NOVEMBER, 2020
The Namibia
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY News & Analysis
OPPORTUNITY COST To Build or Not to Build?
IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE: Is the Answer Construction? Energy Security The Demand Cha llenge
Namibia’s Road Journey and Development
Unpacking the Twist in the Public Transport Sector Amidst Covid 19
Public Debt, the BoN and the Budget
The NAMIBIA Country Briefing of RDJ Consulting
C O N T E N T S 4
5
From The Editor
Quick Facts
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10
Economy at Large
Oil & Gas
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13
Mining
Electricity
16
17
Renewable Energy
Water
19
20
Environment & Sustainability
Roads and Transport
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25
Telecommunications
Financing
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28
"Women in Industry"
"Youth In Action"
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Tenders and Careers
Contributing Authors
NOVEMBER, 2020
From the Editor OPPORTUNITY COST To Build or Not to Build? 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
Here we are again after another month of happenings and adjustments. Covid-19 has led to governments continued actions, created to help mitigate the economic distortions in their economies, with many of the productive sectors facing a downfall. The key losses occurring in tourism and hospitality sectors. Job creation has also been a struggle pre-Covid and so the creation of jobs will require adaptive methods and strategies. Economic growth has to be fast tracked and the agriculture and construction sectors bearing in mind the COVID-19 impact, are best placed to fill the void. With the stimulus strategies and plans being rolled out, one has to ask if there is an opportunity cost for every investment choice made that could be minimized. It is well known that opportunity costs refer to the benefits an individual, investor, or business misses out on when choosing one alternative over another. As rapid support to families through job creation is a sustainable approach, it is possible that farming and building our way out of the crisis can only create winners at this point. The approach will benefit the investor, the consumer and public at large. Hence, it is time to look at these sectors that can revive the local economy, by not only providing people’s very essential needs, but also creating employment for as many as possible through its value chains.
EMAIL briefing@rdjconsulting.co.za WEBSITE www.rdjconsulting.co.za
Could farming and construction be the answer? 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 . And, 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, #StaySafe 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)
3.75% Repo Rate
66.6%
Employment
2.3M
7.50%
Interest rate (Prime)
2.3%
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)
6 NOVEMBER, 2020
ECONOMY AT LARGE Is the Answer Construction? AUTHOR: Mr. David Jarrett Managing Consultant @ RDJ Consulting
Credit: RDJ Photo
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hile we accept that the “new normal” may now have a vaccine in sight if Pfizer and Moderna can be quoted, then normal may just mean
normal or will it? Unemployment numbers without hassling the figures were empirically high before Covid19, along with the ever pressing need to have skill sets aligned with the technological and economic realities. Thus with the impact of Covid-19 what can happen for the job market? The World Economic Forum (WEF) from as far back as July 2020 asked the question “how long can governments keep spending to stem Covid-19 job losses?”. This is a fact as no government has a bottomless state fund and any planned safety net has its limitations. The best response is thus to safely put the unemployed back to work. While women and the youth have been the hardest hit in the wake of Covid-19, it is universally accepted that economic growth cannot occur with high levels of unemployment. One of the fastest areas for the limited state funds to be applied is to the construction industry. This industry is comprised of all skills and impacts supporting trades and industries. Visit any construction
site in Namibia and there will be a “vetkoek” seller or similar service provider nearby. Thus, any mobilization will have an immediate impact locally as well as far afield. In 2018, the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia pointed out that Namibia has sufficient skills to carry out much needed development and considering this, examples such as the Hoover Dam project which took 5 years to build during the Great Depression ended up being a “cash cow” in years to follow and not least, a construction marvel although there was sadly negative impactors. However, utilizing and prioritizing the current pipeline (no pun intended) of national projects such as housing (estimated at N$76 billion) and key point projects such as Schools and , can Namibia put its people to work?
Readings http://www.pfizer.com/ http://www.modernatx.com/ https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/07/the-cost-of-wagesubsidies-to-stem-covid19-related-unemployment/ https://www.npc.gov.na/programmes-housing-sector/? wpfb_dl=401 https://www.cifnamibia.com/
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DID YOU KNOW? that Namibia’s total road network spans 48,899.89 km? That’s about 8,000 km more than the circumference of the earth.
#DidYouKnow Source: Roads Authority Namibia
8 NOVEMBER, 2020
Good Harvests Makes Maize Products More Affordable
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Second Quarter Registers a Decrease in Imports
amib Mills, one of Namibia’s major suppliers of grain products announced in October, reduced prices on all its Maize meal products by 5% from
the 2nd of November, 2020. This decision was made on the back of a bumper crop harvest for the financial 2019/2020, caused by good rains received during the year. The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) announced prices for white Maize varies from N$ 4.87 to N$5.32 per kilogram for the periods 1 May 2020 – 10 December 2020. The NAB is responsible for the issuance of import, export and transit permits for agronomic and horticultural products in line with the Agronomic Industry Act 20 of 1992, in terms of section 10 (1) (o). The Ministry of Finance in the 2019/ 2020 Mid-year Budget Review and Policy Statement for 2021 – 2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework showed that growth in the grain mill products is estimated to be 4.8 percent in 2019 (from a higher 7.0 percent in 2018), on the back of oversupply of grain on the international market and, therefore, the subsector is not affected by the drought in the domestic economy. Namib Mills’ via their commercial manager, informed that the company’s primary source of purchasing its products is the local market, to support local farmers. The Namibian government supports the Maize industry via various trade regulations in order to give local Farmers a market.
