Namib Indepedent Issue 122 by The Namib Independent

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Issue 122 - Thursday, 23 October 2014 to Wednesday, 29 October 2014

CAPTAIN HADDOCK'S MAKE-OVER

TRANSPORT CHALLENGES

Truly namibian!

expo 2014

Local Woman

Arrested for

Illegal

Abortion Tanya Calitz

A 23-year-old Walvis Bay woman has been arrested after it came to light that she allegedly carried out an illegal abortion on herself last week. According to Deputy Commissioner, Ottilie Kashuupulwa, the young woman from Kuisebmond carried out an abortion at home, and was successful in terminating her three and-a-half month pregnancy. “After the self-done abortion, friends took the accused to hospital when she complained about abdomiral pain and experienced excessive bleeding,” Kashuupulwa told the paper. At the hospital it was discovered that the woman had carried out an abortion on herself. She allegedly confessed and showed police where she had buried the foetus. The woman was arrested and appeared in Walvis Bay Magistrate court on a charge of illegal abortion. She was granted bail and will re-appear again shortly. Kashuupulwa said that she will refrain

from commenting on the method used by the girl, saying that it might give ideas to other pregnant women wishing to abort, and that it might also impede the investigation. Kashuupulwa also refrained from making the woman’s identity known, in fear of her safety. Asked what the maximum and minimum sentences are when a person is found guilty of illegal abortion, Kashuupulwa said that she cannot say and that each case is treated differently. The paper could not find an actual case of a person serving jail time after being found guilty of carrying out an illegal abortion. However, there are a few records of women being arrested, either found guilty or admitted guilt, upon which they were fined. If the guilty parties could not pay the fines (which were all between N$2000 and N$4000), they would have to serve two years behind bars. One such case was of the 18-year-old Continued on Page 3

Spate of Vicious Jackal

Attacks on Lagoon Gareth Amos

Recently there have been two cases of vicious jackal attacks on both humans and dogs in what can only be described as behaviour entirely not

characterised by these normally gentle dogs of the desert. According to Peter Brooks from the Walvis Bay SPCA, the first attack took place two weeks ago, when tour guides logged a call to the

SPCA notifying them of a particularly aggressive jackal that was mauling a Jack Russell on the salt pans road. Upon reaching the scene the Jackal needed to be caught, restrained and removed from the

situation so that the Jack Russell could be rescued. Brooks has confirmed that after receiving medical attention, rabies tests were carried out and that thankfully, the tests were Continued on Page 3

2 | News

Thursday, 23 October 2014

Captain Haddock’s Make-Over How a Swakop Doggie’s diet shot him to international fame Siglinde de Villiers A Swakopmund Labrador Retriever is the first Namibian dog to become a top finalist in a South African pet slimming competition. His family signed him up for the competition after he nearly lost his life due to some kind of stroke. Since then, the dog has lost 30 percent of his body weight and is much happier for it. Like all dogs, Captain Haddock loves food, and would never refuse any of the tidbits his family gave him. “We loved to treat him, knowing little how unhealthy the habit was,” owner Magdalena Gomez told the Namib Independent. In addition, Captain Haddock not only ate his own food, but also stole food from the other family pets. By the time he was four years old he weighed an enormous 50kg. Then one day, when the family came home, they were alarmed to find their beloved pet unconscious on the floor. They rushed him to the Swakopmund veterinary clinic. “The vet resuscitated Captain Haddock and diagnosed him with a brain stroke,” Gomez related. “We cannot say for sure whether it was a heart attack or a brain stroke, it could have been many things. But being overweight was definitely not helping.”

The Swakopmund Veterinary Clinic immediately signed Captain Haddock up for the Hill’s Pet Slimmer programme, and now he is a completely different dog. “We put Captain Haddock on a special diet, not only reducing his normal food but also giving him a type of food that contained less calories,” Gomez explained. The family needed to bring their dog to the Swakopmund Veterinary Clinic at regular intervals in order to weigh him. Since then the Labrador retriever has lost 15kg and now only weighs 35kg. “Captain Haddock has reached his target weight and we took him off the slimming food pellets, maintaining his current weight with a metabolic food type,” Gomez said. According to Gomez, the weight difference has also resulted in a change in Captain Haddock’s behavior. “He could not jump or run and we used to carry him everywhere,” Gomez related. “In the beginning we thought that it was simply because he liked to be carried around. We used to joke that Captain Haddock had to be pushed up the dunes when we went sand-boarding. He looked sad and usually just lazed around. Now he is much more active and we do not have to carry him around anymore. He is much happier for it.” How does the family feel about Captain Haddock being the top finalist in the Hill’s Pet Slimming Competition?

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After We did not expect him to become a top finalist. Compared to the population in South Africa, Namibia is very small and since the competition depends on votes, we did not think that Captain Haddock would get enough votes to make it to the top. Despite Namibia’s small population however, people have voted from all over the country and we are thrilled,” Gomez exclaimed. However, for the Gomez family, Captain Haddock is already a winner. “The best prize he won was his health, enabling him

to still be a part of our family,” Gomez said. What lessons has the Gomez family learned through this experience? “One never realizes how much pets depend on you. If they suffer a stroke, it is their owner’s fault because they are supposed to know what is good for their dog or not. We never thought that obesity in a dog could be a problem, but now we wish to raise more awareness about this, so that other pet owners will not risk compromising their pet’s health,” Gomez stated.

New Site for Dangerous Goods Storage Facility in Walvis Bay

N$ 2999*

WALVIS BAY: 064-203318 SWAKOPMUND: 064-403418

PET ALERT Liefie was lost in Walvis Bay on 4 October 2014. We have been searching for her non stop.

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Before

Siglinde de Villiers Following the huge uproar in the Narraville community about the dangerous goods storage bunker in their vicinity, the municipality last week convened a meeting with all the relevant stakeholders in order to find common ground regarding a new development site. Native Storage Facility CC, who submitted the application to construct the storage facility for dangerous goods, was granted 20 hectares of un-serviced land on Farm 43, which is about 20km southeast of Walvis Bay, expanding the new industrial park earmarked for this area. Apart from finding a suitable site for the storage facility the meeting also reached consensus on a number of other issues. For one, it was agreed

upon that Walvis Bay has a need for a facility that could provide temporary safe storage for dangerous goods and hazardous materials that find their way in or out of town. However, the former communication bunker east of Narraville was found to be an unsuitable site. Before the construction of the dangerous goods storage facility can commence, EnviroSolutions CC has to conduct an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and an Environmental Clearance Certificate should be obtained from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. According to a spokesperson of EnviroSolutions CC, they are currently busy with the process of conducting the EIA. “There are a lot of plans and details to be considered, which could take a while,” she said.

