RDJ Briefing - July 2020 by RDJ Briefing

JULY, 2020

The Namibia

ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY News & Analysis

Microeconomics Vs Macroeconomics

THE DILEMMA

IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE: Repo Rate Reduced Again Contributions Made Towards Covid-19 Releif

Namibia’s Economy Slows Down in the First Quarter of 2020

Namport Determined to Remain Afloat During the New Normal

Women In Mentorship: Interview with Ms Mavis Elias The Vital Role of Giving Back: Interview with Ms. Martha Festus

The NAMIBIA Country Briefing of RDJ Consulting

C O N T E N T S 4

From The Editor

Quick Facts

Economy at Large

Oil & Gas

Mining

Electricity

Renewable Energy

Water

Environment & Sustainability

Roads and Transport

Telecommunications

Financing

"Women in Industry"

"Youth In Action"

Tenders and Careers

Contributing Authors

JULY, 2020

From the Editor Microeconomics Vs Macroeconomics

THE DILEMMA

Dear Reader,

RDJ Consulting Services CC is an advisory consultancy to the Energy, Water and Transport Sectors with a focus on sustainable operations and renewable energy.

PO Box 23738 Windhoek, NAMIBIA Telephone +264 61 400 171 EMAIL briefing@rdjconsulting.co.za WEBSITE www.rdjconsulting.co.za

As the new normal becomes enshrined in our psyche, economies are now dragged into the “micro and macro-economic” debate for a way forward. While macroeconomics allows analysis of the decisions made by countries and governments, microeconomics studies individuals and local level business decisions thus begging the question; Are our governments looking at its people (micro) or the general economy (macro)? So, this month our talented writers and interns look at the dilemma these actions are having at the Micro and Macro levels of the Namibian economy. At the macroeconomic level, we see how the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is continuously breaking annual meeting records and simultaneously reducing the repo rate to stimulate spending through lower borrowing costs. In line with this, we also now see the commercial banks cutting their interest rates to their clients. At the microeconomic level however, jobs numbers are under pressure and so we see financial and material donations made by individuals and businesses to assist the needy as well as support the government efforts towards Covid-19 relief. Despite all these efforts, the economy is still predicted to further slowdown in future due to the various complexities. Can we then say that lower rates would really increase borrowing and keep businesses afloat during this pandemic? Is the move by the MPC and the continuous donations really the solution? Or are we facing a dilemma going forward? To find out more, please enjoy reading this Publication which was carefully prepared for you by our interns and do join our conversations on Twitter and Wordpress . So, if you are new to the RDJ Briefing, subscribe to this FREE Publication at briefing@rdjconsulting.co.za and freely share the link with others that will benefit from its contents. Enjoy, #Stay Safe and Comments are welcome….

(David A. Jarrett) Editor

Authors RDJ Interns*

This report is a FREE Publication and was prepared by RDJ Consulting Services CC based in Windhoek, Namibia. The content is collected from publicly available information and so its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

89%

Literacy Rate

-1.1%

GDP Growth (2019)

4.0% Repo Rate

66.6%

Employment

2.3M

7.75%

Interest rate (Prime)

2.1%

Population Size

Inflation (CPI)- July 2020

quick facts

8.8M

LTE

Telecom (sophistication)

Tourism, Mining, Fishing Industries

2.575

Million Mobile(cell phones) Subscribers

Water availability (cubic litres/capita)

484.000

Electricity Gen. in MW (Local)

629.000

Electricity Demand in MW (all)

JULY, 2020

THE ECONOMY AT LARGE

Credit: RDJ Consulting

Repo Rate Reduced Again

0.4% Increase for CPI May 2020

he Namibian Central Bank (Bank of Namibia) has reduced the repurchase rate (Repo rate) by another 25 basis points on the 17th of June 2020,

bringing the repo rate to 4.00% which is the lowest shortterm interest rate recorded ever since the country’s independence. The Monetary Policy Committee has now met four times since January 2020 and have reduced the repo rate by a total of 250 points all together since then. The repo rate is an important microeconomic policy tool that can be used by monetary authorities to control inflation. A decrease in the repo rate makes short-term borrowing lucrative for banks, thereby increasing the money flow and consumption. While the underlying reason for decreasing the rate is to support domestic economic activity which is still affected by Covid-19, the move is also the Bank’s way of safeguarding the one-onone link between the Namibian Dollar and the South African Rand. The South African Reserve Bank has set their repo rate at 3.75%, which is 25 basis points below the Namibian repo rate.

he Namibian Consumer Price Index (NCPI) is used as the basis to show the rate of inflation experienced by consumers. It has increased by

0.4% in May 2020 from the historical low rate of 1.6% recorded in the preceding month. On an annual basis, the inflation rate slowed to 2.1 percent from 4.1 percent recorded in May 2019. The slow growth in the annual inflation in May 2020 was largely attributed to housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels category (from 1.9 percent to -0.6 percent); and Transport (from 7.6 percent to -0.1 percent). The Zonal inflation rates for the month of May 2020 as presented by the Namibia Staistics Agency are as follows: Zone 1 (Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi) = 2.3% Zone 2 (Khomas) = 1.9% Zone 3 (// Karas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke) = 1.9%

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JULY, 2020

NSA Releases its First Edition of the NPPI

The graph depicts the Percentage Change in Producer Price Index (measured in Basis Points) of in the three industries from the first quarter 2019 to 2020.

he Namibian Statistics Agency (NSA) has released the first Producer Price Index (NPPI) for Namibia, covering data for three industries. The data is used

to assess the changes in producer prices in the key sectors. These industries are: 1. Manufacture of cement, lime and plaster; 2. Electric power generation, transmission distribution; and 3. Water collection, treatment and Supply.

and

In fact, Namibia has never had its own PPI and has been relying on a proxy from South Africa. Therefore, after several discussions on possible release of a local PPI since 2017, Namibia is now proud to launch its first PPI edition, already outlining NPPI results for the first quarter of 2020 (January to March), and is measured in basis points. According to NSA, the PPI measures the rate of change in the prices of goods and services bought and sold by local producers and is designed to measure the average change in the price of goods and services either as they leave the place of production or as they enter the production process. The index does not include imported products thus, the prices for monitoring changes in the PPI

behaviour are measured from the perspective of the producer. The PPI is a key and important microeconomic indicator which is used to minimize uncertainty in economic analysis and decision making created by price instability. The annual percentage change in PPI (in basis points)for the three industries are as follows: 1. Manufacturing of cement, lime and plaster was stagnant during the first quarter of 2020 compared with a deflation of 9.2 percent recorded in the same quarter of 2019. The index remained unchanged at 98.1 basis point since the final quarter of 2018. 2. Electric power generation, transmission and distribution recorded a deflation of 23.9 percent in the first quarter of 2020, representing a decrease to 116.1 basis points compared to 2.9 percent, an equivalence of 152.5 basis points recorded in the first quarter of 2019. 3. Water collection, treatment and supply stood at 6.1 percent in first quarter of 2020, representing 144.3 basis points, compared to 11.0 percent during the same period for the previous year, representing 136.0 basis points.

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JULY, 2020

Bank Windhoek Announces New Interest Rates and Fees

CREDIT: RDJ Photo

ank Windhoek has adjusted their interest rates, in line with the Bank of Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Monetary Policy Committee. The Bank has further cut its PrimeÂ Lending Rate from 8.00% to 7.75% and the Mortgage Lending Rate from 9.00% to 8.75% effective from 23rd June 2020. According to the Head of Funding and Liquidity Management at Bank Windhoek, the Bank is hoping to see some recovery in economic activity as the cuts are aimed at easing the debt burden of customers. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on customers, the Bank has announced further reductions on the following fees, effective from 01 July 2020: The monthly account management fees for Transaction and Current Accounts have been reduced by 5%. Point-of-Sale transaction fees have been reduced to encourage customers to make use of their debit cards for transactions which is much safer than carrying cash. Minimum EasyWallet charge for sending money has been reduced to N$10.95 per transaction, in addition the recipients first withdrawal for the day remains free of charge.