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he economic impact of Covid-19 continues to be revealed as more and more information is gathered and validated. Namibia recorded a
decrease in imported goods as well as a decrease in investment income payments to foreigners in the second quarter of 2020, which lead to a surplus in the national current account. According to the latest information from the Bank of Namibia, the country experienced a surplus of N$285 million in the second quarter of 2020, compared to the N$133 million deficit registered in the first quarter of 2020. During this time, the import bill stood at N$731 million, which lead to a surplus of N$51 million. The existing imports were mainly from South Africa, India and China. Meanwhile for exports, the country recorded a trade decline of 16% (N$782) in goods exported, and a further 69%, 44% and 56% decline in food and live animals; manufactured goods; and other commodities, respectively. The good news however is that the export of other Mineral products increased by 52%, which can be attributed to the increase in volumes of gold and zinc concentrate exports.
Readings:
Readings: https://www.namibian.com.na/95762/read/Maize-meal-prices-to-drop-inNovember https://www.namibian.com.na/95320/read/Crop-farming-to-the-rescue-insecond-quarter https://d3rp5jatom3eyn.cloudfront.net/cms/assets/documents/media_State ment_- _Economic_Statistics_-_24_September_2020.pdf https://www.nab.com.na/white-maize-grain-producer-staggeredfloor-prices-mill-door-for-2020-marketing-season/
http://economist.com.na/56634/markets/decline-in-imports-in-q2sees-current-account-current-switch-to-a-surplus-of-n285-million/
Source: ReconAfrica Credit: RDJ Photo Promotional website
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NOVEMBER, 2020
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The Bank of Namibia Bulding Image Credit: RDJ Consulting
Public Debt, The BoN and the Budget
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he 2020/2021 Financial Year national budget outlined a deficit of N$21.4 billion. The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has outlined a borrowing strategy
a government also impacts how well these bills and bonds are received as well as rated.
(FY2020/21) that will seek to help stem the deficit especially in light of Covid-19 and the various lockdown measures that came with their corresponding challenges.
Bearing in mind that the national budget is tabled with a N$6.4 billion developmental budget as part of a N$72.8 billion total budget, has the time come for an alignment of the fund raising to be directly linked to development? This would allow based on the appetite of the bond market for much more development funding to be sourced. What now is needed is a clear pipeline of growth projects that will not only improve the quality of life for Namibian’s but become productive assets making any interest paid worth the price.
Total expenditure was seen to rise by 7.1% year on year, with revenue falling by 11.8%. This takes public debt from 50.7% to 68.7% of GDP. All this in light of a 35% debt threshold. The BoN has raised:
Readings:
N$3.1 billion through Treasury Bills, N$ 360 million as inflation linked bonds, N$7.1 billion through fixed rate bonds. These “IOU” declarations to quote the BoN are required to bridge the shortfall from rates and taxes that will hinder the needed expenditure. The credit worthiness of a
https://academy.treasurers.org/resources/what-is-treasury https://www.namibian.com.na/95188/read/Local-markets-cough-up-N$7bto-fund-budget https://www.bon.com.na/CMSTemplates/Bon/Files/bon.com.na/75/7597842 c-99b2-4b14-ab0d-a7e983b3957a.pdf https://www.parliament.na/phocadownload/media/2020/speech/b udget20_21.pdf
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10 NOVEMBER, 2020
OIL AND GAS Lighter than Air AUTHOR: Mr. David Jarrett Managing Consultant @ RDJ Consulting
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ith the undeniable impacts of Covid-19 and the need for clean and sustainable energy sources, Hydrogen is becoming more and more relevant.
For the reader who just needs a reminder of what it can do, here are a few: Transportation fuel, raw material for Chemical and Industrial Process, Power generation and energy storage. Namibia is an importer of all forms of energy currently. This then means that Hydrogen and its development globally will impact availability, cost and usefulness of current energy sources. Think of this, if all vehicle manufacturers were to shift their engines to use Hydrogen, is Namibia ready to acquire new vehicles that use ONLY Hydrogen? Next big question for Namibia is, will Namibia if it needs Hydrogen, be an importer (as it currently is for diesel, petrol and electricity) or could we become a “producer”? I guess, I forgot to include the fact that Hydrogen can be produced in Namibia with all the components being in place. Three benefits for Namibia make the stars aligned. 1. Energy demand in the transport sector accounts for approximately 70% of total energy demand with any savings here having great impact on the foreign exchange payments required to meet these imports. 2. Next there is the ability for value addition to the vast solar resource that Namibia is blessed with to produce the needed energy for Hydrogen production and simultaneously the production of desalinated water and various chemical salts. 3. Finally, there is the ability to increase local jobs and create a new sustainable industry with its spin-offs.