News | 3

Thursday, 23 October 2014

Local Woman Arrested for

Illegal Abortion Continued from Page 1

Gloria Iiyambo, who was found guilty of illegal abortion a few years back at the Oshakati Magistrate Court and sentenced to a jail term of two years, unless she paid her N$3000 fine. Another woman in the Ohangwena Region was charged with murder, after it came to light that she carried out an abortion on herself with warm water and soap, and disposed of the foetus. Charges were later lowered to illegal abortion. According to a report done by Dianne Hubbard, Legal Assistance Centre in Namibia, on legalising abortion, she stated that laws restricting access to abortion do not discourage women from having abortions. They simply drive abortion underground and into backstreets, with tragic consequences for women’s health and wellbeing. In the same report she

referred to the Netherlands, which has the lowest abortion rate in the world, yet abortion has been a legal practise for years. “Dutch law has allowed abortion on request during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy since 1979, but a comprehensive programme of sex education and family planning services has kept the abortion rate extremely low,” Hubbard stated. In contrast, consider the case of Romania, where abortion and contraception were both illegal until 1989. The rate of abortion during this period was higher than that in any Western European country where abortion was legal, while over 10 000 women died from illegal abortions and 200 000 children were placed in orphanages, the report states. Then, according to the National Institute of Health, after the repeal of the restrictive legislation, maternal deaths dropped by 52%.

Spate of Vicious Jackal

Attacks on Lagoon Continued from Page 1 negative. The Jack Russell, it turned out, was the highly advertised missing dog of residents in the lagoon area that had been gone for almost two weeks. In the most recent incident a local runner reported that he and his dog were pursued by a vicious, mouth-foaming jackal for about three kilometres on the same road last Sunday. Brooks has notified the Namib Independent that a female jackal is raising a litter under one of the small bridges in the road about half way to the salt pans. She has been showing aggression to passers-by in an effort to protect her litter and members of the public are asked to be conscious of this as they go about their leisure activities in the area. According to runner Pieter Viljoen, he and his dog had run from Lovers Hill through the dunes to the salt pans and decided to do the return route on the salt road back into town. “We were about three kilometres from Lovers Hill on the way back when we spotted two jackals on the lagoon. One of the jackals displayed the behaviour one expects from these creatures. Although she approached us out of curiosity (for my dog), she held her mark some 50m away as jackals do.” Viljoen highlighted that the second jackal they encountered a bit down the road did no such thing. “This jackal behaved unlike any I have seen before.” According to Viljoen, the jackal was foaming and drooling from the mouth and was entirely unafraid to attack

his dog despite the presence of a human. “I thought that I could simply chase it away, by shouting and throwing a stone at it, but had no such luck.” The animal allegedly fled just out of reach and Viljoen and his dog sped off, thinking that the matter was over. The animal, however, showed absolutely no fear and charged again in no time. Attempting to attack the dog, it allegedly came as close as a metre to Viljoen himself. “By the third or so attempt to chase it off and at least a kilometre down the road, I was feeling pretty exhausted, as I was having to sprint fifty or so metres towards the jackal to ward it off, turn on my heels and try to put as much distance as possible between the jackal and us. I could not believe the brazenness of the animal to keep attacking,” Viljoen related his bizarre encounter to the paper. According to Viljoen, at this time he was also starting to think that the worst might happen in that he would fail in his attempts to keep the two animals apart. “I was fearful that in this instance my dog may contract rabies or other such afflictions from the encounter,” said Viljoen. He explained he thought the ordeal was over when two cyclists came past and one of them, seeing their plight, dismounted and

chased the jackal off, giving them the opportunity to put enough distance between themselves and the animal, so that the jackal would give up the chase. The plan seemed to work as they did manage to get a decent distance away from the jackal. However, as soon as the cyclist set off again, the aggressive animal covered the distance in no time whatsoever and was once again upon them. “By now I had collected a pole and was convinced that this would scare the animal away. Eventually, after swinging at and missing the creature a few times, I ended up throwing the pole at it, but to no avail. I could not believe that this manic animal had been on the attack for over two kilometres already.” The torment terminated finally when another cyclist, seeing the jackal attacking the dog at close quarters, set off his bike and chased the jackal. This time the friendly cyclist stayed where he was, and continued to throw stones, scream at and keep the animal at bay, until man and dog had covered at least another kilometre away and were just metres away from Lovers Hill. “I was so grateful for the assistance of the Good Samaritan that I hung around Lovers Hill until he finally arrived. By the stage that he joined the affray, I

Taking these countries’ statistics into consideration, one cannot help but raise the question whether legalising abortion in Namibia would not curb baby dumping, which is so prominent on the coast and Namibia as a whole. This year alone the coast was shocked to read about several baby dumping cases, in particular the ones where a baby girl was found in a dustbin in Walvis Bay and another case where three schoolboys came across a black bag in the desert with a baby boy dumped in it, and yet another where a mother dumped her baby in a park, but luckily she was discovered and taken to a place of safety. Apart from baby dumping, more and more cases have emerged where women are buying the abortion pill illegally, from various sources in Namibia. Most of these tablets seem to come from South Africa though, and can be

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couriered to the buyer for under N$1000. Considering all the above, it is about time that Namibia revises its abortion laws. “Different religions have different theories about when life begins, just as different religions have different attitudes about the use of contraceptives. There are differing moral views about a host of matters related to sexuality and reproduction – including abortion, contraception, and fertility techniques such as artificial insemination,” Hubbard stated, adding, “The Namibian Constitution promises freedom of religion and freedom of conscience and belief to every person in Namibia. This means that society as a whole cannot be forced to accept the views of any particular religion. The right to make decisions on matters of conscience is a fundamental part of what to means to be human.

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was at the very end of my reserves and I fear that without his help, the worst may have happened. “I think that anyone running their dogs in that vicinity needs to be aware that there is a jackal out there that is dangerous and acting entirely out of character,” Viljoen warned. Brooks highlighted that this specific

attack is very, very unusual, even for a mother nursing her litter. “Normally the mother would show aggression to protect the pups but only to the extent that she would see the unwanted visitor (dog or human) leave the boundaries of her territory, which would under no circumstances extend a kilometre wide,” said Brooks.

4 | News

Thursday, 23 October 2014

Foreign Immigration Can Help Namibia, Says History

Lavrenty Repin Immigration is certainly a heated issue in countries worldwide, and Namibia is not exempt, yet immigration in history is more often than not followed by economic progress. Throughout its colourful history, America has had a steady flow of immigrants that have transformed the once struggling country in the grips of a civil war into the world’s largest superpower, not only economically but also culturally

diverse and technologically advanced. This shows that a collection of different people and cultures has advantages that nationalism and conservatism often cannot provide. During the early 1900s, 25 million Europeans immigrated to the US (which had a population of 60 million at the time). They flocked to urban destinations and made up the bulk of the U.S. industrial work force, enabling industries such as steel, coal, automobile, textile, and garment production to emerge. This