Inter account transfer fees via iBank, Mobile App and ATMs have been reduced to encourage the use of these convenient channels. Digital banking services remain free of charge with no annual or monthly fees. These include Internet Banking, their Mobile App, Cell phone Banking, EasyWallet. In addition, their AlertMe SMS notifications for debit and credit transactions also remain free. These alerts equip customers to be informed of all activity on their transaction accounts and reduce the risk of losses due to fraudulent transactions. Pricing of value-added services such as Go-TV, DSTV and Box-Office, have remained unchanged. E-Statements are free, and customers are encouraged to register for it as the cost of printing and issuing monthly statements will increase from October 2020.

Readings: www.bankwindhoek.com.na https://www.bankwindhoek.com.na/Pages/News/Bank-Windhoekannounces-new-interest-rates-june.aspx

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JULY, 2020

Namibia’s Economy Slows Down in the First Quarter of 2020

AUTHOR: Ms. Naemi Shoopala Head - Research @ RDJ Consulting

he global economic environment has deteriorated as the world faces the worst setback since the Great Depression of the 1930s, due to the ongoing

COVID-19 pandemic which has caused a massive health crisis across the world. Governments worldwide have imposed severe restrictions and lockdown measures to curb the spread of the pandemic, subsequently bringing economic activity to a standstill in the process. Drastic measures, new reforms, prompt monetary policy decisions as well as an extended government spending have all been undertaken in such a short period of time. The available GDP data points to slower global economic growth during the first quarter of 2020 and Namibia is not an exception from the catastrophe. The national lockdown which was taken as a measure to combat the novel coronavirus in Namibia has brought about obstacles to both regular production and consumption habits. Economic stakeholders have been on the edge monitoring the situation on a regular basis for prompt decisions towards sudden changes in order to adjust accordingly.

The Lockdown Impact on Households and Businesses Although measures taken such as the lockdown and social distancing lessened the direct health impact of Covid-19, the virus, and the containment response to it had significant negative impacts on the various sectors of the domestic economy. The most affected sectors include Exports, Beverage Production, new Vehicle Sales, Construction, Transport and Hospitality. Industries such as tourism and entertainment have lost almost all revenue immediately as a result of the social distancing measures. The lockdown process which prohibited the sale of alcohol in both stage 2 and 3, saw the economy denied of N$970 million, leaving about 70 000 people directly and indirectly employed in the industry, negatively affected.

Furthermore, many households have been unable to earn income from other sources, making it difficult for them to meet their financial obligations. This immediately posed a threat to financial stability and prompted regulators to declare immediate relief measures to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on the economy.

Bank of Namibia's Assessment According to the Bank of Namibia’s (BoN) Quarterly Bulletin for June 2020, activity in the domestic economy slowed during the first quarter of 2020, and this was driven by weak performances across a number of key sectors. These key sectors included Mining, Agriculture, Tourism, Transport, Manufacturing and Wholesale and Retail Trade. Despite the decline, an improvement was observed in the Communication, Construction, Electricity Sectors, as well as the Production of diamond and gold during the same period. This improvement did not however offset the decline in the overall outcome because the value of goods and services provided by Namibia's economically active sectors between January and March 2020 was down by N$380 million compared to 2019. Namibia had an output of N$44.1 billion in 2019 which now decreased to N$43.7 billion in the comparable period before the outbreak of Covid-19. The 0.8% slowdown in output is attributed to the rolling impact of Covid-19 that started in other global players and the low production figures are set to prevail over a larger part of 2020.

Moody’s and Bank Ratings The Namibia Dollar (with its linkages) has depreciated rapidly on the back of concerns over the impact of the virus as well as the decision by Moody’s Investor Service to downgrade South Africa. These national credit ratings affect a country’s borrowing costs because the lower the credit rating, the higher the cost of borrowing will be. The outlook for the exchange rates remains uncertain and will

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JULY, 2020

CREDIT: RDJ Photo

now largely depend on how the pandemic is managed. The Bank of Namibia has reduced the repo rate by a total of 2.50% in order to stimulate the economy, but despite the repo rate and prime rate hitting the lowest point ever in history, the performance of the economy is still expected to remain slow. Persisting in fighting the further impact of the pandemic to individuals and businesses, the Minister of Finance announced the implementation of a N$8.1 billion stimulus package in April 2020, to support households and corporates during the COVID-19 crisis. The stimulus package is expected to help mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on the economy.

Economic Projections Ever since the outbreak of Covid-19, projections have been revised downward on account of the impact of the COVID-19. The domestic economy contracted in 2019 with 1.1% but despite the contraction, a positive outlook was projected in 2020 as it was believed that most of the economic shortfalls in 2019 occurred from the elongated drought period that persisted throughout 2020. As of now, Real GDP is expected to contract by 6.9 percent in 2020 and rebound to positive growth of 1.8 percent in 2021. The prevailing low inflationary rates in the first quarter are

not praise worth either as they are mainly on account of weak domestic economic activity and deflationary pressure in the rental market.

Readings: https://www.bon.com.na/CMSTemplates/Bon/Files/bon.com.na/5e/5e33c01 a-2d05-4f1f-af6f-80ab47ce7bd9.pdf https://www.bon.com.na/CMSTemplates/Bon/Files/bon.com.na/08/088e3cd 9-812d-4ba9-a8e4-ab94ab876c45.pdf https://www.namibian.com.na/91766/read/National-output-dips-in-firstquarter https://www.reuters.com/article/ozabs-uk-namibia-economyidAFKBN21D2MA-OZABS https://www.nbc.na/news/namibia-face-worst-drought-years.20567 http://www.npc.gov.na/?wpfb_dl=44 https://www.moodys.com/researchandratings/region/africa/southafrica/042034/042034/-/-1/0/-/0/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/global/pdf/-/rra https://economist.com.na/53138/headlines/moodys-downgrades-namibiascredit-ratings-outlook-from-stable-to-negative/ https://www.bon.com.na/CMSTemplates/Bon/Files/bon.com.na/e3/e31984f 0-d82f-4dc4-9b61-a383d9e64014.pdf https://www.namibian.com.na/89867/read/Govt-rolls-out-N$81b-Covid-19stimulus https://www.namibiansun.com/news/lockdown-slaughters-namibianeconomy2020-06-12/ https://www.namibian.com.na/91743/read/Alcohol-ban-bleeds-economyN$970m https://www.bon.com.na/getattachment/5e33c01a-2d05-4f1f-af6f80ab47ce7bd9/.aspx

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JULY, 2020

OIL AND GAS July Fuel Prices Remained Unchanged

CREDIT: RDJ Photo

he Ministry of Mines and Energy has decided to keep July fuel prices unchanged, leaving the prices of petrol at N$10.35 per litre and Diesel at N$11.13

per litre, respectively. The decision to keep the prices unchanged was taken despite the ongoing market corrections in the global oil market which experienced a huge oil price crash in April 2020 due to national lockdowns in countries all over the world as a means of curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus. While cases of infected persons continue to grow in most countries, nations have resorted to adapting to the new normal by improving markets with resilient cushioning in order to accommodate the possibility of having to live with the novel coronavirus longer than it was initially expected given new reports done by experts which predicts that the virus might linger around for the next two years (bloomberg.com).

and as a result demand for oil has started shooting up again causing an increase in the price of oil to move from the low U$32 and U$31 recorded in May, to U$44 and for both petrol and Diesel in June 2020. This increase is roughly about U$12, which was fortunately met by an appreciation in the Namibian dollar against the U$ from an average of N$18.5 in May to N$17.01 in June. The appreciation of the Namibian Dollar against the American Dollar was however not strong enough to offset the corresponding increase in the international price of petrol and diesel. Under recoveries were recorded but because of the current economic situation in which all stakeholders are still striving for survival, the National Energy Fund has opted to absorb the full under recoveries recorded, leaving the prices of both petrol and diesel unchanged.