Credit: RDJ Photo
So, is our problem solving found in an element that is lighter than air?
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AUGUST, 2020
NOVEMBER 2020 FUEL PRICES
N$ 11.65 per litre 95 Octane Unleaded Petrol
N$ 11.58 per litre Diesel 50ppm
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12 NOVEMBER, 2020
MINING
NAMDIA's buliding Image Credit: www.namdia.com/
NAMDIA Seeks Qualified Diamond Buyers
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amib Desert Diamonds (Pty) Ltd (NAMDIA) is a state firm that vouches itself to openness, NAMIBIA has since 2018 began placing notices in the media
to potential customers, and it has now again publicly invited new consumers to be part of their clientele for 2021 to 2023 to purchase their valuable stones. An amount of US$10 000 is required to be paid by applicants as a non-refundable administrative fee, along with their application stating their ability to meet requirements. The company's annual report for 2019 to 2020 states that NAMDIA made about 10 major sales – equivalent to 253 000 carats (US$528.68 per carat), but the report also indicates that the company’s profits had decreased by 41% over the previous same year. According to the company's spokesperson, NAMDIA usually requests a meeting with all interested parties in the industry to apply to be listed as a client in the
company's database every other year. The selection process also includes, carrying out the necessary background and financial sustainability checks with taking the client-selection policy into consideration; however only a number of these applicants are approved as NAMDIA clients. This is considered as a great opportunity for those interested in the diamond industry to participate and get familiar with the industry. Applicants interested should be educated with the laws and regulations of their jurisdiction in association with diamonds, have a vertically integrated business model, and must be a diamond dealer license holder.
Readings: https://www.namdia.com/ https://www.namibian.com.na/96237/read/Namdia-calls-for-newdiamond-buyers
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NOVEMBER, 2020 13
ELECTRICITY Energy Security - The Demand Cha llenge AUTHOR: Mr. David Jarrett Managing Consultant @ RDJ Consulting
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ith the consistent rise and increased demand for electricity globally, Namibia can be described as “behind the curve” based on the
fact that over the last 3 to 4 years having to import approximately 65% of demanded energy from the region. While import, in and of itself is not a bad thing, the issue of energy security should be a concern.
Other measures have already started to impact the demand such as net-metering (assumed recently to be around 45 MW installed nationally) and various energy efficiency campaigns.
The demand growth annually of approximately 4% means that some 160 MWh is required to meet this and would roughly require 60 MW of Solar PV not taking into account time of use complexities. Having contracted locally 170 MW of Solar and Wind since 2017, Namibia will only be meeting annual growth needs if not ramped up.
Credit: RDJ Photo
Credit: RDJ Photo
This author is well aware that taking into account, time of use, then much more aggressive and innovative measures will be required to create the needed energy security. Some of these measures will require energy storage, solar thermal replacement of electric thermal and new generation. These needs thus will create new opportunities in all forms of renewable energies as Namibia moves forward and the modified single buyer market (MSB) is very timely. www.rdjconsulting.co.za
16 NOVEMBER, 2020
RENEWABLE ENERGY Universal Access the 400 AUTHOR: Mr. David Jarrett Managing Consultant @ RDJ Consulting
Credit: RDJ Photo
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he expansion of the Gam Solar PV/Diesel hybrid powered mini-grid to accommodate some 400 households is testimony that the mini-grid program
has met its objective. Mini-grid systems such as Gam and Tsumkwe are totally isolated from the national grid and are self-powered. These “grids” have full systems such as low / medium voltage lines, pre-paid meters and mini-substations similar to those standards and quality found on the natio-
-nal grid. This provides a true plug and play capability which in simple terms means that if the national grid is extended to these areas, NO reconfiguration or stranded assets will occur. Flexibility and versatility of renewable energy to provide “clean” onsite energy coupled with energy storage (batteries) and back up from traditional diesel generators means that the goal of universal electrification is possible. I guess the only question is 'economies of scale'.
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NOVEMBER, 2020 17
WATER
Image Credit: RDJ Consulting
Desalination Plant Proving Productive
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he Piloting of the 3000 litres per hour SeawaterDesalination Plant Facility project which was commissioned 2019, in Henties Bay to show
potential in producing potable water using the plentiful seawater resources. The plant lies along the Namibia 1500 km coastline and now sees a bottling facility installed at the fully solar power operated seawater desalination plant. The project is being carried out by the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the University of Turku from Finland, with the help of Solar Water Solutions, a Finish company that set up the plant. Apart from the production of water, the Desalination Plant is also used to irrigate a one-hectare
Desert Olive Plantation which was inaugurated on the 16 of October 2020. In the next two years, the plantation is expected to produce fruits that will enter the Namibian Markets. In fact, both the Water Bottling Project and Olive Plantation cost N$875 000, of which Royal Academy in the United Kingdom contributed about N$525 000 while UNAM contributed N$350 000.