enabled the United States to leap into the front ranks of the world's economic giants. However, even though the need for young, enthusiastic workers was evident, a wave of xenophobia followed, and many claimed that immigration was a serious threat to America, which led to further restrictions. As far back as 1875, America passed its first immigration law, Act of 1875, outlawing the importation of Asian contract labourers: even Chinese worker disputes have a long and rich history. Yet they were instrumental in building the great railways of America, which were like the trade routes of the world, connecting distant places and nationalising the country. Chinese workers were preferred over those from Ireland, because they had “cleaner habits” and, of course, could be paid lower wages. It is argued that encouraged and easy immigration into the US is one of the key reasons for the country’s present wealth and power, as well as its ability to keep an air of the “mediator” in global conflicts. On the other side of the planet, Australia struck a balance, increasing its diminished population purposefully after World War 2, which in return expanded the economy of the country, making it richer – a cycle that has transformed the isolated, previously very conservative and economically backward country into one of the most stable economies on the planet. Today countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many European countries have simple online tests and applications; if you meet the criteria, you can immigrate to the country and look for work, receiving a work permit (or more) in advance. This approach, which is tweaked each year to allow for relevant, skilled workers depending on current demographic needs, ensures that the country never lags economically and is always in full supply of a relevant workforce. As much as Africa is afraid of further migration, for cultural and historical reasons, there are already 30 million Africans living

outside their home countries, and the top international destinations for African migrants are France (9% of total emigrants), the United States and the United Kingdom (4% each). In the same fashion, migration to Africa has increased: Migration Health MIDSA Report of 2009 reported that Namibia has an annual immigration growth of 3.5% (second highest in Africa). Southern Africa has an estimated 2.2 million regular immigrants, a number on the increase. Yet, the report warns, immigrants in Namibia fear deportation or arrest and do not have access to services. In economically advanced countries, cheaper labour handling jobs that no one else wants is a welcomed sight. However, with the high unemployment in Namibia, it is understandable why locals are fearing for their job security. Nonetheless, cheaper labour has its advantages, such as cost reductions eventually being passed onto the consumer. In the long run, cheaper produced goods through the efforts of immigrant workers can also generate additional profits as the goods can be sold at lower prices. The cultural diversity that immigrants bring to a country (especially one as conservative as Namibia) increases product diversity, giving access to broader food, entertainment and off the shelf products otherwise only available overseas. They also bring novel strategies and solutions for problems within our country, for the same reason foreign NGOs are in demand in many disadvantaged countries: a different approach often produces a different result. But among all others, a skilled workforce increase in Namibia

is advantageous because of our lack of local skilled workers, a lack that has a very real impact on everyday national decisions and on the individual people just as much. If we do not have enough doctors (like now), importing more foreign doctors into the country will significantly help the national health of the nation. And, unlike the anti-tobacco law, the change would be nearly instantaneous. Even the tax that an increase of skilled workers would pay, could contribute to the wellbeing of the country, providing more funds for uplifting the nation. Namibia indeed is in a brilliant position, in comparison with other African countries, to receive foreign skilled immigrants. The stability and small population of the country mean jobs are widely available and our currency is, although falling, still very respectable. We often seek foreign investment on a large scale (like the mining industry), and an influx of foreign skilled workers would have a similar economical advantage. Skilled workers would also be attracted by Namibia’s natural beauty and comfortable lifestyle, as a good place to relocate. Do the disadvantages really outweigh the benefits? And even if so, globalisation is coming whether we like it or not. The change may even surprise us all, if we just play along. “Migration is today at the point where international trade was 50 years ago,” says Mr. Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah of the Institute for Public Policy Research in the US. “For many at that time, the current governance system for international trade was unimaginable.”

News | 5

Thursday, 23 October 2014

MUNICIPALITY OF WALVIS BAY CONSENT APPLICATION IN TERMS OF WALVIS BAY TOWN PLANNING SCHEME NOTICE PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS

WALVISBAY TOWN PLANNING IN NEWSPAPERS CONSENT: Place of Instruction (Day-Care Centre) ON ERF NO: Erf 6172 TOWNSHIP: Kuisebmund STREET: Visarend Str In terms of the above-mentioned Scheme, notice is hereby given that I/we,the undersigned, have applied to the Walvis Bay Municipality for permission to erect/ establish a Day-Care Centre on the site. Plans may be inspected or particulars of this application may be obtained at Town Planning, First Floor, Rooms 101 & 106 D, Civic centre. Any person having any objection to the approval of this application, must lodge such objection, together with grounds thereof, with the General Manager: Roads and Building Control, (Town Planning), Private Bag 5017, Walvis Bay and the undersigned, in writing, Not later than* 30 October 2014 NAME AND ADDRESS: APPLICANT(S): P. Areases (Petroide), Erf 6172, Visarend Str, Kuisebmund

Tackling Transport Challenges With the purchase of side loaders to ferry containers from the Walvis Bay port to its container yard, Rennies Consolidated saw an opportunity to expand its warehousing services with the creation of a transport wing. Establishing another transport company may not seem as much of an achievement, as the Namibian market is saturated with transport operators. Rennies Consolidated, however, believes that its approach of providing an all-inclusive logistics, warehousing and transport package coupled with various value-adding services will translate into a more efficient and cost-effective solution to customers. True to the one-stopshop approach of its mother company, Manica

Group Namibia, Rennies Consolidated is able to tap into a vast selection of warehousing, freight handling, logistics and marine services, thereby offering clients better rates, efficient service delivery and cost saving. Newly appointed Manager of Rennies Transport, Hargu Horn, said his task of establishing a transport section is a hefty challenge but one he looks forward to. “Without revealing our strategy, I can mention that we are busy fine-tuning the various systems and processes to make the flow of cargo from port to warehouse to doorstep as hassle-free and cost effective as possible,” he added. Hargu believes that a trusted brand, such as that of Rennies or Manica, and Rennies’ array of value-adding services

Rennies operations in full swing with Transport Manager Hargu Horn and GM Mario Polster in the foreground are the winning ingredients to ensuring business in the country’s transport industry. “Above all, a transport company sells deck space and peace of mind. Trust and reliability is of critical importance. So setting up a winning transport business in the face of these challenges is a task that I relish immensely,” he

noted. The new transport wing will also have a dedicated depot with an in-house workshop, washing bays and tyre bay. The company’s reefer storage area is also being expanded, while refrigerated and reefer transport in the near future is also on the cards.

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

Standard Bank in Court

Key Responsibilities • • • • • • • • • •

Manage the customer services support teams to drive on-time delivery and responsiveness through processes that focus on cost, quality, customer satisfaction and profitability. Monitor the processes using relevant metrics and reporting and keep in close contact with the customer. Ensure working procedures are defined and adhered to, to maintain quality in service delivery and meet customer timescales. Support the coordination and development of working procedures for repair & overhaul, upgrading, and turnkey projects, including pre-calculation and invoicing in the Area Identify preferred suppliers for equipment, technical capability and resources required for service projects/ activities. Act as the key interface for managing the supplier relationships Pro-actively improve, monitor and report compliance against Rolls-Royce quality management requirements (as in QMS) and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE). Prepare for and manage internal and external audits as required Develop manpower plans for the Back Office to support the service activities across the locations within the Area. Manage performance and training of the team Work with the Area finance team to ensure periodic and ad hoc financial reporting requirements are met in a timely and accurate manner. Provide commentary and background information enabling users to understand the processes in the Back Office Work with the Services Development Manager and Service Centre Manager to actively seek opportunities to grow and improve service delivery Support the implementation of CBP (Common Business Process) across services activities in-country Support and implement the Journey to Process Excellence ( JtPE) improvement plans

