their children and join in the fight against crime.

In an effort to fight crime among young people, the Mayor, Mr. Engel Nawatiseb, said that his office would be able to fund viable project proposals from the youth and women organizations. The town’s municipality has raised N$20 000 to assist projects.

Plans are also underway to develop an education code of conduct for schools and both learners and parents would be expected to take part. Failure to follow the education code of conduct would result in serious steps to be taken against the perpetrators.

MTC opened new headquarterThe Namibian government is committed to promoting the modernisation of the telecommunications sector so that it can serve as a catalyst for economic growth and creation of employment opportunities for the people.

The government is also committed to the liberalization of the sector with the

view to encouraging growth and choice of services by consumers. The promulgation of the Namibia Communications Act will be part of the government’s strategy in improving communication operations in the country.

At the inaugurating ceremony of Mobile Telecommunication Connection (MTC) Head Office in Olympia, President Hifikepunye Pohamba said that the telecommunication sector is crucial to the development of Namibia. Since all countries around the world are working hard to harness the benefits of modern telecommunication technologies, Namibia cannot afford to lag behind.

He saw the need for the introduction of legislation, which is under discussion in the form of Information and Communication Bill.

This will create an Independent Regulator for the telecommunication sector and will bring all service providers under a unified regulatory framework to ensure efficiency. This will include the state-owned enterprises operating in the sector.

The president said that before an independent regulator is established, there is a need to put transitional measures in place.

The Billprovides will make provision for new licensing, rules to facilitate and promote the expansion of telecommunication services and procedures and infrastructure to the rural areas. Government is committed to promote the principle of universal services so that service providers in the sector can be encouraged to reach all citizens in all parts of the country. President Pohamba urged all stakeholders to contribute to the strengthening

of the Information and communication Bill so that it will be in place to address the country’s needs and multiple challenges facing the economy.

“It is , therefore, crucial to ensure that the legislative framework that we will put in place will serve the needs of our country, both for service providers as well as consumers,”

“We must also ensure that our laws continue to promote, and not to hamper the growth and expansion of the telecommunication sector in Namibia. Since telecommunication technologies cut across all social and economic sectors, there is a need for a well-functioning telecommunication sector for the efficient delivery of services. They are needed in health services, education, electricity and transportation systems and in other spheres of trade and commerce.

African Women Ministries and Parliamentarians met in Windhoek Continues from page 10

priority challenges to take up in the areas of population and development, gender equity, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS control;

• initiating and strengthening organisational responses with respect to population and development issues,

gender equity, reproductive health and combating HIV/AIDS;

• building skills in advocacy, resource mobilisation, leadership and gender equity; and

• developing country-specific projects on

advocacy and resource mobilisation.

Hon. Dr. Libertina Amadhila, Deputy Prime Minster of the Republic of Namibia delivered the keynote address at the official opening ceremony. Participants took the opportunity to visit two women projects in Windhoek.

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Considerable progress has been made with the construction of the houses for the former Robben Island prisoners, PLAN war veterans and those who have been brutalized in the country during the war for national liberation struggle.

Progress in constructing houses for Robben Island prisoners, PLAN war veterans and the brutalised

persons

Seven houses were constructed in the Ohangwena region and one of them was

already handed to the owner by H.E. President Hifikepunye Pohamba. Six of them will be handed over to recipients by the Regional Governor. Three houses were constructed and handed over to beneficiaries in the Oshana region while nine have been constructed in the Omusati region and will be handed over to beneficiaries soon. In the Oshikoto region, eleven houses were constructed and beneficiaries are being traced for occupation of their new homes. Five houses were constructed in the Kavango region and will be handed over whenever water and electricity are connected. Other houses have been constructed in the Karas, Kunene and Khomas regions. Purchasing of new houses and renovations to existing houses are also in progress in the Otjozundjupa, Oshikoto and Oshana regions but extension to

houses purchased in the Oshana region are put on hold by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development until further notice.