Readings: https://www.nbc.na/news/unam-inaugurates-desalinated-seawaterbottling-unit-and-olive-tree-plantation-henties-bay.36979
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18 NOVEMBER, 2020
The Energy & Water Funding Nexus AUTHOR: Mr. David Jarrett Managing Consultant @ RDJ Consulting
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s one would expect, the need to have the “nexus” understanding of a problem is crucial. This cannot be taken lightly as we see it in most cases as a
high-level interrogation, but as one that is drilled down through an iterative set of needs and wants at all levels to resolve the problem at hand. Namibia is a beautiful country, filled with vibrant people who accept the natural circumstances of the geography and climate. The natural climate without any technological interaction is a harsh dry desert, that allows extraordinarily little that is not native, to grow or survive. The result is that “food” crops can only be grown in rain fed areas under these natural conditions at certain times of the year. In response to this, there are various Green Schemes across the country placed close to large water bodies that allow for irrigation (mostly extreme Northern or Southern regions). At other locations across the country, water harvesting techniques have allowed for intermittent small-scale farming to take place. These current actions in total country-wide, have provided Blueberries, Mangoes, Dates, Watermelons, cabbages, carrots, spinach, rice and potatoes to name a few water intensive crops. Now picture this, locations that previously were considered “barren” given a lease of life and made into an oasis’s that can not only sustain life but improve food security and foster export crops to the northern hemisphere during their Winters? This dream would require large amounts of water and energy to be a reality and guess what? Namibia has both,7 in abundance which means the missing component is a funding plan for such infrastructure to be put in place.
Credit: Hydropnics - AquaGreens Namibia (source)
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NOVEMBER, 2020 19
ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY Adapt or Die, the Reality AUTHOR: Mr. David Jarrett Managing Consultant @ RDJ Consulting
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amibia is described as “one of the driest” countries on earth. Rainfall maximum averages for example varies from 169 mm in the wettest
areas to 0.9mm in the driest coastal areas during the January rainy period8. It then stands to reason that water scarcity will be a given most of the year and that traditional natural resources must be treasured and protected. As pointed out on previous occasions by this publication, the Namibian Constitution provides protection for natural resources (via Articles 91 and 95) to promote the welfare of its citizens through: the maintenance of ecosystems, essential ecological processes and biological diversity of Namibia and utilization of living natural resources on a sustainable basis for the benefit of all Namibians, both present and future. In light of this, all rationale and reasonable steps must be taken to adapt to the current and imminent climate change risks that negate the sustainable livelihoods of Namibian’s. Having pointed this out, the Namibian Government (GRN) has created a number of framework laws, regulations and agencies to fulfil this obligation.
Credit: RDJ Consulting
Large volumes of funds will also be required to carry out identified adaptation measures such as desalination, renewable energy systems and infrastructure modifications. Some of the infrastructure modifications needed will be; raising of roads above flood levels; installation of additional bridges and culverts; relocation of vulnerable people and the introduction of resilient food production. One of the agencies created by the GRN is the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) whose mandate is to seek and support sustainable investment that meets the Constitutional obligations for sustainability. It does this through funding mobilization and the identification of appropriate projects that fulfil their mandate. In line with this, the EIF hosted a two-day Ecosystems Based Adaptation (EbA) National Inception Workshop https://www.eif.org.na/ from the 15th -16th October 2020 with the explicit aim to introduce the EbA to its targeted regions, explain the EbA implementation modalities, objectives, intended activities and to ensure ownership and validation of the developed project document.
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20 NOVEMBER, 2020
ROADS AND TRANSPORT
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Namibia’s Road Developments in Progress s part of the major roads development to connect Kamenjab, Khorixas, Uis, Omaruru, Henties Bay, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay; the Roads Authority
(RA) in October 2020 opened the 129 kilometers of the upgraded 142 Kilometers M44 road connecting Henties Bay, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The road development project which began in 2016 is aimed at ensuring faster and less−congested traffic between bulk business centers and provide safer travelling for general motorists and foreigners. The project is expected to be completed in 2025. According to Lutombi RA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who spoke at the opening of the road, this was just the beginning and more works are being carried out. He explained that the 46 kilometers M44 section behind Dune 7 (which connects Walvis Bay and Swakopmund) is also being upgraded into a dual carriage freeway at an estimated cost of N$ 1.3 billion. The M44 section between Swakopmund and Henties Bay which is 96 km is also being upgraded at a cost of N$800 million. He further explained that a 13 Km section near Dune 7 still needs to reach the road connecting the town and the airport of Walvis Bay. Also, the road-over-rail bridge east
of Swakopmund and the Omaruru River crossing, north of Henties Bay still have to be completed. Despite the road being open to people, the official opening of the road will be February, 2021. The Walvis Bay to Swakopmund section is a being handled by a joint venture between the Chinese-owned company Unik Construction Engineering Namibia and its partner Thohi Construction, while the Swakopmund to Henties Bay section is being handled by a joint venture between the Namibian Roads Contractor Company and the Chinese Zhong Mei Engineering Group. The current road network became outdated and had struggles due to increased number of trucks to and from Walvis Bay within Namibia and neighboring countries. Improving the roads is a commendable move as Walvis Bay is evolving and getting busier – slowly becoming the headquarters as SADC Gateway Port.