Readings:

As coronavirus restrictions around the world are being lifted, the global oil market has begun picking itself up

June 2020 Fuel Prices

www.mme.gov.naÂ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-01/covid-19-pandemiclikely-to-last-two-years-report-says

N$ 10.35

N$ 11.13

per litre

95 Octane Unleaded Petrol

Diesel 50ppm

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JULY, 2020

Engen Gives a Boost to Namibia’s Bunkering

CREDIT: RDJ Photo

ngen has increased marine bunkering supply in Namibia after taking possession of the exclusive services of a 2000 MT Barge (Sarah) ship with a

Gross Tonnage of 1372 Tons, a Deadweight of 1975 Tons, pumping capacity of 200m³/hr. the ship has a length of 77.4 metres and width of 10.6 metres. In shipping, bunkering refers to the fuelling of ships with marine used to power them, and also includes food and drinking water supplies for the crew (marquardbahls.com). According to Namport, the bunkering will also be made available to rigs, support services and offshore passing vessels lying at anchorage, for the bunkering of Gasoil at the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz. Christian Li, the Managing Director of Engen in Namibia reported that Engen is a firm supporter of Namport’s

vision to attract increased cargo to the Port of Walvis Bay and position the Walvis Bay Corridor as a natural gateway for international trade, by offering direct access to principal shipping routes. He also added that the service of the Barge MT Sarah is a first for Namibia and a welcome addition to bunkering operations, as it will help to decongest berths, offer a much-needed alternative to pipelines and truck delivery, and create much-needed employment.

Readings: https://www.marquard-bahls.com/en/newsinfo/glossary/detail/term/bunkering-marine-fuelling.html https://www.namport.com.na/news/739/Namibia-Big-boost-forNamibian-Bunkering-as-Engen-Secures-Services-of-2000-MTBarge/ https://www.engen.co.za/media/media-release/big-boostnamibian-bunkering-engen-secures-services-2000-mt-barge

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JULY, 2020

MINING Antler Gold Further Consolidates Landholdings at Erongo Gold Project

Image Credit: www.namibiacriticalmetals.com

ntler Gold Inc. (TSXV: ANTL) announced the further consolidation of its land holdings for the Central Erongo Gold Project through the acquisition of the

Exclusive Prospecting License (EPL 6408) from a Namibian citizen through its Namibian wholly owned subsidiary Antler Namibia (Pty) Ltd. EPL 6408 lies adjacent to the northeast of EPL 7261 which Antler has under option and is under laid by the Kranzberg Fault. Antler Gold Inc. (TSXV: ANTL) is a Canadian company, focused on the acquisition and exploration of gold projects in Namibia. Antler's Erongo Gold Project covers areas of the Navachab-Damara Belt, which is highly prospective for gold, and overlies similar lithologies and structures as the known Namibian Gold mines (QKR's Navachab and B2 Golds' Otjikoto) as well as the recent Twin Hills Discovery. The release was reviewed and approved by Peter Hollick, the consulting geologist. According to the Purchase Agreement, Antler may acquire an 85% interest in EPL 6408 by paying the vendor a cash payment of N$6 500 upon signing of the Agreement and paying a further

N$25,000 upon the satisfactory completion of a 21 day due diligence period and finally payment of N$25 000 or issuance of C$1 500 (C$ - Canadian Dollar) which is approximately N$18 731.9 upon the successful transfer of the EPL into a subsidiary of Antler Namibia (Pty) Ltd. Upon earning the 85% interest, Antler and the Vendor will enter into a standard participating joint venture agreement which shall contain terms providing that if the Vendor's interest is reduced to less than 10%, its interest will automatically be converted into a 5% free carried interest which can be purchased by Antler at any time for the payment of C$25 000 approximately N$312 199 or the issuance of C$25 000 (N$312 199 equivalent) of Antler common shares. The decision to pay cash or issue shares will be at Antler's option.

Readings: https://www.juniorminingnetwork.com/junior-miner-news/pressreleases/2048-tsx-venture/antl/79133-antler-gold-further-consolidateslandholdings-at-erongo-project-namibia.html https://antlergold.com/ https://www.namport.com.na/news/749/Antler-Gold-Further-ConsolidatesLandholdings-at-Erongo-Project-Namibia/ https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/antler-gold-furtherconsolidates-landholdings-at-erongo-project-namibia-2020-06-23

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JULY, 2020

ELECTRICITY

CREDIT: RDJ Photo

Electricity Producer Price Decreases in Q1 of 2020

NamPower Brings Electricity to Omakange School and Community

he first ever Producer Price Index (PPI) published by the Namibian Statistics Agency (NSA) which encompasses data on the water, cement, and

electricity production sectors to evaluate the variations in prices in these sectors has shown a downward trend in the electricity producer price in the first quarter of 2020. The report states that electricity producer price deflated by 23.9% in the first quarter of 2020 compared to a 2.9% decline in the same period in 2019. Moreover the 23.9% deflation shows that the price of electricity drastically dropped to the benefit of consumers despite the country being a net importer of power from South Africa. This is consistent with the decreased demand for power in the country. NSA further noted that the percentage change of producer price index for water collection and supply, water treatment and supply stood at 6.1% in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 when it increased by 11 percent.

Readings:

In June 2020, Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Power Utility Company, NamPower provided supply to another school and its local community.

Nampower is the supplier of bulk electricity for Namibia and had thus cosidered Omakange and its local community, situated in the Ruacana constituency of the Kunene region to be a worthy beneficiary The project, estimated at a cost of N$21 millionincluded some nine transformer points. These works will benefit the local community and enhance business and education in the area. This project is one of many that NamPower Plans to help expand Rural Electrification in Namibia.

Readings: www.nampower.com.na https://neweralive.na/posts/omakange-finally-joins-national-grid https://www.namibianewsdigest.com/rural-electrification-project-broughtto-omakange/

https://d3rp5jatom3eyn.cloudfront.net/cms/assets/documents/Namibia_PPI _Bulletin_for_Q1_2020.pdf https://www.namibiansun.com/news/namibian-electricity-producer-pricedown-by-2392020-06-29/ https://energycentral.com/news/namibian-electricity-producer-price-down239 https://www.namibian.com.na/92199/read/Electricity-producer-price-down

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JULY, 2020

CREDIT: RDJ Photo

CoW Erects 11 High Mast Lights in Informal Settlements

CoW's Plans to Hiking Tariffs is Declined

he City of Windhoek (CoW) Recently erected 11 high mast-lights with the aim to improve its resident’s lives through fighting crime and other

espite the Electricity Control Board (ECB) announcing in April 2020 that there would be a 0% increase in bulk tariffs for NamPower for the

illicit activities in Windhoek’s informal settlement. The lights were erected in December 2019 however, they were only switched on recently. The poor lighting in many parts of the informal settlements, which has primarily contributed towards increased crime and other social evils, was the main motivation for this move. Reason why, the CoW is also working on erecting two more lights at Groot Aub to improve people’s livelihoods. Currently, a budget that is yet to be approved was also drawn by the City to provide electricity to individual households. A number of households in Babylon and One Nation have been connected to the power grid. Hence, serving a great deal to informal settlement businesses, by making them more efficient. This act is also beneficial to students in these settlements, as well as the public at large to easily access news updates during the current pandemic. Additionally, on the 28 May 2020, the CoW and NamPower signed an agreement that will see the power utility spend N$15.5 million to provide electricity to some of Windhoek’s informal settlements. According to the agreement, NamPower will provide electricity to 1000 households, as part of their corporate social investment, contributing to the improvement of the lives of communities living in informal settlement areas, in and around Windhoek which is also aligned to the City of Windhoek’s five-year electrification plan. The nine informal areas identified for electrification are: Babylon, Havana Ex 1, Havana Ex 3, Havana Proper, Okahandja Park, One Nation, Ongulumbashe and Otjomuise Ex 6 & 7.

