Page 405 – Namibia Daily News

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Decisive match for Barca and Atletico Madrid in La Liga

written by Derdy

MADRID, April 22 — FC Barcelona will play arguably their most important and difficult game between now and the end of the La Liga season when Atletico Madrid visits the Camp Nou Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Barcelona goes into the weekend with nine games to play and an 11-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid at the top of the table – although that lead will be reduced to eight points if Madrid beat Celta Vigo on Saturday afternoon.

However, Barca’s recent performances have given cause for worry, with Xavi Hernandez’s side unable to score in their last three matches – a 4-0 defeat at home to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey, a 0-0 draw in La Liga at home to Girona and a 0-0 draw away to Getafe last weekend.

Failing to score in three consecutive matches is something that hasn’t happened to Barca for almost 20 years, and happens just as they receive the most in-form side in La Liga.

Atletico travels to Barcelona third in the table after a run of ten wins from 12 that has virtually ensured them of a place in next season’s Champions League and lifted them to two points from Real Madrid.

Antoine Griezmann has been in excellent form for Atletico since the World Cup, as he showed with his two goals against Almeria last weekend, while Rodrigo de Paul and Marcos Llorente look comfortable in midfield and Mario Hermoso finally looks settled as part of a back-three with wing-backs.

There is no doubt Barca’s injury problems have not helped them, with Pedri, Ousmane Dembele and Frenkie de Jong all injured since their defeat against Real Madrid at the end of March, and Andreas Christensen suffering a calf injury in the international break.

Sergi Roberto tore a hamstring at Getafe last Sunday and will miss the rest of the season, but there is a chance Pedri and De Jong will be able to play some part on Sunday.

That should allow Xavi to introduce some spark into midfield for a decisive game. Barca’s 11-point lead looks unassailable and a win, or perhaps even a draw, would probably be enough, but defeat would set some alarm bells ringing and give Real Madrid some hope of a miracle. (Xinhua)

April 22, 2023 0 comment

Current Affairs

Nigerian Ambassador Lilian Onoh Sacked for Misappropriation of Funds

written by Derdy

By Staff Reporter

ABUJA, April 22 — Former Nigerian Ambassador to Namibia and former Chargé d’Affaires to Jamaica, Hon Mrs Lilian Onoh, has been summarily dismissed by the Federal Civil Service Commission. This comes after a report by a seven-man committee that indicted her over her alleged financial misappropriation while serving in Namibia.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported how Onoh was accused of illegally diverting funds meant for the day-to-day operation of the mission and was asked to refund the sum of $45,539.11 (about N19 million), $70,448 (about N30 million), and N614,000. This was part of the recommendation of the seven-man committee headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Gabriel Aduda. The committee also had a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs as a member.

Onoh was asked to refund the sum of $42,500 as an education supplement in respect of her adopted daughters and refund $2,614 as Excess on AIE (Excess payment). Following the discovery of the infractions, she was summarily dismissed by the Disciplinary Committee of the commission after being found guilty of “breach of provisions of Financial Regulations on virement, absence from duty without leave, refusal to take/carry out lawful instruction which are acts of serious misconduct.”

Her dismissal was ratified after a meeting of the committee, and she was directed to be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation. The committee found her guilty of the offences and approved her dismissal from the service, effective from February 1, 2021.

The former ambassador is a sister to one-time Miss Nigeria and the wife of Biafran leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu (Bianca Ojukwu). In addition to the financial misappropriation allegations, she was accused of spending N66,168 on airfare for two domestic bits of help, $425 spent on a stopover for “two domestic bits of help and N34,000 for an extra night in Abuja hotel.” The accusations against her included Hotel accommodation – 11-17 December 2017, N312,000, and Guest hotel accommodation – 26-31 December 2018, N268200.

The summary dismissal of Hon Mrs Lilian Onoh by the Federal Civil Service Commission is a clear indication of the Nigerian government’s commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring accountability in public service. The government has demonstrated its willingness to take action against public officials who engage in financial misappropriation and other forms of corrupt practices. This is a step in the right direction, and it is hoped that it will serve as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to engage in corrupt practices.