Due to increases in the price of material and labour, an additional N$3 million from the Social Housing Sub-Programme for the implementation of the 2007/08 phase of this project is required. Cabinet has authorised the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development to immediately start with the implementation of phase 2 of the project that will again be executed by the National Housing Enterprise (NHE). Cabinet also instructed the Ministry to verify the housing needs of beneficiaries in situ before the actual construction starts. In the 2006/07 Financial Year, Cabinet instructed the Ministry of Regional and Local Government,

Housing and Rural Development to construct 45 houses and extend two other houses for the recommended 48 beneficiaries identified by a previous Cabinet decision.

Cabinet also directed that the Trust Fund for Regional Development and Equity Provision should avail N$1.5 million for the supply of solar systems and plastic water catchment tanks to the houses of the beneficiaries.

Cabinet earlier authorised the NHE to implement the project during the 2006/07 Financial Year. Cabinet also announced that N$2 million will be made available annually through the Social Housing Programme of the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development for the gradual construction of houses for beneficiaries over the next five years.

Criteria for heroes and heroinesCabinet has approved the appointment of an Ad-hoc Cabinet Committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Libertine Amathila, to develop criteria for determining national heroes and heroines for burial at the Heroes’ Acre. The Committee was composed of, in addition to the chairperson, Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Hon. Charles Namoloh, Minister of Defence, Hon. Peter Tsheehama, Minister of Safety and Security, Mr. Lukas Hangula, Director General of the National Central Intelligence Agency and Hon. Dr. Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, Secretary General of the SWAPO Party and Minister of Veterans Affairs.

The Committee has made recommendations on the definition of a hero/heroine,

privileges and benefits for the hero/heroine of Namibia, Heroes Acre, the recommendation process, forfeiture and restoration of awards, moratorium on naming monuments after living people and legislative framework.

The Committee defines a hero/heroine as a legendary figure of great strength or ability, admired for achievements and qualities, which showed exceptional courage, perseverance and charisma in performing extra-ordinary deeds for the benefits of the nation/society. Such deeds can be politically, military, economic and social excellence or great service to the state and nation. The status of hero/heroine can also be bestowed upon an institution, place or equipment. This include, among others, a person distinguished by extra-ordinary bravery; a person who is goal-oriented and does not give up until the goal is achieved; a person who stays level-headed in a crisis; who does more than what is expected by others; who is willing to risk personal safety to help others; who is consistent, persistent and of an impeccable character; who is doing what is right; irrespective of personal consequences; and a person who is prepared to serve and sacrifice far greater than their self-interest.

The Committee determined that certain benefits should accompany the decoration of hero/heroines of Namibia. Such benefits can be monetary awards and/or status in society and the beneficiaries to lose their awards if they commit dishonourable acts after they have been decorated.

The committee also deliberated on the naming of monuments after living people

and recommended a moratorium on naming monuments, buildings equipment and streets after living people. The Committee felt that such naming should be done posthumously. In light of the above, Cabinet directed the Ad-Hoc Cabinet Committee to develop a policy framework on the issue. Cabinet also directed that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General be co-opted to serve on the Ad-Hoc Cabinet Committee. Cabinet directed that, in future, the National Heritage Council should be involved at the initial stages of planning national monuments.

Captain Hendrik Witbooi, a Namibian heroChief Hosea Katjukururume Kutako,

a Namibian hero

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African countries must vigorously pursue scientific education

African countries will not be able to achieve higher levels of economic development and prosperity if the people of Africa are not trained in the critical scientific, engineering and technological fields, which can empower them to accelerate the process of socio-economic development. These were the words of President Hifikepunye Pohamba when he addressed the opening of the 2007 AFRICON Conference of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).

“We must find ways and means for Africa to cultivate scientists and engineers, as well as other professionals who can spearhead our developmental initiatives,” the President noted.

African countries, including Namibia, need to offer quality education and training to learners in critical areas of mathematics, science, information and communications technology, engineering and related fields to improve their economic well-being. President Pohamba observed that the African continent is endowed with abundant natural resources that there is a need to harness it for the benefit of all people.

