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namib times SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6532 FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2016 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net
Monday is D-day for input on time change The coastal public, as Namibians countrywide, has till Monday to air an opinion as to whether the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration has to abolish winter time, applicable to Namibia by law since 1994. All submissions must be sent to: legal. division@mha.gov.na (See related article on page 5). Namibians adjust their watches one hour back on the first Sunday of April of every year (GMT+1). Equally watches are adjusted one hour forward on the first Sunday of September of every year (GMT +2). Although it is accurate for Namibia to have two time zones, due to the country's geographic location, the practicality however, falls short. In a statement in Windhoek earlier this
week, the Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana said some 450 written submissions had been received from Namibians over the issue of possibly doing away with winter time. Submissions quoted many challenges Namibians face during winter time, when the country is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and one hour ahead of South African time (South
Africa permanently remains on GMT +2). The most prominent problems highlighted include the fact that it becomes dark very early during winter time, when most people are commuting from work home. Secondly daily business schedules between Namibia and South Africa are interrupted due to the one hour time difference. The same goes for border post business hours.
Hopes high for leap year babies Leap year occurs on Monday when the month of February ends with 29 days, and not 28 days as in a normal year. Leap year occurs every fourth calendar year when the Gregorian calendar year consists of 366 days and not 365,25 days. A year on the Grego- Although it can be In many countries lerian calendar is ap- quite fun to be 58 years gislation determines proximately the time it old in real terms, but the birthdate of a pertakes for the earth to re- t h e o r e t i c a l l y o n l y son born on 29 Februvolve around the sun seventeen years old as ary as either 28 Febru(365,25 days). In order you were born on 29 ary or 1 March of that to account for this February of a leap year, year, depending on the quarter day every year, there is little practical country and its laws. every four years these benefit for the person. Whatever your take is four quarters constitu- You age at the same on leap year, namib tes a full day. pace as those born in a times certainly hopes there are leap year What makes leap year normal year. babies born on Monparticularly interesting Equally your chalis those born on 29 Fe- lenges in life are most day and we will spare bruary in real terms on- likely also not different no effort to announce ly have a birthday eve- from that of any other them to our readers in Tuesday's edition. ry four years. person.
Standard naval vessels for SADC The days might soon be numbered where industrialised countries scramble for Southern Africa's lucrative defense markets on a first come first serve basis. If the different naval forces in SADC have their way, the future will be in a common naval vessel for all SADC countries, manufactured locally and all spare parts locally available. Pictured right: Namibia’s NS Elephant, built in China. Continues on page 2
inside Abnormal cargo growth
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SADC Navies meet
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Theft inside story Page 4
Know your status
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Photo by BernabĂŠ Blaauw
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