Readings: https://omajova.com/new-road-between-walvis-and-henties-open-fortraffic/ https://www.namport.com.na/news/880/New-road-betweenWalvis-and-Henties-open-for-traffic/
CCredit: RDJ Consulting
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NOVEMBER, 2020 21
Unpacking the Twist in the Public Transport Sector Amidst Covid-19 AUTHOR: Ms. Misozi Mugala Researcher @ RDJ Consulting
EDITOR: Ms. Priscila Chilombo Economist & Researcher @ RDJ Consulting
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he outbreak of the novel Corona Virus (Covid-19) and its declaration of a pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO) saw all sectors of local and
international economies shaking up as most economic activities had to come to a halt or slow down. The public transport is a very vital sector, which couldn’t be closed but faced a lot of adjustments though categorized under the informal sector. During the first stage of Namibia’s lockdown (in March 2020), the public transport was allowed to operate while adhering to the Covid-19 rules of sanitizing passengers and observing social distancing by only carrying three (3) passengers at a time for the five (5) seaters; five (5) people for the 7 seaters; and only 50% of full capacity for the big buses like Silus Ndapuka and Oasis the bus (and not a full bus). According to the Namibian Public Passenger Transport Association (NPPT) Secretary General, other measures taken included the cleaning of cars at the end of every trip and a more cautious way of exchanging money between drivers and customers. After the reduction of the number of passengers on public transport, a request to increase taxi/bus fare was launched by NPPT and Bridge Cross Investments in order to curb for the loss through the reduced number of passengers per trip. In May 2020, during stage 2 of the lockdown, the Road Transport Board of Namibia (RTBN) authorized the request, and a 15% increment on the taxi/bus fare was implemented just for the period of the state of emergency, leading to an increase from N$12.00 to N$14.00.
In September 2020, the Taxi Disinfection Programme to enhance the fight of the Covid-19 was launched at Wenhil Park Taxi rank. This project was authorized by the Ministry of Health and Social Services and is being carried out by wholly Namibian company called Element Medical Suppliers. A few weeks after the end of the state of emergency, in October 2020 the Namibian government allowed public transport to load at full capacity, while observing Covid19 regulations of which includes the wearing of masks and observing social distancing. Another change that the end of the state of emergency brought to specifically taxi/bus drivers was the restoration of the normal fares (N$12.00 instead of the N$14.00 for taxis). Seeing that it is difficult to observe social distancing a fully loaded public transport/vehicle, and after all the effort of trying to curb the virus in the public transport, was the relaxation of the regulations worth it? Or are we headed back to square one (1)? The conversation continues... www.rdjconsulting.co.za / office@rdjconsulting.co.za
Readings: https://www.namibian.com.na/199644/archive-read/Public-transportersmarch-on http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-04/19/c_138990308.htm https://www.tralac.org/documents/resources/covid-19/countries/3552road-transportation-board-of-namibia-tariff-increase-during-covid-19pandemic-state-of-emergency-stage-2-11-may-2020/file.html https://www.namibian.com.na/204349/archive-read/Taxi-disinfectionprogramme-launched http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-10/29/c_139476765.htm
Roll on/ Roll off Ship (Courtesy of NamPort)
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22 NOVEMBER, 2020
Namibia’s Road Journey and Development AUTHOR: Ms. Misozi Mugala Researcher @ RDJ Consulting
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AUTHOR: Ms. Priscila Chilombo Economist & Researcher @ RDJ Consulting
ll economies show growth through the mobility of its people. On a daily basis, people move from one place to another. In doing so, road systems are the
and most accessible for easier movement of all economic classes. Roads in their technical sense can be defined as a wellused pathway on land used by people, cars, motor vehicles, and horses to move from one point to another that is generally define, can be paved or improved channel. Roads come in different forms, but the most common road types in Namibia are the Tarred, Gravel and Salt roads. No matter what type of the road it is, they all have signposts in English and are rarely congested. Namibia’s Road Quality Ranking When it comes to quality roads, Namibia has always stood out in Africa, and the world at large. In fact, the 2017/18 World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Competitiveness Report rated Namibia as the 31st top country with the best quality of roads in the world out of 137 countries surveyed, earning a score of 5.0. This position only improved in the following year, as Namibia’s ranking position advanced to the 21st top country with the best quality of roads in the world out of 141 countries surveyed, improving its score to 5.3 this time.