He noted that in view of the lack of expertise in quality production of goods, African countries continue to export raw materials. Since it is only quality education that produces better educated professionals who can contribute to the development of any country, President Pohamba saw the need to expand the availability of scientific and engineering education to young people. He added that African people will be better positioned to translate dreams into reality and enhance the socio-economic development of the continent. “Value addition must be pursued aggressively to ensure that the people receive benefits from the natural resources,” the Head of State emphasised. He noted that Namibia’s profile is enhanced by hosting the conference in terms of the recognition of the roles that the institutions of tertiary education are playing as reservoirs of knowledge and skills

that are crucial for accelerating socio-economic development.

The President pointed out that Polytechnic of Namibia (PoN) has established itself as an institution of international repute in teaching and research in engineering and scientific disciplines. He noted that PoN has produced graduates in many disciplines, such as engineering, science and technology, business and human resources management. “This is an indication that our institutions of higher learning, such as the University of Namibia (UNAM) and PoN are playing a key role in the human capital development, capacity building and skills formation that our country and our economy clearly need,” President Pohamba observed. Despite Namibia’s deliberate effort to invest the largest portion of the national budget in the education sector, there are still many obstacles that the nation has to overcome. To secure the human capital that is needed for the attainment of national development objectives as expressed in Vision 2030, the nation will continue to make concerted efforts to upgrade and improve the education system. This will create opportunities for the youth to study in the fields of science, technology and engineering. “In this spirit, I believe that all African governments will continue to encourage and promote effective scientific and technological education to propel our continent to greater heights of economic prosperity and ensure future growth in the knowledge economy,” he emphasised.

The President hoped that the deliberations would make a meaningful contribution towards the search for solutions to the challenges that the world faces. He added that such contributions can go a long way in helping countries to improve their education systems and advise mechanisms to create an environment in which scientific and engineering excellence can be revitalised in Africa.

The President urged the conference to workout practical solutions for the promotion and effective teaching of scientific and engineering studies. He also urged the delegates to map out a way forward to strengthen education systems in Africa through effective international networking.

The conference took place in September 2007.

FIFA World Cup, African Cup of Nations 2010 and regional integration will benefit Namibia’s

economyBy Kaleni Hiyalwa

Namibia stands to benefit from the 2010 FIFA World Cup to take place in South Africa and the African Cup of Nations to be hosted by Angola. Cabinet has, since its Retreat in 2005 directed that Namibia should develop its positioning strategy in anticipation of the two events.

To draw up the strategy, initial consultations have been held with the tourism industry,

particularly the Namibia Tourism Board and the sport sector with counterparts in South Africa and FIFA representatives. Consultations have also taken place between the Ministries of Finance, Environment and Tourism, Works, Transport and Communication, Home Affairs and Immigration, Trade and Industry and the National Planning Commission.

Being a neighboring country to both South Africa and Angola, and sport fans from all over the world will be expected to choose Namibia as a tourist attraction. Namibia is expecting a spill over of sport fans to visit the country.

Speaking at the opening of the Mata-Mata boader post, President Hifikepunye Pohamba said that the 2010 FIFA World Cup presents these countries with a unique opportunity to showcase the eco-system products. “Therefore, we should work together to provide a suite of cultural tourism products that will give visitors a unique experience in our sub-region,” he advised.

The visitors will make use of roads, air transport and rail routes. The usefulness of the highway corridor routes will be put to test during the

President Hifikepunye Pohamba

President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, President Festus Mogae of Botswana and President Thabo Mbeki of

South Africa Continues on page 20

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Etosha National Game Park is at a crossroad of a century

By Kaleni Hiyalwa

The Etosha National Game Park may be 100 years since it was instituted in 1907 but the habitat and its inhabitants have existed for centuries before the dream and idea of establishing the park came to mind. As Namibians celebrate the centenary, they should also pay tribute to the vision of the ancestors, who ensured that the resources that gave the park the weight it carries today were sustained.

The park is one of Namibia’s tourist attractions. It became more popular on the world map

after the country’s independence in 1990 due to the increase in the number of tourists visiting from all corners of the globe.