It is essential for public officials to uphold the values of integrity, accountability, and transparency in the discharge of their duties. Public trust is a critical component of effective governance, and it can only be earned through the demonstration of high ethical standards by public officials. The Nigerian government must continue to take decisive action against public officials who engage in corrupt practices to restore public trust and confidence in the government. – Namibia Daily News

April 22, 2023 0 comment

Wildlife

Indian Names given to Cheetahs Brought from Namibia and South Africa

written by Derdy

NDN Staffer

Sheopur, April 22 — In a bid to create awareness about the conservation of cheetahs and make them famous in India, the Indian government organised a competition to name the cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa in Kuno National Park. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Mann Ki Baat address, asked the public to suggest names for the cheetahs. The competition received an overwhelming response with 11565 people participating.

A selection committee chose the names of the cheetahs based on their importance and relevance. All the male and female cheetahs have been given Indian names. Ovan, Elton, and Freddy have been named Pawan, Gaurav, and Shaurya respectively. The female cheetah, Maiasha, brought from Namibia has been named Asha, Savannah is named Nabha, Tbilisi is named Dhatri, and Shiaya gave birth to four cubs named Jwala.

The adult female brought from Phinda Game Reserve has been named Daksha; one of the adult males has been named Vayu; and the other has been named Agni. The female brought from Mapesu Reserve has been named Nirva. The adult female brought from the Kalahari Swallow Reserve has been named Gamini, the subadult Veera, the adult male Tejas, and the subadult male Suraj. The adult mother brought from the water class reserve has been named Dheera, the adult male Uday, the second Prabhas, and the third Pavak.

On September 17, 2022, on his birthday, PM Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in Africa into the enclosure at Kuno National Park in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. In the second batch, 12 cheetahs from South Africa were released by CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the enclosure of Kuno National Park on February 18, 2023. With the discovery of 10 male cheetahs and 10 female cheetahs in Kuno National Park, the total number of cheetahs has increased to 20.

The naming of cheetahs is a significant step in raising awareness about the conservation of these endangered species in India. Cheetahs are considered one of the most endangered big cats in the world, with only around 7000 remaining in the wild. India is now one of the few countries in the world that has the capability to reintroduce cheetahs into the wild. The naming of these cheetahs is not only a symbolic gesture but also signifies India’s commitment to the conservation of these magnificent animals. – Namibia Daily News

April 22, 2023 0 comment

National

Namibian Defence Attaché Bids Farewell to Sri Lanka After Strengthening Ties

written by Derdy

NDN Staffer

Colombo, April 22 — The outgoing Defence Attaché of Namibia, Brigadier General Titus Simon, paid a farewell visit to the Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera at the Navy Headquarters on April 20, 2023. During the visit, the two officials discussed several matters of mutual interest and exchanged views on strengthening the existing ties between their respective countries.

Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera expressed his gratitude to Brigadier General Titus Simon for his contributions during his tenure as the Defence Attaché in New Delhi and accredited to Sri Lanka. He also extended his best wishes for Brigadier General Titus Simon’s future endeavours.

The meeting between the two officials was an opportunity to reinforce the friendly relations between Sri Lanka and Namibia. The exchange of mementoes at the end of the meeting signified the importance of the occasion and the strong bond between the two nations.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of defence diplomacy in strengthening bilateral relations. Defence Attachés play a significant role in promoting and maintaining the defence and security relationship between nations. They act as a bridge between the two countries defence establishments and facilitate cooperation in areas such as training, joint exercises, and information sharing.

Namibia and Sri Lanka have enjoyed cordial relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Over the years, the two nations have collaborated in various fields such as education, trade, and defence. The recent visit of the Defence Attaché of Namibia is a testament to the growing relationship between the two countries.

In conclusion, the farewell call of Brigadier General Titus Simon on the Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera highlighted the strong ties between Namibia and Sri Lanka. The exchange of views and mementoes was a testament to the importance of defence diplomacy in promoting bilateral relations. The meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen the existing cooperation between the two nations and explore new areas of collaboration. – Namibia Daily News

April 22, 2023 0 comment

Energy

Sintana Energy Confirms 50% of Seismic Survey Data Gathered from Namibian Basin

written by Derdy

NDN Staffer

WINDHOEK, April 22 — Sintana Energy Inc. is a Canadian oil and gas exploration company with a focus on Africa. Recently, the company confirmed that it has gathered over 50% of the 6,872 square kilometres of 3D seismic survey data from Petroleum Exploration License 87 (PEL 87) and the surrounding area in the Orange Basin in Namibia. This is a significant milestone for Sintana as the initial processed results are expected to be available and interpreted by the end of August 2023.