Key Technical/Professional Competencies • • • • • •

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

Key Experiences • • •

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

To apply, please submit your CV in English to Calandra Beukes: calandra.beukes@rolls-royce.com. Closing date: 30th of January 2015

Lana Groenwald Atlantic Meat Market, for many years a stalwart business in the Walvis Bay community and also the scene of the city’s worst terrorism act, which claimed the lives of four people, has just recently won a victory against Standard Bank in a David vs Goliath battle. The High Court ruling, a response to Standard Banks appeal to a 2005 ruling, found that Atlantic Meat Market suffered loss and damage as a result of Standard Bank’s refusal to refund millions which were lost through a simple but extensive fraud act in the company. Atlantic Meat Market presented a case where they claimed “that the cheques should not have been honoured and that the applicant is liable to repay to them all monies so paid out of their accounts”, according to official court transcripts. According to court transcripts and previous reports, in April 2004 the

financial manager for Atlantic Meat Market was allegedly found to have executed an elaborate fraud inside job, which involved the forging of the company's cheques, and moving money around accounts. Eventually, the manger succeeded in swindling Atlantic Meat Market out of over N$11 million. The manager has since had criminal charges pressed against him. Since the forged cheques were honoured by Standard Bank, who has procedures in place to detect such transgressions, Atlantic Meat Market argued that it was the bank’s responsibility to refund them. Standard bank did not respond to the request, and the company suffered further losses and setbacks. Eventually in 2005, the company won the case against the bank, but what followed was nine years of work towards this particular final Supreme Court appeal, which on 17 October the bank lost and further appeal options were removed from the roll.

6 | News

Thursday, 23 October 2014

Did You Know? Watermelons Originated in Namibia 5000 Years Ago

So How Did the World Get Them?

Lavrenty Repin 5000 years ago, Namibia was a hidden gem; unexplored, undiscovered and unknown. The sole human inhabitants of the south west point were the huntergatherer San, ruling all they saw, alongside the diverse wildlife. This, according to historic research, would remain for three thousand years, until the Bantu farmers migrated from West Africa into Namibia somewhere between 1000 BC and 1 AD. And yet, the watermelon just does not add up. This is because 5000 years ago, the watermelon was being harvested in Egypt, six thousand kilometres away from its original and only ancestor in Namibia. So who brought the seeds to Egypt and more importantly, who was exploring Namibia at a time when the San were leaving mesmerizing carvings on rock? As a result of chloroplast DNA investigations, it has been strongly suggested that the cultivated and the wild watermelon diverged independently from a common ancestor, most likely the “C. ecirrhosus”. This wild fruit, which looks, not to mention tastes, very little like today’s watermelon is found in Namibia and parts of Botswana, in the Kalahari Desert; and nowhere else. Because of this divergence,

the watermelon is probably the least natural fruit in existence. Modern watermelons are available in an array of different colours and shapes, and, since 50 years ago, can be bought conveniently seedless. Thanks to the cultivation techniques of Egyptians and others, modern watermelons have evolved to be staggeringly different from their ancient predecessors; they are about 100 times heavier, six times sweeter, and juicier and are grown around the world, from China over Brazil to Russia. In a way it is humbling and extraordinary to think that this all came from a single plant in one of the world’s most unique deserts, where the Kalahari tribesmen would grind the seeds for bread, dry the flesh, and eat the young fruit as a vegetable; not to mention use it as a replacement for hard to find water. The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly 5 000 years ago in Egypt. The fruit is depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphics on the walls of their ancient buildings. Watermelon seeds have been found in the tomb of Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen (1300 BC). Watermelons are even mentioned in the Bible as a food eaten by the ancient Israelites while they were held in bondage in Egypt. Recently, several 5000-year-old seeds were

discovered at an archaeological site Uan Muhuggiag in southwest Libya. The beginning of Namibia’s connection with the outside world is only recognised as starting with the Bantu migration, who began the spread of agriculture and iron-age culture, which had its roots around 3000BC in Northern Africa. Bantuspeaking Africans were taller and heavier than the existing Khoisanspeaking inhabitants of southern Africa. The intriguing evolution of the watermelon, at least two thousand years prior to this migration, shows that there may have been (some) agricultural or trade activity in Namibia way before the Bantu even began to conquer land, at least in the form of travellers with the technological and conscious ability of collecting seeds and transporting them northwards, where agricultural transformation took place. The period in which the earliest record of watermelon cultivation outside our borders falls (even though, theoretically, the watermelon could have travelled much earlier), is known as the early to middle bronze age; and it is believed, with the exception of Egypt, that Africa was completely locked in the stone age (although there is a number of recent contradictions in this regard). Ancient Egypt rose to its peak with

WALVIS BAY SALT HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD

TENDER NOTICE

Walvis Bay Salt Holdings (Pty) Ltd, through its subsidiary operating companies, is the largest producer of solar sea salt in sub-Saharan Africa; producing in excess of 720 000 tons of salt annually.

REQUEST FOR TENDERS FOR THE PROVISION OF EMPLOYEE TRANSPORT SERVICES TENDER NO: WBSH/01/14 Walvis Bay Salt Holdings (Pty) Ltd, hereinafter referred to as the “Company”through its subsidiary operating companies Salt and Chemicals (Pty) Ltd, Walvis Bay Salt Refiners (Pty) Ltd and Ekango Salt Refiners (Pty) Ltd is the largest producer of solar sea salt in sub-Saharan Africa; producing in excess of 720 000 tons of salt annually. In addition to producing salt for the chemical industry and other general purposes, a refined salt plant was recently commissioned to produce table salt. The company operating site is located 7 kilometres from the Walvis Bay CBD, and requires a competent Staff Transport Service Provider hereinafter referred to as the “Provider”. The Provider will supply “Pick & Drop” Staff Transport Services in addition to other hired transport on a needs basis.

GENERAL INFORMATION • All the information contained in this tender and in the Provider’s response will be handled with confidentiality by both the Provider and the Company. • The offer should remain valid until 30th November 2014. • In issuing this Tender, there is no obligation for the Company to select and procure all or some of the services offered. • Any statement and cost-proposal made by the Provider will form the basis of any contract that may be entered into between the Company and the Provider. • The Company shall not be liable for or required to pay any costs, expenses or losses that may be incurred by the Provider in the preparation of their bids. • All required information will be submitted on the documents specified in this Tender. • Evaluation of the bids will be based on experience in staff transport services, attractive rate options and flexibility of operations. • The Company does not bind itself to accept the lowest bid of any proposal and reserves the right and discretion to accept a portion of any Tender, or all together not to accept any Tender. • The Provider is to submit a fully qualifying bid. • The Company reserves the right to conduct unannounced site visits to the Provider premises. • The Company may contact or arrange site visits to the referees stated in this Tender bid. • The Provider can request to view the Company’s premises or carry out site surveys if required for the preparation of the bid. Parties interested in submitting tenders are required to notify Mr Bernard Grove (Bernard.Grove@wbsalt.com.na) and/or Ms Brumilda Britz (Brumilda.Britz@wbsalt.com) by email. Upon notification parties interested will receive Tender Documents. Tender Documents will be issued no later than 31 October 2014.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS Submissions should be handed over in a plain sealed envelope, dropped and registered at the Walvis Bay Salt Refiners (PTY) LTD, reception office – Procurement Tender Box. All tender submissions must be received by 12.00 pm on Thursday 6th November 2014 to be deemed “received in time”. Tender Envelope to be addressed as follows: TENDER REF: WBSH/01/14 Financial Director Walvis Bay Salt Refiners (Pty) Ltd P.O. Box 2471, Walvis Bay, Namibia