The country’s flora, fauna, people and their history attract visitors from different countries of the world. It is a destination for visitors who come to see animals in their natural environment. Animals such as impalas, zebras, elephants, lions, springboks, kudus, rhinoceros, jackals and buffalos thrive in their natural environment in the Etosha park. Tourists on guided tours enjoy watching the animals as they drive about and around the paddock. One cannot stop admiring the flock of black faced impala and springbok as they gulp down water from the water holes in the Etosha pan. It is even a more scenic moment when they return to their habitats.

Visitors are also often amazed by the posture of the giraffe, curved over the water in the pan. Its parted front legs become the center of attention, as if a magnet is pulling the beholder’s eyes. It is in the Etosha park that human beings come close to meet the blazing eyes of the lion and hear the rare roaring sound, thundering and echoing in their ears from the thickness of the bush. Some of the tourists would have never experienced the spectacular scene before visiting Etosha. To see the lion in real life in a natural surrounding is a wonder.

To celebrate the centenary of the Etosha National Game Park, Namibians should not only celebrate the establishment and existence of the park but, for the most part, celebrate the ingenuity of people who had lived before. It is because of their ingenuity and vision that the flora and fauna were preserved and conserved in the land of the brave since time immemorial.

Mankind, animals and vegetation have been inhabitants of the earth, long before game parks were established. They have been surviving on the same eco-system that provided them a conducive environment to live closer and survive on and with one another.

Mankind had forged friendship with the flora and fauna. To register the importance of the friendship and relationship, he decided to note specific symbols, not only in his memory but also in practical survival. He told stories about their ingenuity to survive, learning from their experiences.

From his natural instinct, he had always been aware that his entire survival depended on the sustainable management of the flora and fauna. And the decision to harvest any of the resources was based on sustainability, which

vision is encompassed with the survival of the next generations. All people had directly benefited from the flora and fauna of the time.

Today mankind still respects animals, vegetation and other creations in the wild, but as populations outpoured the earth and with the increasing need and use of the resources, mankind had become greedy and started to appropriate them for individual benefit.

In Namibia, animals and vegetation have been conserved in the Etosha National Game Park, other parks and protected areas. The idea is to preserve and conserve the flora and fauna for socio-economic reason, a way meant to benefit the nation. That is why President Pohamba declared, in his speech at the centenary celebration that “our national parks are one of Namibia’s most valuable assets. They are our national treasures and their tourism potential should be harnessed for the benefit of all our people”.

But, according to Prime Minister Nahas Angula, the Etosha Game Park was established to divide the country into reserves. The game park formed a buffer-zone between wild animals and humans who had free movement on the terrain together since time immemorial. The early twentieth century had marked the beginning of divide and rule in every sphere of the Namibian life. Reserves for humans and animals were established. In 1907, Etosha was declared a game reserve to pose as a buffer-zone between northern and central Namibia. In his notes on the role of King Nehale lya Mpingana, delivered at the centenary commemoration, Premier Angula, noted that the decision of the colonial government to declare Etosha as a game reserve was “primarily as a security measure … to limit the danger posed by King Nehale lya Mpingana of Oshitambi”, southern Ondonga.

The fiber of segregation and apartheid was not confined to people alone. They were woven through every fiber of the Namibian society, including the fauna, flora, forestry and grassland. These structures are still in place as legacy of colonialism.

The whole Namibian population, including the Qhwai-Xkhwe and Hai// om San used to benefit directly from the flora and fauna, water, sun, moon and stars. All survived in harmony for ages. They have preserved each others’ longevity, long before the settlers arrived. The indigenous people have always been conscious of the survival of each other within the same eco-system.

Today mankind still show affinity for the flora and fauna. However, the flora and fauna ceased to share the same eco-system. For various reasons, the flora and fauna are kept in parks, zoos and cages to be protected from human interaction. The flora and fauna are now for the curious eyes of those who can afford to visit and pay fees. The trade is now known as tourism or sightseeing or going to places of interest or visiting the attractions.

Due to the limited indirect earnings that trickle slowly to the marginalised and disadvantaged communities, governments in Africa, including that of Namibia, have now realised that there is a need for indigenous people to participate and take ownership in the tourism industry, which is dominated by multi-national institutions. People are now encouraged to participate in conservancies within their local areas with the aim to generate income and improve their standard of living.