The City of Windhoek Municipality authorised a proposal to increase tariffs on electricity by 2% in June 2020. In face of an increase in expenses, with limited sources of income amidst the Covid-19 stricken economy, the municipality resorted into sharing the financial burden with its consumers. The revenue to be collected from the increment is expected to help partially finance some projects like the electrical infrastructure Capex (budgeted at N$49 million), as well as the purchase of operational vehicles and equipment. According to the Namibian newspaper, the document submitted by the municipality stated that the electricity department of the municipality has a shortage of operating vehicles and equipment due to obsolete machinery that is no longer reliable, and those that become irreparable once broken down. The proposal by the municipality was recently evaluated and declined by the ECB, however, the reason for this is still unknown.

Readings: https://www.ecb.org.na https://issuu.com/rdjbriefing/docs/rdj_briefing_-_may_2020 https://www.namibian.com.na/91733/read/City-ups-tariffs-to-buy-vehicles https://www.namibian.com.na/93059/read/ECB-rejects-Windhoek-tariffhikeproposal

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JULY, 2020

RENEWABLE ENERGY ANIREP Holds Major Shares in Hopsol Power Generation

he capital-for-energy mobiliser company is in the news for acquiring a majority shareholding in HopSol Power Generation (Pty) Ltd; an Independe-

nt Power Producer (IPP). Alpha Namibia Industries Renewable Energy Power Limited (ANIREP) was established in 2018 for the purpose of facilitating the investment of long-term capital in infrastructural renewable energy projects in Namibia and Sub-Sahara Africa with an initial focus on the generation, transmission and distribution of renewable energy. According to a stock market filing, as an IPP, Hopsol’s 25year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) allows them to produce 10 MW from two 5MW solar PV grid connected utility plants were commissioned in 2015 and 2016, respectively. ANIREP additionally now holds 70% of interest in HopSol Power Generation, on top of the 80% shares it already obtained in HopSol Africa (Pty) Ltd in April 2020 this announcement was made on the Namibian Stock Exchange and according to them, ANIREP can now apply for a re-classification on their listing. According to ANIREP’s Managing Director, the completion of the two deals supplies a sustainable platform from which they will enlarge the existing 10 MW solar PV capacity. She further went on to say that the arrangement will allow the company to deliver a bridge for capital markets to fund renewable energy projects. One of the main reasons why ANIREP invested in HopSol Power Generation (Pty) Ltd and HopSol Africa is to acquire competitive edge in Namibia's solar power industry. HopSol Africa includes the headquarter office in Windhoek and its two subsidiaries in neighbouring countries, South Africa and Zambia, and was awarded the achievement for Namibia's biggest off-grid solar power by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The endorsement was ratified between February and March 2020 by regulators such as NamPower, the Electricity Control Board and the Namibian Competition Commission.

Readings: https://www.anirep.com/ https://www.namibian.com.na/92174/read/Anirep-acquires-HopSol-PowerGeneration https://www.hopsol.com/

Shifting the Biomass Industry to the Domestic Market

recent study done by Klaus Schade, an economic analyst who is currently the Director of the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN), was prese-

-nted to the GIZ and has identified potential in the biomass industry. The study indicated that the industry could greatly help diversify and industrialise the Namibian economy. This is said to be achievable through investments towards the industry and policy formation which could then lead to valuable spillovers for the sluggish economy. In the study, Schade said domestically produced bushbased animal feed could save the country in foreign exchange reserves, considering the increase in animal fodder imports by N$1.2 billion in 2019 alone. Namibia has imported bran of maize and other input material for animal fodder at a net value of N$833 million during 2019 which is a 119% increase from the N$385 million recorded in 2018. The import analysis which shows an upward trend in imports for input material for animal fodder indicate potential for foreign exchange savings by converting bush into animal feed domestically. The sector is reportedly on the rise as the number of imported machineries for the preparation of bush-based animal feed increased by 25% between 2018 and September 2019 (from N$40 million to N$50 million). This however can be decreased since Namibian companies can also manufacture the required machinery. Schade believes Namibian companies are capable of running the manufacturing sector to produce the necessary machinery. Shifting this to the domestic market will decrease machinery import rates leading to not only an increase in support for local producers, but to also increased competition. The study shows that demand for domestically produced machinery has increased significantly during 2019, however, due to the small scale production capabilities of local manufacturers, supply of the needed products do not always meet the market demand. This however needs to drastically change as "Namibian manufacturers need to start producing on a large scale level in order to meet the demands of all". Schade urges the assistance of domestic producers for input materials to help accomplish this goal. Approving the bush-based animal feed as a commercial product via the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform can help to promote the sector further.

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JULY, 2020

WATER July 2020 Dam Levels

The graph depicts the present water capacity as a percentage of full their full capacity. Data obtained from: NamWater Weekly Dam Bulletin (https://www.namwater.com.na/)

Despite the end of the rainy season, the surface water reservoirs managed by the Namibia Water Corporation are still retaining their water at higher levels (except for the Otjivero main dam, Dreihuk dam, Omaruru Delta dam and Omatjenne dam that usually hold less quantities of water), and their water levels are evidently higher now in comparison to levels recorded in June 2019. This shows that there has been less evaporation, which is also triggered by the current cold climatic condition of the country.

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JULY, 2020

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY BEE Biofuel Introduces Green Sanitisers

CREDIT: cottonbro on Pexels.com

EE Biofuels Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd (Be Energy Efficient) is a 100% Namibian-owned company that manufactures biofuel locally in Namibia to substit-

-ute or blend with petroleum-based fuel to lessen carbon emissions. Recently, BEE Biofuels has shifted its production to sanitizers by means of ink disposed of by a local printing company thus adapting to recent obstacles to both regular production and consumption habits, due to COVID-19. BEE Biofuel refines ethanol to produce hand sanitizers, surface sanitizers and antibacterial hand soap. The company went into a partnership with Nedbank Namibia for this specific business venture of which demand increased rapidly in recent months. Nedbank Namibia offers an innovative programme, specifically designed to fund or assist local businesses to enable them to seize opportunities in greening the country’s economy with the goal to protect the country’s pristine natural beauty and heritage at heart, through reducing, reusing and recycling. Through its aim to reduce carbon emissions, BEE Biofuels is driven by the belief that any waste can be raw material for another company or industry. The company has stepped up to meet one of the principal needs during the global pandemic. Sanitizers are one of the most important products in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, recycling of waste materials encourages a more circular economy

where Namibian industries move closer to depending more on local firms for survival, rather than importing from outside the country. Although BEE Biofuel has been a small-scale producer of these products, it recently increased its production due to the great demand in the local market. The company also imports additional ethanol from South Africa despite the high cost, as the local supply is extremely limited. In conclusion, Both BEE Biofuels and Nedbank Namibia remain vigilant of their carbon emission aim as well as that of communities and the country. During this ongoing pandemic, Namibian companies are encouraged to support each another to a greater degree in a combined effort to avoid production obstacles in the future. BEE has taken on the path that all stakeholders need to gravitate towards in order to achieve the paradigm of economic growth. Consumers are also encouraged to buy and support local products, which can in turn lead to an increase in Gross domestic Product (GDP) and bring along other economic benefits.