the old kingdom, while civilisations in Mesopotamia, (modern day Iraq) were involved in continuous sophisticated warfare among themselves, One tribe, the Sumerians, traded as far as Mozambique, some research indicates, even in slaves. Generally, trade routes into Southern Africa begin and end with Sofala, Mozambique, a harbour town around the year 700, yet watermelons by that time were already prominent in China and India. They were also being (brutally) introduced into Europe by Moorish invaders (African slaves eventually introduced the fruit to North and South America) – much larger and tastier now, having received an agricultural head start. Somehow the seeds were transported and sold along trade routes, and the cultivation of watermelon spread among different civilisations; but who these travellers were and what effect they had on us (our rock art, for example) are not an easy question so answer. But the watermelon at least indicates that traders were trekking this land a lot earlier, looking for raw materials, maybe even gold. Since Egyptian (debated) and Sumerian civilisations were slave

orientated, it would even be plausible that unfortunate San slaves might have been forcefully migrated northwards. Today, the watermelon it is one of the most diverse fruits, with over 1200 different variations. Yet if you have ever had a bitter taste of Namibia’s (original) wild watermelon, which has clearly survived for thousands of years, you can appreciate the genetic difference from its modern, modified distant descendant. Imagine thirsty explorers and traders, using only the stars for navigation, walking through the arid and dangerous Kalahari desert, encountering a San tribe and discovering how the then bitter, small watermelon was used as a replacement for water; a life saver. Collecting seeds that they would then trade, and the intricate structure of the trade routes, propelled these exotic seeds until they made their way to Egypt, where intensive cultivation immediately began. It is a sobering thought of the powerful connection of our world, in which today you can buy a seedless, square watermelon in North Korea or in the US, genetically dating all the way back to wild little Namibia.

Telephone Directory Scammers Target Coast Siglinde de Villliers As the year draws to its end, more and more scammers are targeting the coast in the hope to fill their pockets with easy cash for the holiday season. Concerned members of the public have alerted the Namib Independent to callers that target coastal companies, claiming that they will place their client’s details in the national classifieds once payment has been received. “DP Directories from Pinetown, South Africa contacted us, claiming to be representing the Telecom Yellow Pages, regarding the annual fees for our yellow pages advert” an employee of an affected company, told the Namib Independent. The scammers then sent a form via fax, containing all the company's details to approve, plus an invoice they were to pay. “They even sent me a fax with the ‘advert’ they claimed we placed last year, but this was only a lot of our company details that they could have gotten anywhere. It did not look like a professional advert, nor anything we would approve,” the employee said. “Something did not add up so I held off on paying it and contacted a representative from the actual Telecom yellow company (TDS) who comes to see us yearly about our advert,” the employee continued. The TDS representative confirmed that DP

Directories were contacting all the clients in the yellow pages and they were in fact a scam. The company did not go through with the payment, but the scammers were not happy to leave it at that. Once the employee learned that it was a scam, she tried to phone the scammers, but the number only rang. The next morning, they finally called back, asking when the payment would be made. “I told them that I would like to cancel, as they gave the false impression of being from the Telecom Yellow Pages directory service, which they were not. The woman on the line maintained that they were, even after I told them that their price does not correspond with the size advert I place yearly or that our contact from TDS said that they had no affiliation with them,” the employee related. Needless to say, the DP Directories lady said she would consult with her management, but that was the last the company heard of them. According to TDS, they do not send out invoices that force people to make a payment. “We add the bill to a client’s Telecom account and they send out an invoice of the account to the client,” the TDS spokesperson said. She also mentioned that the scammers use a similar logo to TDS so that people fall for it easier.

News | 7

Thursday, 23 October 2014

Trust Your Optometrist to Keep an Eye on You

Corneal Damage

Vernar Cartar Mariska Grobbelaar “But I can see!” is the quick reply to why you have not seen the optometrist; but you see...it is actually about what I (the optometrist) can see in your eye! 9 October was Eye Health Day, so I made eye health the focus, instead of focussing on specs. As I am typing this very article, my tablet is saying it “cannot detect my eyes” (probably some setting that I, the technologically challenged, have not yet mastered) but how interesting and appropriately apt for this article. What you are able to see depends on a variety of

factors like time of day, humidity... and whether your eyes are protected. Seriously though, it has to do with how healthy the back of your eyes or retinas are, as well as your corneas; the front of your eye and also the lens, the iris and of course the vitreous, which is the gooey middle section. The important thing about ocular health is that no matter how great your specs look or how fantastic the lenses in them are; if you are blind it will be of no use. So even if you have vision like an eagle and you are able to read 'Made in China' at the end of the letter chart, you still need to have your eyes checked out. The sooner eye diseases are detected the better, because most nerve tissue damage inside the eye is irreversible. When caught in time though, further damage can be prevented. A very basic test that we at Optic Exclusive do is checking the eye pressure. If your pressure is elevated, you start losing vision in the peripheral field. It is like a disease creeping up on you. So before the Creeper becomes the Grim Reaper of your visual field, see us (or not, depending on your eyes) to check if you have Glaucoma or not. Macular degeneration is another threat, especially in people over 65. Macular scarring due to soldering without protective eye wear or looking at an eclipse can also cause huge problems. The retina is also affected by Diabetes (Type 2 can cause blindness within five years) as well as blood pressure and cholesterol, to name a few. Looking at the back of your eye with a bright light (ophthalmoscope) allows us to see these changes. We have a fundus camera so we can photograph the retina, which is the only part of the body where the nervous system and blood vessels can be seen without cutting a person open. This service is offered so that you may see exactly what we perceive. We also have a camera for the front of the eye, specifically the iris. Iridology is a study of the iris that aids in your genetic code deciphering and knowing where toxins will build up. With the aid of a photo I can better explain to the patient what is happening in their bodies, using a picture of their own eye instead of merely relaying what I see on the "crystal ball” of their eye. For a deeper understanding of your eye health and continuous ocular support, please come see us at Optic Exclusive in Sam Nujoma Avenue.

red

power to the people

TENDER 05/2014

TENDERS ARE INVITED FROM REPUTABLE AND REGISTERED MEDICAL AID FUNDS TO PROPOSE FOR THE PROVISION OF APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES OF ERONGO RED Closing Date: Document Enquiries: Document Fees: Telephone: Facsimile: Technical Enquiries: Telephone:

Friday, 07 November 2014 Mrs. A Welgemoed N$274 (Non - Refundable) +264-(0)64-214600 +264-(0)64-214601 Mr. D. Kuzatjike +264-(0)64-214600

