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Independent Namib
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Tel: 064 200497
Issue 156 - Thurs, 09 July 2015 to Wed, 15 July 2015
“ We can't poison them or catch them in a net, so clubbing them over the head effectively causes instant death. ”
Diamond Arrow Winner Best Community Newspaper 2014
We have been able to agree on basic salary increases, transport allowances, shop steward leave days and living away allowances. Managing Director of Kraatz Marine, Dirk van Niekerk, on the amicable agreement between Kraatz Marine and MANWU.
Charlie Matengu, PRO of Min of Fisheries and Marine Resources on the culling practices which will be performed during this year's annual seal cull. See Page 6
See Page 8
Swakop Uranium records massive job intake
See Page 5
“No law to prevent land occupation” AR Gareth Amos
As the self-imposed deadline for mass land action draws ever nearer to the proposed D-Day, 31 July, the AR movement have recently released a statement indicating that while there is a draconian law relating to squatters on the books, it shall not hold up constitutionally, on account of the fact that it was drafted during the apartheid years with the specific purpose of keeping black people from occupying areas within a police zone. The AR who are to host a rally in
Kuisebmund this weekend, issued this statement on the back of the recent legal consultative forum hosted by the AR that was held on the 4th of July 2015 at the National Theatre of Namibia. In addition the statement highlighted that the AR had received a single donation for N$100 00.00 to be used for bail applications for AR applicants who may be arrested during the mass action demonstrations. Walvis Bay spokesperson for the AR, Mr. Knowledge Ipinge, confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that the group’s leaders shall once again host an event in Walvis Bay to address the
various issues relating to the imminent mass action. “As the time draws ever closer, we recognise the vital need for continued communication and dialogue, not only amongst our own followers but between the local authorities, community leaders and other organisations such as NAMPOL,” stated Ipinge. Ipinge went on to say, “It has been almost a month since we declared publically, that in Walvis Bay, the AR leadership is willing to open a new dialogue with the Walvis Bay Municipality. We have clearly stated that we shall withdraw our deadline for mass action if the
municipality agrees to enter into dialogue with the AR, government, the community at large, business and private or any specialist organisation, to explore tangible short, medium and long term solutions to the challenge. Despite this we have heard only silence emanate from the council”. For five weeks the Namib Independent have met with, called, emailed and begged the Walvis Bay Municipality for any statement whatsoever relating the 9500 applications it received from AR applicants, the public offer to them to open dialogue, the threat of land mass action or indeed
Continued on Page 3
Walvis Bay Municipality unveils three year budget Absalom Shigwedha
July marks the start of Namibia's annual seal cull, which lasts until November raising condemnation from the international community who have asked the Government to stop this cruelty by flooding social media with protest sites - for full story see Page 6
about the safety and wellbeing of all of its constituents. However thus far the municipality have not issued a single statement. Mr. Kevin Adams, spokesperson for the Walvis Bay Municipality could say only that they need not issue a statement on the subject at all and that the issue shall be dealt with through the correct channels. The newspaper does have it on good grounds, though that the boxes containing the some 9500 official, legal applications from the AR members were dusted off only a week ago. This insight collaborates statements made by the
The 2015/2016 Walvis Bay's capital and operating budget was tabled on Tuesday this week and it was revealed that capital projects with the total value of N$ 756 million will be executed by the Walvis Bay Municipality over the next three years. Tabling the budget, Councillor Tony Raw, said the total amount on the capital budget for the 2015/2016 has been recorded at N$336 million. He went on to say that the capital projects that will be undertaken include land development projects costing N$171 million, community and social projects to the tune of N$27 million, infrastructure related projects at N$39 million, service delivery related projects costing N$41 million, vehicle replacement and additions costing N$11 million and projects below N$500,000 totalling N$38 million.
Raw explained that land delivery projects run over more than one financial year and thus between 2015 and 2017, Council will have delivered well in access of 1,500 ervens across all suburbs in Walvis Bay. Provisions, he said, have also been made for about 74 industrial ervens. Community and social projects that will be undertaken include the construction of a community centre in Narraville, a Satellite Fire Station and Municipal accounts Payments Office in Tutaleni, industrial stalls in Kuisebmond, the development of new campsite facilities at Dolphin Park and the upgrading of sport facilities at the town. Infrastructure related projects, said Raw, will be mainly made up of the re-sealing of streets and sidewalks in all suburbs of the town as well as surfacing of sidewalks and tarring of streets. Under service delivery related Continued on Page 3