Readings: www.biofuelnamibia.com https://economist.com.na/53594/retail/local-business-creates-ethanolbased-sanitiser/ https://neweralive.na/posts/bee-biofuel-produces-green-sanitisers-fromdiscarded-in https://www.namibian.com.na/91854/read/Discarded-ink-turned-intosanitiser

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JULY, 2020

ROADS AND TRANSPORT Namport Determined to Remain Afloat During the New Normal

CREDIT: RDJ Photo

he unexpected Covid-19 pandemic and it’s unforeseeable impacts has created economic shocks through disruption of economic activities

in most sectors especially during the national lockdown, which saw a lot of economic activities come to a complete halt, while others continued at the lowest minimum rate in order to stay afloat. While the numbers of Covid-19 infected persons in Namibia were at the lowest until May 2020 compared to the neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Zambia, fear around the unforeseen circumstances and the unknown duration of the pandemic has been the driving force behind obstruction in industries. Of the companies trying to stay afloat, Namibian Ports Authority (Namport)’s journey during the first half of 2020 has been a positive one. Other forms of transportation such as Road have been limited to essentials while international flights have been cancelled. These dynamics have shifted most of the weight on Sea transport and have thus pushed the volume of cargo upwards. The NamPort has just commissioned a new terminal container in August 2019 and hit a new record when the Maersk Sheerness, the largest container vessel ever, successfully docked at the new container terminal in the port of Walvis Bay in April. The company is also earning revenue from empty ships that have been allowed to park at their ports (Walvis Bay and Luderitz) in May 2020. With an added advantage of the expansion of the Walvis Bay port, landlocked countries like Zambia, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe preferred shipping through Walvis Bay than the ports of Durban in South Africa and Beira in Mozambique due to the high number of infected patients with corona virus.

In a press statement, Namport's executive for commercial services mentioned that both Walvis Bay and Luderitz ports controlled cargo amounting to 5 561 999 tonnes between 2019 and 2020, while the Trans-Kalahari, TransOranje, Trans-Kunene as well as the Ndola-Lubumbashi development corridors controlled about one million tons of cargo. With high demand in Manganese Ore, the TransOranje Corridor, via the Port of Lüderitz recorded exports of 204 301 tonnes of manganese. Imports of Manganese also increased from 30 000 tonnes to 60 000 tonnes a month which might see the annual throughput increase to 720 000 tonnes. Other increased imports were ship spares, steel, sulphur, and ammonium nitrate, respectively. Namport through the port of Walvis Bay also aided the shine of Maersk, an international shipping line, to surpass its own African record for reefer lifts onto a single vessel, called the Santa Rosa. Reefers are large fridges carried by containerships to move temperature-sensitive goods such as ice-cream, meat, or vegetables. According to Namport, Santa Rosa beat the Lebu, which carried 1 682 live reefers. The Santa Rosa left Walvis bay carrying 1 763 live Reefers, although only 334 fully loaded reefers were carried at the Walvis Bay terminal.

Readings: https://www.namport.com.na/mega-projects/new-container-terminal/371/ https://www.namport.com.na/news/669/Namport-sets-new-record/ https://www.namport.com.na/news/716/EMPTY-SHIPS-AT-SEA-ABOUNDNAMPORT-OFFERS-PARKING-SPACE-AT-A-FEE/ https://www.namport.com.na/news/684/Coronavirus-silver-lining-forWalvis-port/ https://www.namport.com.na/news/745/NAMPORT-RECORDS-30-INCREASEIN-CARGO/ https://container-xchange.com/blog/reefer-containers-meaning-and-howthey-work/ https://www.namport.com.na/news/754/NAMPORT-HELPS-MAERSK-SETNEW-OWN-AFRICAN-CARGO-RECORD/

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JULY, 2020

Namibia Ranked 21st in the World

Vehicle Sales to Remain Low During the Covid 19 Pandemic

he local car dealership industry which was already limping due to the ongoing recession has been hit hard again by Covid-19 and is suffering severely.

While sales have started picking up for many car dealerships as the lockdown subsides, the latest figures from the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) confirmed a substantial decline in vehicle sales. Vehicle sales in Namibia have traditionally been an excellent barometer of economic activity however, the sales figures have now shown a decline in vehicle sales by 68% from the 40 428 vehicles sold in May 2019 compared to the aggregate domestic sales of 12 932 units in May 2020. These sales for the first half of 2020 reflect a persistent demand weakness due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as consumer and business sentiment remain severely depressed. The motor industry is currently experiencing unchartered conditions given the current unpredictability in these uncertain times.

CREDIT: RDJ Photo

n a press release dated 21 June 2020, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roads Authority (RA) stated that Namibia’s road infrastructure was ranked

21 in the world in the World Economic Forum's (WEF) 2019 Quality of Road Infrastructure Report . This is a great move as Namibia moved from number 28 in 2018, still outdoing large economies like South Africa and Rwanda, while falling in the same categories with the Great Germany and Sweden, with the Namibian score increasing from 5.1 in 2018 to 5.8 in 2019. The CEO mentioned that the great move can be attributed to factors like the continued maintenance of Namibia’s existing roads, completion of new roads and the currently ongoing construction of major capital projects such as the Windhoek-Okahandja road, Windhoek-Hosea Kutako Airport road, Swakop-Henties Bay road project and Swakop-Walvis Bay road.

Readings: https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/265558931/namibias-roadinfrastructure-shines-in-africa-report https://www.ra.org.na/Documents/Press%20releases/Namibia%20maintain s%20best%20road%20on%20continent%202020.pdf

NAAMSA figures indicate that out of the total reported South African and Namibian industry sales of 12 932 vehicles, an estimated 11 289 units (87.3%) represented dealer sales, while 7.9% were sales made to government, 2.9% to industry corporate fleets, and an estimated 1.9% represented sales made to the vehicle rental industry. Overall, the May 2020 new passenger car market registered a substantial decline of 17 083 cars to 9 019 units compared to the 26 102 new cars sold in May last year. New vehicle sales are generally linked to the strength of the economy and the anticipated extent of the negative annualised GDP growth in the country therefore, it does not bode well for the industry over the medium term. Under normal market circumstances positive indicators such as sharp petrol price decreases, substantial interest rate drops, below-inflation vehicle price increases, dealer incentives and low inflation would support the new vehicle market. However, how far these dynamics will move consumers and businesses into new vehicle purchases over the balance of the year remains unclear. Suffice to say, the impact of COVID-19 on the new vehicle market and when the level of factory output will return to where it was before the lockdown will only become clearer once the entire motor industry becomes fully operational and prepares itself for the “new normal”.