The PEL 87 is an important exploration site as it includes the massive Saturn turbidite complex that has been mapped. This complex shares many geological characteristics with the Venus oil discovery made by TotalEnergies in February 2022. The Saturn Turbidite Complex, which covers approximately 2,400 square kilometres, lies entirely within the PEL 87 area. As per the statement made by Robert Bose, President and Director of Sintana, the results from the survey are expected to confirm that the company is on trend with the recent massive discoveries in the basin.

Woodside Energy (GOM), Inc., a subsidiary of Woodside Energy Group Ltd., entered into an agreement with Sintana in March 2023, whereby it has the option to acquire a 56% participating interest in PEL 87. As part of the agreement, Woodside will pay the full cost of a 3D seismic survey covering an area of at least 5,000 square kilometres within PEL 87. Woodside has a period of at least 180 days after delivery of the survey to exercise its option. If the option is exercised, Woodside has agreed to enter into a farmout agreement whereby it will carry existing joint venture partners for the full cost of drilling the first exploration well.

Custos Investments (Pty) Ltd., which retains a 15% interest in PEL 87, benefits from this carrier and other elements related to the farmout and joint venture agreements. Sintana owns an indirect 49% interest in Custos, and therefore, it indirectly benefits from the farmout agreement.

The exploration and drilling activities in the PEL 87 area could potentially unlock significant offshore deep-water oil opportunities. This would not only benefit Sintana and Woodside but also the Namibian economy, as it would lead to job creation and revenue generation. However, it is important to note that the exploration and drilling activities in the area come with certain risks, and the results are not guaranteed.

In conclusion, Sintana’s confirmation that over 50% of the 3D seismic survey data has been gathered from PEL 87 is an important development for the company. The initial processed results expected to be available by the end of August 2023 will provide valuable insights into the potential oil opportunities in the area. The agreement with Woodside Energy Group Ltd. also provides Sintana with financial support and technical expertise that could aid in the successful exploration and drilling of the area. – Namibia Daily News

April 22, 2023 0 comment

Politics

Geingob Announces His Departure from Namibian Presidency in 2025

written by Derdy

NDN Staffer

PRETORIA, April 22 — Namibian President Hage Geingob has announced to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that he will be stepping down in less than two years. During a state visit to Pretoria, Geingob informed Ramaphosa that his term as the president of the Republic of Namibia will come to an end on March 21, 2025, and that he plans to honour his social contract with the people of Namibia by not overstaying his welcome.

Geingob, who has been in office for eight years, explained that he was happily announcing his decision to step down as opposed to doing it quietly, citing the need to maintain a social contract with the people. The presidents discussed the need for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council to reflect global realities and enhance cooperation between the two countries. They also evaluated the progress made in the implementation of decisions and legal instruments between Namibia and South Africa.

On regional issues, the presidents exchanged views on broad areas of cooperation and evaluated the progress made in the implementation of decisions and legal instruments. They expressed concern about the mounting civilian deaths in Sudan and called for an amicable solution to the conflict. They reiterated their support and called for the Luanda and the Nairobi processes to be effectively coordinated, and that resultant commitments are adhered to by all parties.

The presidents wished the people of Eswatini, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar successful elections, scheduled to take place this year. They also reaffirmed their solidarity with the people of Palestine and called for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to coexist independently with the State of Israel, in line with relevant UN resolutions.

The state visit was intended to strengthen bilateral relations, enhance economic cooperation, explore trade and investment, and identify new areas of cooperation. A tourism memorandum of understanding was signed between the two countries. The two presidents agreed that, although the countries are each other’s largest trading partners in the region, more can still be done for mutual benefit in this purview.

Geingob, who is the incumbent Sadc chair on politics, defence, and security cooperation, appraised Ramaphosa on the security situations in the region, particularly in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Eswatini, and Lesotho, as well as in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique. They noted the ongoing regional efforts to help resolve the long-standing conflict in the eastern DRC.