This brings to mind the importance of the relationship between human beings, fauna and flora. Separating them only promotes deprivation of all sorts.

The Namibia government is supporting conservation schemes to improve earnings that would promote living standards of citizens. To sustain this plan, a Policy on Tourism and Wildlife Concessions on State Land has been launched. The policy enshrines the principles and guidelines for the awarding of concessions to communities, living adjacent to or in protected areas. Policy concessions can only be awarded in protected areas to legal entities such as conservancies, community forests, structured trusts and registered community associations, cooperatives and traditional authorities. This provides a legal framework to be adhered to in an attempt to benefit all people, especially the marginalised communities who live in traditional areas where these resources are sourced.

A giraffe in Etosha

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Etosha celebrates 100 yearsBy Rhingo Mutambo

Having been proclaimed as a ‘Game reserve No. 2’ (Wildschutz-gebiet Nr. 2) on1 March1907 by a German Governor, Dr. Friedrich von Lindequist, Etosha celebrated 100 years as a game reserve at Namutoni with a splendid commemorative ceremony on 28 September 2007. The game reserve No.2 was renamed, Etosha, in 1958 and was declared a national park in 1967.

They say visiting Namibia without visiting Etosha is like visiting Jerusalem without

visiting Golgotha. It is, thus, not surprising that the event was held at Fort Namutoni for its historical significance. This is where King Nehale lya Mbingana’s soldiers led by King Shivute sha Ndjongolo waged war with the German forces for unending provocations and the erection of Fort Namutoni on 28 January 1904 without King Nehale’s consent.

Hundreds of people drove to the park for the weekend to “commemorate” the 100 years of Etosha as a national park and witness the launch of the Etosha centenary celebration. This was viewed as one of the most significant milestones in conservation and management of protected areas in Namibia.

Musical and cultural groups, including the Ndilimani Cultural Troop, Bullet yaKaoko, Jackson Kaujeua and others entertained the crowd. Officiating at the event, President Hifikepunye Pohamba urged Namibians to harness the potential of the country’s most valuable assets for their benefit. “Let us rededicate ourselves to the conservation and protection of our natural environment,” he said. He added that Namibia has put environment protection at the centre of its sustainable development efforts. After narrating the history of Etosha and Namutoni Prime Minister Nahas Angula said the event was a commemoration than a celebration, as many

lives were lost in an effort to retain the area.

Both the President and Prime Minister urged the Namibia Wildlife Resort (NWR) to take note that the original name for Etosha was Etotha (white) while Namutoni was Namutuni (elevated).

Apart from the celebration, the event drew the nation’s attention to the Namibian Wildlife Resorts (NWR)’s turn-around strategy for the three resorts at Etosha namely: Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni. The President applauded progress made on the NWR turn-around strategy aimed at upgrading the parks’ infrastructures.

President Pohamba described the turn-around strategy initiative and subsequent activities as a groundbreaking departure from the way in which nature conservation have been managed in Namibia since independence. “The new system of managing our parks will create wildlife corridors between Etosha and the Skeleton Coast National Parks via a network

of communal area conservancies that will also benefit from increased wildlife presence on these lands,” he added.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is spearheading the creation of new generation of parks. These include the Bwabwata National Park in the north east of Namibia, the Sperrgebiet National Park in the southern part of Namibia and the Kunene Contractual Park in the west of Etosha. They are all designed to generate sustainable income for the country as they will open up new areas for tourists to explore.

Speaking at the same event, NWR Managing Director, Tobie Aupindi, said NWR has also expanded its range of activities with new “exciting” ones. New initiatives include the guided night game and nature drives at most of its camps, guided horse trails and moonlight walks on the Waterberg Plateau Park, that allow visitors to experience the park from a new perspective.

The President emphasized that it is the government’s objective to ensure that Namibia’s natural resources benefit all her people, adding that the government will, therefore, ensure that conservancies, especially those which are located in communal areas continue to receive assistance so that Namibians who were previously disadvantaged derive benefits from the tourism industry.