Readings: https://neweralive.na https://www.naamsa.co.za/SalesStats

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JULY, 2020

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

CREDIT: RDJ Photo

MICT Launches Free Programme in Kavango East

ICT

he Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) has launched a free basic computer literacy programme in the Kavango East

region on 11 June 2020. The programme aims at empowering pupils and unemployed youth with computer literacy skills. The programme is an active move in fulfilling the Ministry’s 2017-22 strategic plan to accelerate Information and Communications Technology (ICT) development in Namibia. The programme, which commenced in June 2020, and is expected to run for three months, targets pupils between the ages of 12 and 17, and unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 35. The course will be facilitated by information officers. The Ministry has received a large turnout of interested candidates as well as volunteers who want to teach the course and has thus decided to offer the programme in groups in order to accommodate all the applicants. Participants will undergo theoretical and practical tests to evaluate their understanding of the course and upon completion of the programme, they will receive a certificate of completion and attendance. The programme however, is not accredited by the Namibia Qualification Authority (NQA) because it does not accredit short courses, but the Ministry has emphasised its commitment to providing quality teaching and content needed for the course. The Ministry is planning to extend the programme to all six constituencies of the region.

PowerCom Erects Towers Improve Communication

owerCom, a subsidiary of Telecom Namibia Limited has completed the construction of five towers in the Coast (three in Walvis Bay and one

in Swakopmund) and an additional one in Rehoboth with the aim of helping operators improve customer services. The entire project which commenced on 13 January 2020 and was handed over on 5 June 2020 was carried out at a total cost of N$5.2 Million. PowerCom was established in 2007 as a mobile telecommunications operator. After being acquired by Telecom Namibia Limited in 2013, PowerCom changed its nature of business to an ICT infrastructure and equipment provision. According to PowerCom’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the company is working in response to growth demands of occupants in developing towns across the Nation by providing infrastructure needs to aid communication between individuals and businesses. PowerCom also looks forward to the start of the fourteenth projects which have been affected by Covid-19. These also include construction of towers which are expected to start in August 2020 at Enghodi, Kupferquelle, Ncaute and Onkani.

Readings: https://www.powercom.na/ https://www.globaldiasporanews.com/powercom-completes-coastal-andrehoboth-towers/ https://economist.com.na/53837/technology/powercom-completes-coastaland-rehoboth-towers/

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JULY, 2020

New Online Portal for Paratus Customers

aratus Namibia has launched its newly improved Client Portal in July 2020, which is meant for customers to carry out self-service transactions. According to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Managing Director, the need to develop the online portal for customer convenience was motivated by the increased demand in Online Services amongst their customers since the beginning of the state of emergency announcement in reponse to Covid-19.

The services provided through this portal include; monitoring data usage, checking data balance, starting support tickets, and downloading invoices from anywhere, given that devices have access to Internet. Registering and logging on to the portal can be done through different login methods which supports customer choice. The portal has been accessible through Paratusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; website since mid-July 2020.

www.namibian.com.na

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JULY, 2020

FINANCING N$657 Million Budgeted for Water Infrastructure for the 2020/21 FY

he Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) has been allocated an amount of N$929 million for the 2020/2021 Financial Year (FY) fromÂ

MET Directs (36% of Budget) Funds Towards Wildlife & Protected Area Management

the National budget. The funds are aimed at improving the water security situation in the country as well as the upgrading of the current existing infrastructure. The water sector is identified as one of the focus areas in both the Fifth National Development Plan (NDP5) and the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP). In fact, a sum of N$657 million, representing 70% of the total N$929 million allocated to the Ministry is now earmarked for the capital projects in the water sector, while an another N$80 million is earmarked for Covid-19 water subsidy, whereas the remaining N$272 million is intended for operational expenditures. The Ministry has also allocated another N$3.6 billion to address water shortages within two to four years which will be done through upgrading, among others, the Gammams Direct Potable Reclamation Plant, Kombat-Berg Aukas power supply and the refurbishment of the Von Bach pump stations to enhance water supply to the central areas of Namibia. The Ministry has also secured a loan amount of N$1.8 billion from the African Development Bank (AfDB) that will be used to finance more water projects such as the refurbishment of the Kuiseb Collector 2 and replacement of the Schwarzekuppe-Swakopmund and OmdelWlotzkasbaken pipelines to improve water supply at the central coastal areas whilst water supply in the central northern areas and Kavango East region particularly in Rundu town and surrounding areas will be tackled by upgrading the extension of the Oshakati Water Treatment Plant (OWTP) and the Rundu Purification Plant. For the rural water supply programme, the Ministry allocated N$54 million directed towards the finalization of the construction of Ondangwa-Omuntele pipeline extension and King Kauluma-Omutsegwonime Water Supply Scheme in Oshikoto region, the construction of water supply scheme for the displaced communities of Kavango East (Shamvhura to Shamangorwa pipeline), as well as the commencement of the construction of the Ruacana South Water Supply scheme.

CREDIT: RDJ Photo

fter receiving its portion of the National Budget for the 2020/21 Financial Year, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) allocated aboutÂ

36% of its total funds from the national Budget to wildlife and protected area management as it is ranked top priority by the Ministry. The Minister identified three main strategic interventions for this project, namely; wildlife crime prevention and law enforcement, support to communal conservancies and community forests, and the prevention and mitigation of human wildlife conflict. Despite a significant decrease in poaching incidents of high-valued, specially protected species such as rhino and elephant, Poaching and instances of human-wildlife conflict continue to be major challenges facing the Ministry when it comes to wildlife conservation. The programme is therefore expected to strengthen surveillance, patrolling and detection, as well as conducting proper investigations and intelligence. The Ministry will continue to tackle the loss of life and damage to infrastructure, crops and livestock caused by wildlife by working with stakeholders to ensure there is appropriate human capacity and manpower to fight wildlife crime and provide suitable and sufficient equipment, techniques and supplies and by supporting communal conservancies, putting down problem animals and assisting communities financially through the human-wildlife conflict self-reliance scheme and further supporting communities with promising mitigation measures in hotspot areas.

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JULY, 2020

CREDIT: RDJ Photo

DBN Receives a Boost for its SME Stimulus Package

he Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) plays a role in providing finance for applicable enterprises and sustainable initiative that contribute immeasurab-ly to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic development. The Bank, which believes that finance for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is essential to the economy of the nation, has introduced an SME stimulus package meant to help out SMEs that are undergoing or expected to undergo cash flow pressure due to a loss in their finances in face of Covid-19. An international development lender and three domestic commercial banks have extended a helping hand to financially contribute to this cause, with contributions that amounted to about N$500 million. While addressing the Bank to include the non-agricultural small businesses relief loans in the stimulus package, the Minister of Finance mentioned that the government of Namibia is prepared to issue security. The highest amount allowed for a loan under this facility is N$ 1 million. DBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s centre of attention is mainly on four economic sectors that are believed to have outstanding potential results in creating employment, namely; the manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, and transport and logistics sectors. Other investments are made to renewable energy, land servicing and housing.

The main beneficiaries of the 'package' are households and formal and informal businesses in sectors directly affected by the lockdown measures. Development Bank of Namibia

Engen Namibia Contributes Towards Mobile Clinics Initiative Via the WBCG

ngen Namibia donated its contribution of N$100 000 to the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) Wellness services to fuel mobile clinics. The company will also make its network of Retail services stations available to bring mobile wellness clinics closer and more convenient to the communities. With a mandate of facilitating trade and business development along the corridors, the WBCG noted that this initiative is set to benefit the entire transport and logistics fraternity of Namibia and SADC. In fact, the WBCG was established in 2000 and signed a Cooperative Agreement with the Ministry of Health and Social Services in 2016. The group currently facilitates the movement of goods, while also providing essential services to Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health response sector. The roadside wellness clinics will be open to ensure continuity of strategic clinical services. In particular, the focus is set at ensuring that mobile populations such as truck drivers and other vulnerable key populations are continuously sensitized and screened for COVID-19. Furthermore, the mobile wellness clinics also navigate to other hotspots around the country where health and wellness services are required. Hence, WBCG will support all efforts to ensure their well-being and safety, as well as the safe delivery of cargo.