Credit: RDJ Photo
The truth is that these rankings were not earned overnight but with a lot of hard work, consistency and sometimes a great strain to the national budget, as road construction and maintenance are usually very costly. Although the history of Namibian roads has not been methodically investigated, archaeological evidence shows that the Namibian natives created pathways around 1250 A.D round about the time trade patterns were starting in Namibia. According to archaeological researchers, some roads made by humans date back to around 700 years. Examples include pathways in Brendbeg and in //Khauxa!nas. The first documentation of road construction was written by Bethanie-Orlams under the leadership of missionary Schmelen between 1814 and 1820 and was called the Bay Road, covering the areas of Bethanie till Angra Pequena. In 1842 another road was made through Auas mountain by Jonker Afrikaner, then in 1843/44 the road from Windhoek to Walvis Bay was constructed It has been a long journey of constructing the current road infrastructure we see and enjoy driving on today. First Road Mapping Around the 19th century, way before the colonization of Namibia by Germany, the Central and Southern parts of
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NOVEMBER, 2020 23
the country already had well established roads due to the people using Ox-wagons. In 1879, Theophilus Hahn made the original map of Great Namaqualand and Damaraland which gave a survey of the existing Ox-wagon roads. It is through Hahn’s map that we can deduce that the precolonial roads were well established. Road Reconstruction and Development When the colonist arrived in Namibia in 1884, nothing was done to the roads till after the first world war. Great works were done to Namibian roads around 1952, after the great depression between 1930 to 1934 due to disruptions caused to road works such as the second world war for improvement. From 1965 to 1997, Namibian road infrastructure increased from 10 000 Km to 41 572 Km. in fact, it was around this period that the country began earning its status as one of the few countries in Africa with the best road infrastructure through the WEF. Around 2018, Namibia had 48 000 Km of road network established.
The opening of 129 kilometers of the upgraded 142 Kilometers M44 road connecting Henties Bay, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, with completion expected in 2025; As well as Phase1 completion of the SwakomundWalvis Bay Road Upgrade to a dual carriageway in the coast. It is important to note that Ongoing projects managed by Namibia’s Directorate of Transportation Infrastructure. Hence, for more information on Road Construction, Upgrading and Rehabilitation Projects, visit the Ministry of Works and Transport page at https://mwt.gov.na/projects Currently ranking as the 21st top country in the world (2019) with the best Quality of Roads, Namibia has the immense responsibility of looking after its infrastructure to keep its status and standards for future generations as roads are a key. The journey and conversation continue... www.rdjconsulting.co.za / office@rdjconsulting.co.za
Readings:
As Journey Continues… Today, the country continues investing in roads construction to ensure that everyone has easier access to necessary facilities, and conduct business easily. The latest developments in the construction of roads include: The Windhoek-Okahandja Road upgrade to a dual carriageway which is divided into five sections, started in 2016, and is expected to be completed by 2022; The Windhoek – Hosea Kutako International Airport Road project;
https://confidentenamibia.com/windhoek-okahandja-road-portionupgrade-completed/ https://www.expertafrica.com/namibia/info/self-drive-namibian-road-types https://klausdierks.com/Namibian_Roads/4.htm https://klausdierks.com/Namibian_Roads/namibian_roads_in_history.htm# :~:text=It%20can%20thus%20be%20stated%20that%20the%20Namibian,18 th%20and%20the%20beginning%20of%20the%2019th%20century. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GCR20172018/03CountryProfiles/Standalone2pagerprofiles/WEF_GCI_2017_2018_Profile_Namibia.pdf http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2019 .pdf http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GCR20172018/05FullReport/TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2017%E2%80 %932018.pdf
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24 NOVEMBER, 2020
TELECOMMUNICATIONS MTC and Education
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part from its telecommunications work, the Mobile Telecommunication (MTC) company engages from time to time in social duties by giving back to com-
-munities. Currently, MTC is working on building four (4) classrooms and two (2) storerooms for the Sinzogoro Combined School in Kavango West. In 2019, the chosen school had unfortunately lost classrooms and a storeroom in a fire incident. This made MTC come to rescue by offering the schools new classrooms and storerooms as of August 2020, at a cost of about N$1.6 million. Apart from creating a conducive learning environment through this project, MTC is also planning on spending N$11 million for the construction of power lines in
different isolated areas across Namibia. This is a continuation of the previously 133 power lines erected across the country during the past two years, while another 105 are still underway. MTC which views electrification as a catalyst to development, and through electrification of communities, there is a chance of achieving the 081 project goals, which focuses on the provision of hundred (100) percent network connectivity.
Readings: https://neweralive.na/posts/mtc-comes-to-rescue-of-rural-school https://neweralive.na/posts/star/star-of-the-week-mtc-for-ruralelectrification4
Credit: RDJ Consulting
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NOVEMBER, 2020 25
FINANCING N$145 Million Donated for an ‘Ecosystem Based Adaptation’ Project
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two-day workshop for an ‘Ecosystem-Based Adaptation’ project was officially launched by James Uerikua, the Governor of Otjozondjupa,
Kunene North landscape, Lower Eastern landscape, North Central landscape, Kavango East and West landscape.
where he disclosed that addressing the challenge of climate change with an ecosystem perspective will help preserve communities that are at risk; supplying a variety of ecological gains for the human population with what are considered necessities e.g. food and water.