Documents in a sealed envelope clearly marked: “Tender 05/2014” addressed to the Chairperson of the Tender Committee must be placed in the tender box at the Enquiries Desk at: 91, Hage Geingob Street, Erongo RED Building, 1st floor, Walvis Bay or be posted to the Chairperson of the Tender Committee, P. O Box 2925, Walvis Bay, to reach him no later than: 10:00 on Friday, 07 November 2014 Please note no faxed or e-mailed documents as well as documents received after the specified closing date and time will be considered for evaluation. TEL +264 64 214600 ERONGO RED BUILDING

FAX +264 64 214601

91 HAGE GEINGOB STREET

P O BOX 2925

WALVIS BAY

erongored.com

NAMIBIA

90 Years of Logistics Innovation

This year, Manica Group Namibia celebrates its 90th anniversary, making it one of the longest serving logistics companies in Southern Africa and the oldest in Namibia. “It is indeed a great honour to be the longest serving Namibian logistics company. Manica today is the product of the foresight and determination of Theodore

McCLUNE’S Shuttle Services

We offer a reliable shuttle service between Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay that guarantees satisfaction and channels development on internation and local scale. Our vehicles have been branded and are easy to identify, Which expresses ownership and legality as well as professionalism. Bookings are essentail. Terms & Conditions apply.

We operate 7 days a Week Prices per person (one Way); Windhoek/Swakopmund N$ 220.00 Windhoek/Walvis Bay N$ 230.00 Pensioners Special N$ 170.00 Departures are as follows

Windhoek

Contact Details Tel: +264 64 221 713 Cell: +264 81 628 5010 CELL: +264 81 128 7916 email:mcclunes@mweb.com.na

Walvis Bay

Swakopmund

Departure 1: 7:30 am

Departure 1: 7:00 am

Departure 1: 8:00 am

Departune 2: 14:45 pm

Departune 2: 14:00 pm

Departune 2: 15:00 pm

‘Tetje’ Woker, who started a humble shipping and forwarding company in partnership with Walter Maertins [sic] in a small two-room building in Walvis Bay on 1 October 1924,” said Manica MD, Hans-Werner Timke. It was Tetje Woker’s ability to adapt and innovate during the early 1900s that led to various improvements in the port of Walvis Bay and dramatic advancements in the local logistics industry. His vision, humility, flexibility, innovation and the pursuit of excellence were the key ingredients of our success and the foundation on which Manica was built and continues to grow,” Timke emphasised. Today, Manica is known for its one-stop-shop logistics approach, offering a well-rounded portfolio of services, including customs clearing and forwarding, warehousing, shipping, transport, cargo-handling, oil and gas support, ships agency, lubricants, bunkering and airport ground handling support. A far-cry from the early days of basic goods clearances, ship husbandry and coalbunkering for steam ships! “Manica has grown and transformed tremendously over the last few decades. Last year, we started a business centre that

provides office-away-from-home facilities replete with the auxiliary support of visa applications, travel arrangements, accommodation bookings, airport shuttles and a car rental service. With the recent oil and gas exploration drilling campaigns we further expanded our portfolio with a sourcing and trading division that specialises in sourcing marine equipment and spares,” Timke noted. Earlier this year, Manica partnered with Danish bunkering company Monjasa to provide bunkering services along the Namibian coast and started a specialised transport wing in its freight handling and warehousing division. “No business can exist without its customers. Similarly, without the support and loyalty of our customers over the past 90 years, Manica would not have reached the heights and successes it has, nor could we have weathered the storms as well as we have. We look forward to the next 90 years of providing unsurpassed quality marine and freight logistics services. Our promise, as it was in made 1924, remains that we are your ultimate choice in logistics solutions,” he added. Manica Group Namibia MD, Hans-Werner Timke

Thursday, 23 October 2014

Walvis Municipality Responds to Kuiseb Petitioners

Tanya Calitz Two weeks back a group of Kuisebmond residents marched up to the Walvis Bay Municipality with the Union by their side, voicing their distress over the shack fire threat, over-crowded suburbs, lack of cheap serviced land, and the increasing cost of housing and electricity. After an internal meeting the Municipality this week has responded to the community’s requests, releasing a report on the possible solutions. According to Public Relations Manager Kevin Adams, the Council is equally concerned about the plight of shack dwellers and is unremittingly in the process of addressing the issue through its various plans of action. “These plans include the Municipality’s strategic plan adopted in 2013 and the recently approved Integrated Urban

Spatial Development Framework (IUSDF). Both of these have been communicated at various public platforms and feedback will be provided from time to time,” Adams confirmed. On the issue of land availability for employers and companies to build housing for their employees, Council said that they have repeatedly invited large employers to apply for land in order to facilitate the construction of houses for their employees. “Some employers have heeded the call, but more needs to be done in this respect,” Adams said. An example of this is EBH, who recently embarked on a mission to provide housing for its staff. Regarding the lack of affordable housing, Council said that they are constantly engaged in discussions with Government and its principal agent as far as housing is concerned, namely the NHE, to address the

provision of low cost housing. “In this respect, a statement regarding beneficiaries of the Mass Housing Programme is expected soon,” Adams stated. While the Municipality has availed about 1600 erven for the construction of mass housing units, it is currently in the process of finalising the servicing of close to 1000 erven as part of its ongoing land development programme. Thus, hundreds of erven will be available in Narraville, Kuisebmond and Meersig within the next two to six months. Furthermore, approval has just been granted by the Townships Board for the development of approximately 300 erven, which will be available by early 2016. Last, but not least Walvis Council said that in their efforts to alleviate the plight of the poor, it has been more than evident that progress has been made, albeit with limited resources. However, challenges will always remain. “Council is prepared to partner with serious social partners to overcome these obstacles, and the door is wide open for such engagement at all times. Such partners include the Trade Union Congress of Namibia to become part of the solution, and not only to focus on highlighting the problems that we face collectively,” Adams encouraged.

Namport Erongo Business & Tourism Expo Supplement | 9

Thursday, 23 October 2014

Your Namib Independent

Supplement

247 Exhibitors Confirmed for Erongo

Business and Tourism Expo Tanya Calitz

tbwa.com.na

Speaking to the Expo organisers, it seems that this year will most definitely top last year’s Expo with 247 exhibitors expected to display their goods and services. The Exhibition will take place at the same location as last year, the Walvis Bay Municipal grounds in Nangolo Mbumba Drive from 29 October 01 November. According to Chief Organiser, Vanessa Erasmus, this years event will exhibit more international trade than last year, with exhibitors from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana joining in. The

event will kick off with a Gala Dinner next week Wednesday with the aim to raise funds for the Feeding Scheme focusing on Vulnerable Children and Orphans. This year’s main theme is, “Cultivating Business for the Future”, and SME Compete is on board, who will give training to the SME’s again, same as last year. Visitors can also look forward to lovely food stalls, some music, entertainment for the kid and a display of the finest goods and services. Namport, Walvis Bay Municipality, Erongo Red, Guan’s Packaging Namspace are the main sponsors for this event.