Geingob’s decision to step down in less than two years is in line with the growing trend in Africa of leaders adhering to term limits and maintaining social contracts with their citizens. – Namibia Daily News

April 22, 2023 0 comment

Politics

Presidents of South Africa and Namibia call for immediate ceasefire in Sudan

written by Derdy

NDN Staffer

PRETORIA, April 22 — President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Namibian President Hage Geingob have called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan following the ongoing conflict between the military and the Rapid Support Forces. The two leaders met in Pretoria to discuss regional, continental and global affairs, and both expressed their concern about the situation in Sudan.

President Ramaphosa emphasized the urgency of the situation and referred to the conflict as “the most unnecessary” conflict. He called for an immediate ceasefire to be implemented to put an end to the violence and for negotiations to take place between the conflicting parties. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) and the African Union (AU) was urged to take the lead in the matter to ensure the safety of life.

Geingob emphasized the importance of diplomacy and dialogue, stating that war is often the result of a failure of both. He called on both sides of the conflict to talk to each other, as outsiders can only facilitate the process.

The conflict between the military and the Rapid Support Forces began after a 2021 military coup, with the two groups competing for power as political factions negotiate the formation of a transitional government. Analysts have noted that the Rapid Support Forces are 100,000 strong, and the situation has been described as potentially leading to a civil war if a ceasefire is not implemented.

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki also made an appeal to the Sudanese military rivals to end the “unacceptable violent conflict” this week. He called on Generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo to immediately end the fighting, which is causing negative consequences for the civilian population.

The call for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations from both current and former African leaders is crucial to resolving the conflict in Sudan. As Geingob stated, it takes both warring factions to hold each other’s hands, and the call for dialogue and diplomacy is necessary to end the violence and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. – Namibia Daily News

April 22, 2023 0 comment

Politics

Namibian President Geingob to Speak at ANC NEC Gathering

written by Derdy

NDN Staffer

PRETORIA, April 21 — Namibian President Hage Geingob has been invited to speak to the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) on Friday, during his state visit to South Africa hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The two leaders met on Thursday to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and collaborating on conflicts in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and beyond. In line with the ANC’s resolution to fortify party-to-party relations with sister parties in the SADC region, Geingob, a member of the South West African People’s Organisation, will give a message of support at the ANC NEC meeting.

The ANC and SWAPO fought together against apartheid in South Africa and have a cordial relationship as they tackle the challenges facing their countries. President Geingob also criticized Western countries for demanding the arrest and handover of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the International Criminal Court (ICC), stating that African nations should not be dictated by Western nations on how to conduct their affairs. The Namibian leader went on to explain his lack of support for the ICC, saying that Namibia has its own processes, systems, and institutions and that any crimes he commits will be tried in Namibia and not by any international court. He questioned why the US is not a member of the ICC and why they would want to be tried somewhere else.

Geingob’s message of support at the ANC NEC meeting is expected to strengthen relations between the two parties and promote cooperation in addressing challenges in the SADC region. The Namibian leader’s criticism of Western nations for interfering in African affairs may also resonate with some ANC members who have called for greater African autonomy and self-determination. The meeting will be an opportunity for Geingob to share Namibia’s perspectives on regional and continental issues and to reaffirm the country’s commitment to strengthening ties with South Africa and other African nations. – Namibia Daily News

April 21, 2023 0 comment

Opinion

Raising Interest Rates Is Not the Solution to the Inflation Problem

written by Derdy

By Josef Kefas Sheehama

The conventional view among economists is that higher interest rates lead to lower inflation. However, recent events in Namibia challenge this view. The Bank of Namibia has increased its repo rate since 2022 to curb inflation, but it has not been effective. In fact, the endless series of interest rate rises has sparked arguments about whether monetary policy is the fairest and most effective way to curb inflation. The Bank of Namibia recently raised its benchmark repo rate by 0.25 bps to 7.25% at its April 2023 meeting, bringing the prime lending rate to 11% and the mortgage lending rate to 12%. However, the inflation rate in Namibia is currently at 7.20%, and raising interest rates knocked the economy into a recession and spiked the unemployment rate, which drove down prices. The cost-of-living crisis will deepen inequality in Namibia, and yet no political party is talking seriously about addressing the enormity of this challenge by fixing the broken social safety net.

Raising interest rates will not solve the inflation problem. Short of throwing thousands of people out of work in a depression, higher rates wouldn’t bring supply and demand back into balance, which is a necessary condition for price stability. By raising interest rates, the Bank of Namibia hopes to slow the economy by making it more expensive for consumers and businesses to borrow money. However, using interest rate hikes as a tool to solve the inflation problem could trigger a recession. A rise in interest rates makes it more expensive for companies to expand. That, in turn, could lead to cuts in investments, ultimately hurting employment and jobs. Moreover, credit growth is already weak, so raising rates would have little impact on the economy.