Readings: https://southerntimesafrica.com/site/news/engen-namiba-collaborateswith-wbcg https://www.petrolworld.com/africa-middle-east/item/35315-namibiaengen-donates-n-100-000-fuel-towards-covid-19-support https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/engen-namibia-sponsors-fuelto-aid-covid-19-screenings-2020-06-26/rep_id:4136

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JULY, 2020

Contributions Made Towards Covid-19 Releif

s the duration of the current pandemic extend, various establishments have come forth to support and lend a helping hand to combat the challenges

and misfortunes caused by the spread of Covid-19. Below are some of these donations and support.

FirstRand Namibia Donates Screening Thermal Cameras to MOHSS A total of fifteen screening thermal cameras evaluated at N$1. 4 million were donated from FirstRand Namibia to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS). This donation was conducted via the Bank’s Health Optimisation in a Pandemic Emergency (HOPE) Fund, and the cameras are not only meant to help the government combat Covid-19, but to also make it easier to distinguish Covid-19 symptoms, as these instruments are able to discover coronavirus infections at an early stage. The cameras are targeted to be mainly used at areas of migration that are highly affected by the virus between regions and borders, as well as crowded places such as hospitals. According to the Chief Executive Officer of FirstRand Namibia, “the institution is committed to taking decisive steps needed to continue to protect and develop the Namibian society, environment and economy at large”.

De Beers Donates Face Masks an d Hand Sanitisers De Beers Namibia is amongst the many establishments helping to fight the Covid-19 in the country. The diamond giant has donated two key essentials namely, sanitisers and face masks to the Office of the Prime Minister, and is intended to be issued to the Ministry of Education for usage. The donation includes a total of 7 500 masks produced by a community business initiative based in Keetmanshoop, and about 5 000 bottles of hand sanitiser manufactured by the University of Namibia.

B2Gold Provides Covid 19 Financial Support to Government B2Gold Corporation has become a familiar name for fighting alongside the government of Namibia against Covid-19. A month after providing its first COVID-19 response contribution of N$4 million, the company has

again donated significant supplies to help with the COVID19 Disaster Relief Fund. This donation happened during the third week of June ant it involved a contribution of a little over $34 million to Namibia’s Prime Minister at a formality that was held on Wednesday 17 June in the capital city, Windhoek. At the same event, a total of N$6 million Community and Private Sector contribution was made by the gold mining company, which brings B2Gold voluntary CSR contribution to over N$100 million. According to B2Gold’s Managing Director, the company’s level of voluntary contribution to Namibia demonstrates its sincere commitment to the improvement of livelihoods of all Namibians.

Coca Cola ’s Donations at a Tune of N$952 215 After announcing its cut in commercial advertising across all brands in order to redirect their funds towards global health, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (locally called CocaCola Namibia Bottling) has donated U$50000 (N$952 215) to the Namibian Red Cross Association and supported the association in distributing medical supplies to all regions of Namibia, with an additional financial assistance of over N$51 300. Another donation valued at N$97 000 was also included in an on-going initiative to Co-Feed Namibia/office of the first Lady in parcels arranged for the less privileged. The company further donated water and cool drink to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Info Centres to the value of N$942 000, including transport assistance of over N$52 900, as well as dry food for the homeless centre at a value of N$53 000. Additionally, the company is distributing empty plastic 60-litre water containers to informal sectors in various regions throughout Namibia, with around 1000 containers delivered so far at a cost of N$31 000.

Chinese Businesses Provide Food and Financial Support to the Needy Businesses owned by the Chinese are dedicated in helping the government of Namibia to fight the current pandemic by distributing food to the needy in the Oshikoto region. Eleven constituencies in Oshikoto are set to be assisted by Chinese enterprises from the town of Omuthiya by receiving food items such as maize meal, macaroni, spaghetti, sugar, and cooking oil, along with an additional value of N$33 000.

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JULY, 2020

CREDIT: RDJ Photo

UNFPA Donate Goods Worth N$170 000 The United Nations (UN) Namibian chapter together with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) donated N$170 000 worth of goods which included thermo-guns, stationery, sanitising equipment, surface cleaners, one colour printer; five hand washing stations and a jumbo paper roll floor stand. The donation was made to the Ministry of Health's Covid-19 Emergency Operation Centre to strengthen the fight against the Covid-19. According to a representative of the UN Namibia strategic planning and resident coordinatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, their priority

is to protect frontline workers.

STANLIB Namibia Donates Goods Worth N$45 000 STANLIB Namibia (Pty) Ltd, a joint venture between Standard Bank Namibia and STANLIB South Africa also donated goods worth N$45 000 to the Ministry of Health's Covid-19 Emergency Operation Centre to strengthen the fight against the Covid-19. The donation contained water dispensers, kettles, hand sanitizer with stand, toilet paper and rolls, coffee, sugar and milk.

Readings: https://www.namibian.com.na/91751/read/Health-gets-fever-screeningthermal-cameras https://www.namibiansun.com/news/de-beers-donates-masks-sanitiserfor-schools2020-06-01/ https://economist.com.na/53722/mining-energy/b2golds-year-to-datecorporate-social-investments-exceed-n100-million/ https://economist.com.na/53891/extra/coca-cola-pours-in-support-forfight-against-covid-19/ https://neweralive.na/posts/chinese-businesses-distribute-free-food https://allafrica.com/stories/202006220782.html https://neweralive.na/posts/covid-19-battle-gets-shot-in-the-arm

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JULY, 2020

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY Women In Mentorship Interview with Ms. Mavis Elias Interviewed by Ms. Kina Indongo (Communications Specialist - RDJ Consulting)

n this month’s “Women In Inustry" section of the RDJ Briefing, we had the honour of speaking to Ms. Mavis Elias a female powerhouse, and a mentor with a strong sense of community.

Personal Journey Ms Elias is a civil Engineer by qualification. Receiving her Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering from The Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST), and a certificate for her participation in the Queens Young Leaders Programme from The University of Cambridge's Institute of Continuing Education. Ms. Elias has an impressively broad occupational background. She is currently employed by the One Economy Foundation as a Director, and by Radiowave 96.7 FM as a Radio Personality. She additionally revealed to be the proud founder of the EM Love Foundation and at the same time the co-founder of Ehaveco Events. Being a very vibrant young woman Ms. Elias doesn't stop there, she is also a Columnist for the New Era Newspaper, and finally a Blogger, Public Sspeaker and Mentor.

Start with what you can, start with what you have. Ms Mavis Elias

Community Work When it comes to giving back to the community, Ms Elias dates her passion for philanthropy back to when she was 19 years old. Coming from first generation poverty cycle breakers, she felt the need to plant back into her community by becoming an active player in the process of eradicating poverty in communities.

During the interview Ms Elias mentioned that she highly credits her active involvement in community work to firstly her willingness to engaging in the problem of poverty within her community. By trying to figure out what part she could play with what she had and secondly her will power www.rdjconsulting.co.za

to kick start her involvement. This will power to start, is the basis on which her foundation is built - a group of young people coming together and playing an active role in poverty eradication and using their resources amongst themselves to help others.