He called on all the stakeholders to work together to take nature conservation in Namibia to greater heights and encourage parents to teach their children and the youth in general about the importance of nature conservation.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Minister of Environ-ment and Tourism, Hon. Willem Konjore launch the Etosha

100th celebration

An elephant in Etosha

Amathila blasts alcohol sellers and exploiters of San people Continues from page 7

whose life is nomadic and who used to survive on wild berries and animal hunting.

The Deputy Prime Minister is also deplored at the fact that San learners are being forced by teachers to remove human stools from schools, as a form of punishment, when they arrive late at school. The Premier has instructed the Director of Education for the Otjozondjupa region to investigate the matter and find out who the culprits are, so that they

will be transferred from the affected schools. “I have never heard a thing like that in my life. I do not understand why Tsumkwe is targeted,” the Premier remarked.

The first time the Deputy Prime Minister criss-crossed the country to examine the conditions under which the San people lived, she was struck by the way they were being treated by other countrymen and women who have come to settle on their land, as they lived on the edge

themselves, - literally living as slaves. The Deputy Prime Minister says that exploitation of San people continues unabated, adding that they are made to work without pay, except for receiving alcohol in return for the services they render. “That is an issue which Namibians should stand up against because the programme alone cannot do everything. There is a need for concerted efforts from everyone. If we want to assist, we must assist [San] workers to demand minimum wages,” she said.

Modern-day Namibian culture in paying homage to heroes and heroinesContinues from page 5

It has become a norm to lay wreaths on the graves and tombs in many part of the world, including at the Namibian Heroes’ Acre and the shrine at Eenhana. These observances have become part of the modern-day Namibian culture in paying homage and respect to those who have gone before and those that have lived selflessly for the good of

humanity. In old African cultures, shrines were preserved and respected in remembrance of ancestors who are known as “ovakwamungu” in Oshiwambo, “Ozombangane” in Otjiherero. Rituals in the form of prayers for rain, economic upliftment and good luck were performed. The prayers and tributes were also accompanied by offerings of new harvested products such

as omahangu, sorghum, beans, pumpkins and other produce.

In modern times, it has also become a norm for having soldiers, especially the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) drilling and saluting, including horse riding and other processions at the commemoration ceremonies.

The world’s oldest man is 113 years and Namibian Continues from page 1

spokesperson of tatekulu Niilenge. She went to school up to grade 10 and dropped out due to financial problems.

Mpingana said her great grand uncle enjoys talking about politics. She said he told them stories about his life in the Robben Island prison. “He told us that they were always stripped naked and showered with cold water at 8 o’clock in the morning and again at 7 o’clock in the evening, before they would be beaten up and tortured with electricity,” Mpingana said.

Recalling the time when her great grand uncle returned home from prison, the family received him with mixed feelings because he was brought home by “Koevoets” in a “cassiper”. “He was happy and felt so free to greet us but we had doubts because he was brought home by the enemy,” Mpingana noted, adding that “but we realised later that those who brought him home were not happy with him because they harassed him”.

“We welcomed him. He began to talk about politics of the liberation struggle. He told us he was a freedom fighter. He would also talk about members of the family who have died and we did not know them,” Mpingana recalled. Tatekulu Niilenge is in touch with a

few of his old friends and inmates on Robben Island. One of them is tatekulu Gaus Shikomba. He also talks about his inmates, Toivo Ya Toivo and Kaxumba Kandola. The last time Shikomba had visited his comrade was in July this year. During these visits, the war veterans talk about their ordeal in prison and what the government of Namibia has been doing for them.

Tatekulu Niilenge benefited from a housing scheme of the government for war veterans, Robben Island prisoners and brutalised persons. The house was handed over to him in July 2006. He survives on the old age pension of N$370.00, out of which he pays for water and other core needs.

Describing his delightful moment when his honorary military rank was disclosed to him as Colonel, and was presented with his medal, which was brought to him at home by Mpingana who represented him at the Heroes’ Day Commemoration, the great grand daughter said the old man was very happy. “When I came back home from Eenhana, I dressed him up in his military uniform and decorated him with his medals. He kept on touching them and expressing his appreciation,” narrated Mpingana. She said that tatekulu Niilenge put on his sense of humour by making a joke as to what could have the enemies called him if they

infiltrated into the country and found him without a gun. Tatekulu Niilenge often goes out of the hut and sits outside under the sun to feel the warmth. He sees very blurry.