Erongo Business and Tourism Expo Specials Apply for Vehicle and Asset Financing at the Erongo Business and Tourism Expo from 28 October 1 November 2014 to qualify for the following: • Residual Value: 30% • No deposit • Prime less 0.5% Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

*Terms and Conditions Apply. This offer is valid at the Erongo Business and Tourism Expo.

10 | Namport Erongo Business & Tourism Expo Supplement

Thursday, 23 October 2014

Join us at namport

erongo

business

and tourism expo 2014 for all your account enquiries, electricity tariffs, saving tips, application forms, sms power outage notification registration and lucky draw with great prices.

see you there...

red

power to the people

Namport Erongo Business & Tourism Expo Supplement | 11

Thursday, 23 October 2014

A Special Insurer

The National Special Risks Insurance Association (NASRIA), a Section 21 company that provides cover excluded by all other insurance company policies on assets and loss of profit. That “gap” in cover relates to riot, strike, acts of terrorism and politically motivated acts. Although the original need for protection against bomb blast and other violent acts which were prevalent in pre-independence days no longer applies, subsequent events in the political, social & economic arena called for coverage against damage by riots and strikes. The biggest ever claim resulted from strike action which resulted in NASRIA paying nearly N$ 25 000 000. In this context, the Trade and Industry Minister, Mr Immanuel Ngatjizeko, recently expressed concern about the current wave of industrial action by labour movements. The cover also provide by NASRIA extends to politically motivated acts and acts of terrorism (other than by use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons)

There is still an ongoing problem with attempts to develop a secessionist movement in the Caprivi and this could give rise to political activities which could cause damage of a nature only insured by NASRIA. Although Namibia currently seems peaceful and not seriously exposed to the threats referred to above, this can quickly change. As countries in Africa and elsewhere wrestle with unemployment, urban overcrowding, poor housing and malnutrition, the dissatisfaction of all those affected can soon change into something uglier – a small spark can ignite a powder keg. Also the frustrations being expressed by labour movements may easily turn into violence. Namibia is not immune to these threats or even those which we may believe affect only other parts of the World where political and secular agendas so quickly end in mass unrest and violence. None of these potential risks are insured under the standard policies which are relied on to protect assets, loss of profit and vehicles. This “gap” in cover can only be filled by NASRIA.

VISIT THE NIPAM STAND AT THE NAMPORT ERONGO BUSINESS & TOURISM EXPO IN THE NAMIB HALL OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES INCLUDE:

Find out about NIPAM short courses, management development programmes, team building and much more! Spot prizes to be won

· Foundation Programme · Middle Management Development Programme · Middle Management Development Programme for Regional/Local Government · Senior Management Development Programme

TRANSFORMING THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING

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12 | Namport Erongo Business & Tourism Expo Supplement

Thursday, 23 October 2014

ABOUT THE NAMIBIA FILM COMMISSION

The Namibia Film Commission (NFC) is a statutory body that was established by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to support, encourage and promote film productions, film marketing as well as the development of the film industry in Namibia.

Mission

To create a conducive environment that develops a vibrant and sustainable ﬁlm industry.

Vision

To have a ﬁlm industry of excellence that reﬂects Namibia’s cultural diversity and contributes meaningfully to national development.

Objectives

The NFC issues filming permits, assists with information on service providers, be it local crew and technical services, location scouts, aviation services, catering, transport, accommodation and telecommunications. The Namibia Film Commission also provides training, technical assistance and funding to local filmmakers to produce local content that are screened at international film festivals. The Commission furthermore aims at developing a screen culture in Namibia and regularly does screenings of its films to local communities in different regions through-out the year.

NFC @ the Namport Erongo Business & Tourism Expo 2014 Namib Hall Stand No. 27 Film Screenings: Wednesday, 29 October 2014

Thursday, 30 October 2014

Friday, 31 October 2014

Saturday, 1 November 2014

15h00pm: Coming Home (20min)

15h00pm: Tjitji: The Himba Girl (21min)

15h00pm: Coming Home (20min)

14h00pm: Paths to Freedom (105min)

16h00pm: Tjitji: The Himba Girl (21min)

16h00pm: Coming Home (20min)

16h00pm: Tjitji: The Himba Girl (21min)

16h00pm: Waterberg to Waterberg (60min)

18h00pm: Paths to Freedom (105min)

18h00pm: Waterberg to Waterberg (60min)

18h00pm: Paths to Freedom (105min) 19h00pm: Waterberg to Waterberg (60min)

BUY OR WATCH A LOCAL MOVIE AND CHOOSE FROM OUR GORGEOUS PRIZES THROUGHOUT THE EXPO!!! NB: The movie “Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation” and other NFC ﬁlms will be screened upon request by groups of 10. For any enquiries contact: Nicola Muranda @ 081 278 5862 Andy Andjene @ 085 371 8447 or 061 381 900

Making Banking Convenience Happen Nedbank Namibia Limited, is a registered Namibian bank with an exceptionally well-capitalised base in comparison with international standards. It provides a full range of domestic and global services to individual, corporate and international clients through a widespread branch network (including three branches in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund), as well as a business centre and head office in Windhoek. An innovative approach to providing financial services, coupled with in depth knowledge of the Namibian market, a commitment to Namibian development, strong support from

its shareholders, and adherence to international best practice in risk management has enabled the bank to grow. The bank opened its doors for the first time in 1973 as Swabank and has since had three major name changes: from the Bank of South West Africa (Swabank) to The Bank of Namibia Limited (1989), to Commercial Bank of Namibia (1990) and eventually Nedbank Namibia Limited in 2004. The bank is a uniquely competitive force in Namibia, providing a comprehensive range of domestic and international financial services through our dedicated members of staff in 24 branches, and a corporate service centre. Having entered its

fifth decade of existence, our bank’s service-driven culture continues to be reflected in the commitment of our people to delivering consistent and superior service levels to a growing base of corporate, international and individual clients. A proud feature of Nedbank Namibia’s Deep Green Aspiration of being a “green and caring bank” is their unique Go Green Fund, established in 2001, and aimed protecting our country’s pristine natural beauty for future generations. The importance of the Go Green Fund is becoming even more pronounced as a contributor to the triple bottom-line effect. Already considered a pioneering initiative and Namibia’s corporate torchbearer

for environmental protection, the Fund has disbursed more than N$5million to date to a host of deserving projects and initiatives, including the protection of lichen fields and critical studies on dolphin migration along our coastline. At Nedbank Namibia, we are fully aware that environmental conservation is not a choice. It is a responsibility. One we take very seriously. This remains the premise on which we have founded the Go Green Fund, in order to support individuals and organisations that are actively working towards a more sustainable future for Namibia’s people, endemic species and habitats. You can take action too, by helping

us support the conservation projects we select for their holistic approach and positive impact. Make Nedbank Namibia your banking partner next time you buy a house or car and we’ll donate to the Go Green Fund on your behalf – at no extra cost. Across Namibia, for Namibia, Go Green is in action.