A donation of N$145 million was set aside for the project from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in October 2019 through the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF). The Green Climate Fund was founded in the year 2010 and is a fund established within the framework of the UNFCCC as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism. It lends a helping hand to developing countries like Namibia in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
The objective of this project is directed to building resilience by communities residing in eight landscapes menaced by the change in climate. In addition, Uerikua said ecosystem-based adaptation can also provide to climate change mitigation by decreasing the emissions from habitat loss and ecosystem degradation. The project is as well aimed to upgrade the resilience of natural resources and livelihoods sensitive to the influence of climate change; this can be done by bettering the adjustability of the community to sustainably control natural resources. The technique set to be used in achieving this is that of the ecosystem-based adaptation, which includes a widerange of approaches to adapt to climate change; all eight of them including the management of ecosystems and their services to decrease the amenability of human communities to climate change effects. The abovementioned project will be executed in the southern landscape, namely Zambezi East landscape and Zambezi West landscape, Daures landscape and Kunene south,
The Ministry of Environment Executive Director, Teofilus Nghitila declared that the project is anticipated to help more than 21 600 people and to create 3 501 sustainable climate resilient jobs. Benedict Libanda, Chief Executive Officer of the EIF said that the role of EIF is to organise the execution of the project, playing the role of the middle man between the parties involved – GCF and the executing establishment, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
Readings: https://www.namibian.com.na/96063/read/Ecosystem-based-adaptationis-best https://www.google.com/search? q=Green+Climate+Fund&oq=Green+Climate+Fund&aqs=chrome..69i57.8216 618j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
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26 NOVEMBER, 2020
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY Interview with Ms. Lisa Matomola Interviewed by Ms. Kina Indongo (Communications Specialist - RDJ Consulting)
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n this month’s article we had the exciting opportunity to speak to Ms. Lisa Matomola, a true professional in her field and an example of grace and kindness.
Personal Journey Ms. Matomola is a graduate from the University of Namibia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Psychology, a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the University of South Africa. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in HIV/AIDS Management and a Master of Philosophy in HIV/AIDS Management from Stellenbosch University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in People Management at the University of Cape Town and is set to study for a Master of Philosophy in Management Coaching at Stellenbosch University for the 2021 academic year. Ms. Matomola started her journey as a student assistant in her 3rd and 4th year at the University of Namibia, assisting Lecturers on various research studies that were conducted in the departments. In 2010, she received a short-term contract to assist on a research conducted by the University of Namibia’s Multi-Disciplinary Research Centre. She then worked as a Human Resource intern for a few months, followed by a job as an Administrative Officer. In 2012, she joined the Ministry of Health and Social Services on PEPFAR funded projects that focused on HIV/AIDS research.
Delay is not denial! Ms. Matomola worked on two different studies that she really enjoyed. In April 2015, she was hired as a Senior Consultant in the People and Organisation Department at
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PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC),where she is currently employed as a Manager: People and Organisation. Ms. Matomola describes herself as a People Consultant.
NOVEMBER, 2020 27 “My job at PwC is basically consulting on HR/People related issues. I help people help people.” It’s a broad scope that deals with building relationships with clients, understanding their needs and helping them with solutions to better improve their organisation’s people related matters. The team and herself have helped various organisations across all industries to align their strategies to their structures, write and review job descriptions, conduct job evaluation or grading, skills audits, performance management as well helping them keep their employees engaged or ways to improve the culture. She also conducts and develops training on various topics such as customer service, professional behaviour, emotional intelligence, supervisory training, facilitation skills and any people related soft skills training as per the client’s needs.
Motivations The fact that it took Ms. Matomola five years after graduating, before landing a permanent job motivated her to become someone Namibia will remember. “I made a promise to myself to study and chase my dreams. That on its own was an ambition, I wanted to make myself more employable” said Ms. Matomola. Additionally, she attributes her drive to her parents, as they always ask what she is studying next? When is the PHD coming? “Their support and commitment towards my dreams is a good reason to want to make them proud.” She adds that she is also inspired by the many women in the different industries that continuously share their stories and remind us of the opportunities out there. Furthermore, “people who tell me that I inspire them ignites the need for me to work extra hard, so that they don’t give up on their dreams too” said Ms. Matomola.