The good news is that a new way of thinking about macroeconomics is emerging, and we need to apply new methodologies. Many new economic thinkers are now engaged in understanding the complex realities of the world we live in. The Bank of Namibia can only impact the interest rate and is unable to do anything about supply chain issues that cause inflation to rise. It is hard to imagine a time when the challenges we faced so vastly exceeded the creative resources we have brought to bear on them. We need to develop new ways of thinking to enterprise better solutions and experiences that solve our current problems.

In conclusion, the valid arguments for and against increasing interest rates to control inflation show that this issue requires a thoughtful approach. While theory should be an important driver of practice, we need to encourage critical reflection on the theory itself and the ways that it is being extended and how it is informing practice. We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. Therefore, we need new ideas that tackle the imported inflation challenges headache instead of increasing interest rates. We have been doing this for many centuries, and it has been proven that increasing interest rates is not a solution to curb inflation catastrophe. We need new strategies that result in differences that matter and a sense of purpose that engages everyone affected by this economic psychology.

– Namibia Daily News

April 21, 2023 0 comment

GENDER

Silencing the Guns Project in Botswana: A focus on Gender-Based Violence

written by Derdy

By Staff Reporter

GABORONE, April 21 — On the 13th of April 2023, Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light (HWPL) and Volunteer Hub with International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) hosted an intergenerational dialogue about Gender-Based Violence (GBV) at Cresta Presidential Hotel in Gaborone. More than 40 people gathered to attend this event, which showed the heart that Botswana has for peace.

While Botswana lacks official statistics on GBV, the Botswana National Relationship Study released by UN Women in 2017 found that 37% of women had experienced GBV, including 28% during the previous 12 months. Since GBV is not only an issue that affects women and girls but also men and boys even if at a slower rate than the former, the two organizations are working to deal with this issue at the community level.

This is the third workshop where the outcomes of the project are presented. The event was aimed at educating youth on GBV and giving them tools on how to counter GBV through the IPYG Youth Empowerment Peace Workshop (YEPW).

The IPYG YEPW aimed to address this need by helping people understand the root causes of GBV and how people can change their mindsets to help start finding lasting solutions to the problem. After the YEPW sessions, many participants said that their view of GBV and violence, in general, was distorted by personal experience, thus affecting how they approach resolving issues. They agreed that there needs to be a change in the approach to how to deal with GBV and the goal of changing thoughts on the matter of violence is vital.

Olerato Mathodi, the founder of Volunteer Hub and a spokesperson had this to say “This campaign was able to raise awareness on GBV issues, but also educate more people on the issues around GBV. However, many people are already aware of how bad GBV is in Botswana, the problem is they do not feel the current systems are working. The YEPC is one area that can offer a solution to this problem.”

Addressing the reason for the gathering and the efforts that are being placed by the HWPL, guest speaker Malcolm Coetzee had this to share, “Article 10 of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), which is the document you have all been asked to support today, speaks about spreading a culture of peace. It places a responsibility on states to ensure that they are working with individuals and civil society on activities that promote peace within the communities.”

HWPL is a non-government organization with the main aim of establishing sustainable peace by putting an end to armed conflict and promoting a culture of peace through various methodologies which include, Peace Education, dialogues, and advocating an international law known as the ‘Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War’ DPCW. – Namibia Daily News

April 21, 2023 0 comment

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Decisive match for Barca and Atletico Madrid in La Liga

Nigerian Ambassador Lilian Onoh Sacked for Misappropriation of Funds

Indian Names given to Cheetahs Brought from Namibia and South Africa

Namibian Defence Attaché Bids Farewell to Sri Lanka After Strengthening Ties

Sintana Energy Confirms 50% of Seismic Survey Data Gathered from Namibian Basin

Geingob Announces His Departure from Namibian Presidency in 2025

Presidents of South Africa and Namibia call for immediate ceasefire in Sudan

Namibian President Geingob to Speak at ANC NEC Gathering

Raising Interest Rates Is Not the Solution to the Inflation Problem

Silencing the Guns Project in Botswana: A focus on Gender-Based Violence