He has a female cousin who is aged 108 years and lives in her own homestead, attended by her grand daughter. His mother, Naambo Nekwaya and father, Niilenge Kenuukwao, died when he was a little boy. He had two sisters and two brothers who also passed away when he was still young. His second wife, to whom he got married in 1987 and mother of his 18-year old daughter, Julia, died in 2004. Mpingana remarked that the old man tells the story of his family with sadness. Although he is blessed by God to live longer, he feels lonely because his sisters, brothers, wives and parents have all died.

Tatekulu Niilenge is being cared for by his grand niece, 65-year old Albertine Gebhard, the mother of Mpingana. Gebhard’s four of her five children live with her at home and one of them is enrolled at the Vocational Training College (VTC) in Windhoek.

He worships at ELCIN church at Etambo village. He was baptised, by the name Wilhelm, while he was in prison on Robben Island.

Namibia will soon inaugurate a second international airport, once the upgrading of the Walvis Bay Airport is completed by the middle of 2008. The upgrading of the Walvis Bay Airport is part of a wider project to rehabilitate and upgrade airports and air traffic control systems, including the refurbishments of control towers at Hosea Kutako International, Eros, Walvis Bay and Lüderitz.

Walvis Bay Airport close to international standard

The upgrading will improve the length and widening runway, establishing a new taxi

way, apron air traffic control technology and a modern lighting system situated along the centre of the runway. The crash and rescue vehicles are already provided at Walvis Bay, Hosea Kutako and Eros Airports

The access road was completed at the beginning of this year and the construction of the airport’s perimeter fence has started. The work on the lengthening of the runaway, the new taxiway and the apron has generally progressed. The work on the base of the asphalt layer will begin once the

new taxiway and the apron are completed. The widened and lengthened runway will allow the larger aircrafts such as the Boeing 747 to fit. The Airbus A380 and the Antenor 225 are to operate from the airport. The airport is measured at sea level, requiring less fuel for take-off at maximum payload.

Namibia, and in particular Walvis Bay, will benefit from the export of fresh fish to overseas markets directly from the coastal town and from the importation of goods for the offshore mining and exploratory drilling operations and employment of the people on board fishing vessels and cargo

ships. The increase of tourists will create more job opportunities to the local tourist industry especially as chartered and scheduled aircraft operators will convey tourists directly to Walvis Bay. The lengthened and widened runway will positively contribute towards income of the Namibian Airports Company on the long run.

Above all, the rehabilitation and upgrading of airports and air traffic control systems will have a positive impact on the civil aviation environment in Namibia, including the safety of air space. The project is co-funded by the Namibia Government and the Kingdom of Spain.

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Negotiations on a Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Namibia and ephiopia

A team from Namibia’s Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications visited Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 11-12 October 2007, to negotiate a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), to be signed between the two countries. The team consisted of Amba. Elia Akwaake, Deputy Permanent Secretary and head of delegation, Mr. Bethuel Mujetenga, Permanent Representative of Namibia to the ICAO Council, Mr. Joseph Shipepe, Under Secretary and Ms Angeline Simana-Paulo, Director Civil Aviation, as well as Mr. Helois //Hoabeb, General Manager of Commercial Service of Air Namibia. The team was joined by Mr. Ben Karamata, Counsellor at the Namibian Embassy in Addis Ababa who is also responsible for bilateral affairs.

The main objectives of the delegation were to revise the draft bilateral agreement, in

line with the Yamoussoukro Decision, for the progressive liberalization of the air transport market in Africa and the signing of an updated Confidential Memorandum of Understanding (CMOU). It is believed that once the BASA has been signed, it will create an open operational framework from airlines designated by both

countries and boost economic, cultural, tourism and bilateral relationship. Air transport is critical to both countries, since it will promote trade, tourism and other forms of bilateral exchange.