Lifestyle | 13

Thursday, 23 October 2014

LIFESTYLE Self-Harm Prominent Amongst Coastal Teens Tara van Eck An alarming number of coastal teens are practising some form of self-harm to cope with the pressures of life, school, relationships and bullies, and this pandemic is on the rise. One such teen was brave enough to have a chat with the Namib Independent about her experience and perhaps give some insight into the issue. “With the ice numbing my arm I can cut deeper and see more blood. The first time I used my pencil sharpeners’ blade to cut myself,” *Jane (pseudonym) told the paper during her interview in Swakopmund. There is a disturbing amount of self-harm cases at the coast. According to a counsellor at Child Line Namibia, her most recent case concerned a boy who tried to set himself on fire. According to research, the number of teens harming themselves is rising, stretching across all ages and both genders, yet it seems to be a topic less talked about. Could it be that stigma and shame are driving this issue underground? As I am driving down to the exclusive Mile 4 in Swakopmund, with beautiful mini mansions all around, it is almost impossible to imagine being unhappy living here. It is here were I came to meet *Jane, who bravely agreed to share her story with us, in the hope to break the stigma and perhaps be the voice of hope for a person in a similar situation. “If my story can help others who suffer from self-harm this interview would be worth it. “I have been cutting myself since I was 13 years old, and I have been suffering with this

secret for more than five years,” she explain. *Jane admits that it is quite hard to explain to people why she cuts herself, considering she does not always understand the issue herself. “People are very judgemental in general and when it comes to self-harm it is no different. The kids at my, school used to bully me and say things like; cut deeper and die, you are just looking for attention,' but that is not the case. “I cut to feel better. When I see the blood running down my arm all my anger, anxiety and frustration bleeds out and it soothes the storm within me. Cutting is a way to cope with my emotions. There is so much pressure to be beautiful, clever and perfect. Talking about my feelings would be a form of me admitting failure and committing social suicide,” she explains as best she can. Despite *Jane’s ongoing struggle she is currently doing much better and her wounds are healing. According to a study conducted by the Oxford University, one in 12 teenagers (mostly girls) engage in self-harm such as cutting, burning, or taking life threatening risks, and about 10 percent of these continue to harm themselves into young adulthood. Self-harm is a very common problem, and many people are struggling to deal with it. Self-harm can be very hard to understand – both for those who do it and also for their loved ones. It is a subject that has not received much attention up until now, and is still treated as a ‘taboo’ by many. “It happens a lot more than people think,” says a counsellor at Child Line Namibia. Often people talk about self-harm as attention-seeking. Most people keep their self-harm private, and it can feel very painful

to have your behaviour misunderstood. There are no fixed rules on why people self-harm. For some people it can be linked to specific experiences, and be a way of dealing with something that is overwhelming now, or past experiences. For others it is less clear, but you do not need to know why you self-harm in order to ask for help. Many find it impossible to understand why young people harm themselves, and how it could possibly help them to feel better. It can be a way to ‘wake up’ in situations where they are so numb they cannot feel anything. Some find it to be a sense of release; others distract their emotional pain by replacing it with physical pain. Young people who self-harm are all too aware of the stigma. It can affect their relationships with friends and family and their sense of self-worth. Self-harming can take on an addictive pattern of behaviour, from which it is very hard to break free. Most young people who harm themselves are aged between 11 and 25. It is often believed that

self-harm is linked to suicide. That is what frightens people the most. But the majority of young people who self-harm are not trying to kill themselves. They are trying to cope with difficult situations. Self-harm is often motivated by bullying. Self-harm is not just a recent Western or first world problem; in fact, we also read about self harm in ancient scripture and anthropology. The big secrecy surrounding this issue is why our young people do not ask for help. Many are worried what others would think of them, when they find out they are hurting themselves intentionally. Many young people feel they do not have anyone to talk too, and nobody would understand. We must try to understand and stop the labelling of victims. Creating awareness will promote change. If you or someone you know is struggling with self-harm please contact: Lifeline Child Line Namibia, 061 232 221 or The Necessity Wellness Profession, 081 489 4684

14 | Worldwide

Thursday, 23 October 2014

W or l dwide Sheep Get High as a Kite After Munching Weed A flock of sheep spent an afternoon stumbling around making strange noises after accidentally feasting on thousands of dollars’ worth of cannabis. Nellie Budd, who manages Fanny’s Farm in Merstham, Surrey, said when she went down to the field she thought someone had simply dumped

some rubbish – and then smelled the illegal plant. But by the time she realised, her greedy sheep had already made their way through seven bags of the Class B drug – worth around N$70 000. “At first I thought it was someone’s hedgerow rubbish. I went down to collect the bags so the sheep were not eating black plastic. When I got there I

realised it was a form of herbal cannabis plant. They were very strong in scent. I have no idea how they got there. It is right next to a road and the footpath is quite open,” she told the Paper. Officers took away the remainder of the drugs but said they could face problems finding where they came from because the sheep had eaten so much of the evidence. Ms Budd, meanwhile, said she did not think there had been any negative side effects to the sheep but added: “I will tell you about the meat next week.”

Boob Billboard Causes

Over 500 Crashes in One Day

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

Elgin Brown & Hamer Namibia (Pty) Ltd An equal opportunity Employer Elgin Brown & Hamer Namibia (Pty) Ltd. is a Marine repair company operating three floating docks. This company consist of various divisions geared to perform large ship repair works and other related projects.

POSITION: ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR Purpose of this position: This job category includes personnel at supervisory level responsible for the monitoring of all Environmental aspects at Elgin Brown & Hammer Namibia during all operations. Key Performance Areas: • Planning, Organizing, Preparations and Communications • Control, Reports and Investigations • Transport and inspections • Training and Development • Human Resource Management Qualifications, Skills, Competencies and Experience Requirements: • Grade 12 Certificate PLUS Environmental Diploma and Basic First Aid Certificate • Minimum of five (05) years related environmental experience of which two (02) years should have been at supervisory level • Good knowledge of environmental matters and compilation of reports • Ability to perform under pressure and work as a team • Computer literacy • Code B driver’s license

Remuneration:

EBH will provide remuneration and benefits relevant and appropriate to the position.

Closing Date: 7th November 2014 Should you meet the requirements and willing to contribute to the success of the organisation, kindly submit your CV and supporting documents for the attention of Mr. Petrus Pandeni Salomo via e-mail to: petrus.s@ebhnamibia.com ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE NOTIFIED. NO DOCUMENTATION OR CV’S WILL BE RETURNED

An advertising campaign showing a woman's breasts has been blamed for more than 500 traffic accidents in one day. The massive adverts placed on the side of 30 trucks driving around Moscow showed a woman's breasts cupped in her hands with the slogan 'They Attract' across her nipples. As the trucks trundled around the streets of the Russian capital, they left a trail of carnage as male drivers became so distracted they ploughed straight into each other. A total of 517 accidents were reported. Furious drivers across Moscow have reportedly bombarded the agency with compensation claims. A

spokesman for AdvTruck.ru, which ran the promotion, said: “We are planning to bring a new advertising format onto the market, encouraging companies to place their ads on the sides of trucks, as we thought this would be a good alternative to putting them on the sides of public transport. We wanted to draw attention to this new format with this campaign. In all cases of accidents, the car owners will receive compensation costs from us that are not covered by their insurance,” he explained. Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Motoring | 15

Thursday, 23 October 2014

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