JULY, 2020

Ms. Elias says the biggest change she has seen in her community is a restored sense of hope in those that chose to participate in the community building. The fact that many of the volunteers themselves come from impoverished backgrounds allows them the opportunity to take power back into their own hands, by planting and sowing back into their communities, which changes the narrative of having to wait for somebody, who may not understand the specific challenges people in these communities face. Transforming the language around poverty into one that recognises the value of a single act to shift the dynamic. Furthermore, Ms Elias adds that in doing so, the beneficiaries themselves gain from being understood and seen and this then ensures long term benefits for their communities. By creating a space and a relationship based on learning and not that of a saviours complex, a lot of teaching happens between the volunteers and the beneficiaries which gives the power and dignity back to the beneficiaries, by also allowing them the opportunity to contribute solutions towards the problems they are facing.

Personal Achievements On discussing her personal achievements Ms Elias says,“ Some would believe that my biggest achievements in life would be from the accolades that have come from doing the work I do, but I think my biggest achievement to date is my ability to build a network that speaks to my value.” She muses that her greatest achievement is her ability to walk into a room and really start long lasting beneficial relationships, from which she learns and grows and acquires knowledge through the development of a mentorship relationship from influential powerful women like Monica Geingos, a Namibian entrepreneur, lawyer and First Lady of the Republic of Namibia.

Mentorship Work True to her character and spirit of giving back Ms. Elias initiated her own mentorship programme. The programme although still in its early development stages, has already gone through its first cycle. She says the reason she is motivated to develop others is because she herself has been developed by others, “I have people in my life who really run very busy schedules but take time out to speak and plant into my life and as well as help develop both my character as www.rdjconsulting.co.za

well as aspirations, dreams and goals.” she says. It has taught her that when trying to break the glass ceiling the true beauty is the ability to be able to pull people up with you. “It's not just about you and your career and where it is you are going in life but rather about being able to sow back and to make sure that you help the generation that grows up behind after you.” She further credits her desire to mentor coming from her experience on the board of the One Economy Foundation that has fostered a teaching culture within her.

Conclusion Ms. Elias final parting words are in the form of advice: “Start!” She says. In fact she is aware that it is the most cliche word of advice, however oftentimes individuals sit on ideas waiting for the perfect time or perfect opportunity to get started and tend to make excuses as to why they cannot do something based on resources. The truth of the matter is, one can start with nothing, it is merely a question of getting up, putting it on paper, developing the idea and approaching potential sponsors. She also urges other women seeking to do more in their community to “start with what you can, start with what you have.” she concludes.

JULY, 2020

YOUTH IN ACTION The Vital Role of Giving Back Interview with Ms. Martha Festus Interviewed by Ms. Kina Indongo (Communications Specialist - RDJ Consulting)

elcome to our “Youth In Action" section, as we catch up with the vibrant Ms. Martha Festus. She is a young lady whose extraordinary show of kindness and generosity, stands as a testimony of the grace of giving.

Personal journey

"It starts with you! Martha Festus

Ms Festus is an ambitious young entrepreneur, student and owner of a fresh produce business named Kasi Fruits and Veggies. She is a beloved member of the Havana informal settlement community in Windhoek, where she is known for her selfless work with orphanages and needy children. Ms Festus says she was motivated to help those around her because she recognised the challenges that many in her community experienced due to widespread poverty.

Community Work Ms. Festus has put her energies into acquiring donations and funds for the orphanages in the Havana informal settlement area, and through her tireless work has managed to make an impact in her community. One such impact is a weekly gathering of needy and vulnerable children on a Saturday to provide them with a meal, clothing and social interaction. One of the main challenges Ms. Festus faces is securing enough food and resources such as firewood and utensils to cook the weekly meals. Donations are often negligible and non-existent, forcing her to shoulder the majority of the responsibility, which she admits at times can become costly, “One of my

“I have achieved leadership skills, selfconfidence and self-discipline” challenges was running out of food and firewood since I mostly do this on my own expenses,” She says. Another challenge was how demanding the weekly activity has become. “I have to wake up early every Saturday to make sure that the kids' food is ready on time and also the meeting place is near the road which is not very safe since it is not a fenced area” she says. However, despite the challenges, she remains proud of her work, and the valuable life lessons it has taught her. “I have achieved leadership skills, self-confidence and self-discipline” Through her resilience and dedication to others, Ms. Festus’s work feeds www.rdjconsulting.co.za

about 150 vulnerable children including those not formally in the care of orphanages. All in all, Ms. Festus encourages other youth to lend themselves to their communities, “please be brave enough and help where you can in your community.” Furthermore, she adds that there is a lot to be gained by giving back, by-learning about your community and making genuine connections with people. Finally, she advises that all change begins on an individual level, and that even small acts of kindness have lasting effects on the lives of the most vulnerable.

DID YOU KNOW? You can also be featured on our Publication! Women In IndustryÂ

Youth In Action

If you have an inspirational story to share, simply reach out to: E: communications@rdjconsulting.co.za / T:+264 857361462

JULY, 2020

TENDERS

CAREERS

NAMPOWER

1. Description: Construction of Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) at Ncude & Ncumushi Villages in Kavango East Region Vleiveld B and Steynsdraai and Schlip Auction venue in Hardap Region. Bid Closing Date: 26 31 Jul 2020 at 11:00 Namibian Time

Position: Head: NamPower Foundation

2. Description: Construction NamPower of Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) at Farm Naris, Bid closing date: 31 Jul 2020 at 11:00 Namibian Time

Location: NamPower (NPC), Windhoek

3. Description: Construction of Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) Networks at Onaisaati, Omishe & Oshali sha Kanhalelo Localities in Ohangwena Region Bid closing date: 31 Jul 2020 at 11:00 Namibian Time 4. Description: Construction of an Ablution Block for Artisans and Operators at Van Eck Power Station, Windhoek Bid closing date: 07 Aug 2020 at 11:00 Namibian Time 5. Description: Construction of Platform and Gabion Wall for Karibib Substation Bid closing date: 14 Aug 2020 at 11:00 Namibian Time 6. Description: Construction of a New Fuel Storage Shed and New Entrance at the Otjiwarongo Depot for NamPower Bid closing date: 21 Aug 2020 at 11:00 Namibian Time 7. Description: Construction of a New Truck and Pole Trailer Shed and an Interlocked Driveway at Bid closing date: 21 Aug 2020 at 11:00 Namibian Time 8. Description: Additions and Renovation to The Existing Office Block and an Interlocked Braai Area at Otjiwarongo Depot Bid Closing date: 21 Aug 2020 at 11:00 Namibian Time

9. Description: Procurement of Technical Works to Conduct Geotechnical, Hydrological-Hydrogeological and Topographical Surveys and Studies at a Site in Lüderitz Earmarked for the Development of Two (2) Wind Power Plants Bid Closing date: 14 Aug 2020 at 11:00 Namibian Time 10. Description: Replacement of Galvanized water supply pipes at NamPower house Erf No. 1516 in Rundu Bid Closing date: 30 Jul 2020 at 00:00 Namibian Time

Closing date: 28 June 2019

RUNDU PRIVATE HOSPITAL Position: General Maintenance Worker Location: Erf 904 Eugene Kakukuru Str Closing date: 07 August 2020

JULY, 2020

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

David Jarrett (Managing Consultant) RDJ Consulting Services CC Chilombo Olga Priscila (Operations Manager) RDJ Consulting Services CC Naemi Shoopala (Head - Research) RDJ Consulting Services CC Misozi Mugala (Research Intern) RDJ Consulting Services CC Haikali Ndafimana Malakia (Research Intern) RDJ Consulting Services CC Kina Indongo (Communications Specialist) RDJ Consulting Services CC Lydia Kalilo Namutenya (Research intern) RDJ Consulting Services CC

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