At the end of the meeting the heads of the two delegations initialed the revised BASA and signed the CMOU which provides for the:• designation of one airline by each party.

• designated airline to enjoy full 3rd, 4th and 5th freedom traffic rights in Africa.

• non-restrictive capacity, frequency and aircraft type for commercial operations for passengers, cargo or mail in combination and

• avoidance of double taxation on income on airline revenues earned while operating an international air services.

Government orders closure of uS CompanyBy Rhingo Mutambo

The Namibian government on 12 October 2007 ban the operations of the Special Operations Consulting–Security Management Group (SOC-SMG), a United States security hire company, following a recommendation by the country’s Security Commission.

SOC-SMG recently made newspaper headlines in Namibia with its scheme to

recruit Namibians with a police, military or security background to perform security guard services in war torn countries, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, where the United States of America has a presence.

A meeting convened by the Security Commission on 11 October 2007, decided that the involvement of Namibian nationals in war-torn countries will have serious consequences and long-term national security implications on the interests of Namibia at home and abroad. Presenting the Government’s position on the issue, Information and Broadcasting Minister, Netumbio Nandi-Ndaitwah, said the involvement of the United States of America in Iraq has

never been sanctioned or supported through any international agreement and can thus not be supported by Namibia. “Government cannot allow its citizens to get involved in that war,” said the Minister. The State’s Security Commission hence recommended the closure of the company, the removal of its two representatives, Messrs Paul Grimes and Fredric Piry, and declaring them prohibited immigrants in terms of Section 5 (1) (c) of the Security Commission Act, 2001 (Act 18 of 2001) read in conjunction with Sections 49 (1) and 39 (2) of the Immigration Control Act, 1993 (Act 7 of 1993). Nandi-Ndaithwah said the Defence Act, 2002 (Act 1 of 2002) criminalises the involvement of Namibians in the military, reserve or any auxiliary force of any country without the written permission of the Minister,

as an offence punishable with a fine, prison term or both. She further made reference to the Namibian Constitution Article 4 (8) (b) that stipulates that Namibians are not allowed to get involved in the military or security forces of other countries without the written permission of the Namibian Government. “Government in accordance with Article 96 of the Namibian Constitution on the country’s Foreign Relations maintains its policy of non-alignment, promotion of international co-operation, peace and security and the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means,” she said. The Government reiterated its warning to its citizens that those volunteering to get involved in war torn countries may loose their citizenship and may be charged under the Defence Act, 2002 (Act 1 of 2002).

FIFA World Cup, African Cup of Nations 2010 and regional integration will benefit Namibia’s economy Continues from page 16

World Cup and African Cup of Nations. Namibia will have an opportunity to sell itself in all areas of socio-economic and cultural spheres, especially with its strategy of promoting locally made products and value addition. The economic exposure the country will get from the opportunity will promote the country’s economic development and growth, necessary for its Vision 2030 plan.

Efforts to invest in the development and improvement of the country’s infrastructure, customer care and other services are underway. Some of the efforts in promoting tourism and trade have been initiated among Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and other SADC

countries. The initiatives are also the countries’ efforts in meeting the SADC requirements for the launching of the Free Trade Area in 2008, aimed at removing barriers to ensure regional integration, free movement of people, goods and services. Some of the infrastructural developments are the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Conservation Area, spanning across parts of Namibia, South Africa and Botswana. Collaboration with neighbouring countries is also demonstrated through the initiatives such as /Ai-Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Area, involving Namibia and South Africa, the Iona Skeleton Coast Transfrontier Cnservation Area between Namibia, Angola and the Kavango, Zambezi or KAZA Transfrontier Conservation Area between Namibia, Angola,

Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These initiatives are expected to increase tourism activities by facilitating the movement and flow of tourists in the participating countries.

The recent opening of the Mata-Mata International Tourist Facility along the southern boarder is expected to facilitate tourists’ smooth movement and legalise crossing of people from Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. This is another added value to tourism in the SADC region. Mata-Mata boader post will also promote cultural exchange, which will enable the people to share tangible and intangible natural heritage with each other and with visitors to and from the three countries.

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Documents

MIB Bulletin September - Namibian Government