Challenges As we know there is no success without challenges. The challenges Ms. Matomola experiences closely relate to the fact that she is a young black woman. “At times when I go to clients, they make jokes and say, “we thought Lisa was a white person”, expecting her to be another race. “Sometimes people look at me and they ask, “what will a young girl like you tell me that I haven’t heard before?”, or “how long have you worked at PwC?”. However, Ms. Matomola does not allow these occurrences to be a stumbling block to her ability to deliver. Rather, it becomes a reason to want to impress and do excellent work. Another challenge in the consulting space is that one is viewed as an expert or specialist in the field “I am always expected to know everything, which isn’t a bad thing but hey, the world keeps changing and there is always something new to learn. Working with Board Members, CEOs and Executives is at times intimidating and nerve wrecking, but you know what they say, job is job.” said Ms. Matomola
Zambezi Youth Foundation Ms. Matomola also has interests and passions outside her profession and engages in community work in her free time. She is the founder and coordinator of the Zambezi Youth Foundation. The aim of the foundation is philanthropic activities aimed at uplifting the lives of the people in the Zambezi Region. “I love giving back and making a difference, hence the birth of this foundation.” The Zambezi Youth Foundation managed to buy school uniforms for learners in need in the region, sponsored Christmas groceries for a few families, provided Christmas presents to expecting and new mothers in the hospital during festive season and kids ward. They
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have also collected second-hand clothes from all over Namibia that were distributed to the needy. In addition to new shoes, mostly high heels from good Samaritans and handed them over to a school in the Zambezi region for the girls who never owned a pair of heels before. “A few years ago, a village caught fire and houses were burnt, the team and I worked together to collect food items and clothes for the fire victims.” A similar initiative was done for a man who lost everything because of fire during lockdown in the Zambezi region and where the team also collected money to buy a few items such as blankets, pots and food just to help his family start off. A recent initiative was a fundraising event in the Zambezi region again, promoting the #RunForMacbethMatengu event which resulted in a running event in Katima Mulilo and saw people take part virtually and come together to raise funds for an individual in need. We managed to raise more than N$ 10 000.00 towards his needs. “Every moment I spend making a difference with the foundation is a proud moment, seeing people smile, seeing people come on board warms my heart, sometimes I cry tears of joy. It’s beautiful work we do.” said Ms. Matomola Ms. Matomola’s parting words are those of encouragement. “We are barrier breakers! Nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it. You can and you will achieve your dreams” she adds that however, you need to put in work too. Personal branding and continuously improving yourself is important. Brands get refreshed every now and then. Finally, she adds that the future is female, and every woman can be part of that future. “Let’s be an inspiration to the next generation of women. It will get uncomfortable, you will have to make sacrifices here and there, but the reward is greater and there is indescribable joy that comes with it. Delay is not denial!”
28 NOVEMBER, 2020
YOUTH IN ACTION Interview with Ms. Bertha Tobias Interviewed by Ms. Kina Indongo (Communications Specialist - RDJ Consulting)
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his month we had the opportunity of speaking to Ms Bertha Tobias, a remarkable young lady with insight and grace that is beyond her years. Join us into an indepth look into what drives this young lady.
Personal Journey Bertha Tobias’s educational background started at Delta Secondary School. She then went on to graduate from the United World College in Changshu China, where she was awarded the Davis scholarship to pursue her post-secondary education at Claremont Mckenna College in California, a highly selective leading private institution ranked in the top 10 Best National Colleges in the United States. She is currently pursuing a qualification in International Relations and Economics as a double major with a sequence in Leadership Studies. True to her nature, Bertha’s occupational background began as an intern at the United Nations Population Fund where her interest in international relations and community building began to grow. She has also interned at the Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) as a way to explore and expand her interests. Her most significant occupational role was that of Ambassador in the #BeFree campaign, a programme of the One Economy foundation founded by the Office of the First Lady Monica Geingos, where she has been the ambassador since 2017. All of Bertha’s community development work exists alongside her passion for public speaking and MCing, a passion to which she has dedicated her website, www.berthatobias.com.
With great opportunity comes great responsibility. www.rdjconsulting.co.za
NOVEMBER, 2020 29 Advocacy work
Motivations and Drive
As mentioned earlier Bertha is currently engaged in the #BeFree campaign in addition to adjacent aligned movements to end Gender based Violence in Namibia. Bertha believes that her advocacy work is important because as a young person in Namibia, one runs the risk of sitting on the side-lines and not engaging in active pursuits towards legitimate change. Therefore she finds it personally important to contribute to the communities in which she finds herself; whether it is her country or school community. She goes on to add that it is important for her that she is able to see herself apply herself to whichever gaps need to be filled in her community. “It's important for young people to participate in shaping what it is they want to see in their communities.”
As a youth who has been invested in through scholarships and financial backing, Bertha says it is her desire to honour those commitments and to honour the investments which have been made in her. Additionally, Bertha believes “With great opportunity comes great responsibility.” She believes that her opportunities have aligned with the things she wants to achieve and when things align for you in that way, you have a responsibility to understand that these opportunities are not just for yourself but for everyone else whose realities you represent.
Bertha says community development is particularly important to her as she is aware and distinctly understands the type of access and opportunities her education has afforded her, she believes therefore she has a responsibility to give back “I wouldn't forgive myself if I sat on my gifts, and my ability to contribute meaningfully to transforming the narratives of my people.” said Ms Tobias. A primary state of national being which Bertha would like to see for Namibian youth is economic emancipation, due to high youth unemployment rate, she would like to see young Namibians to feel safe in regards to job security and not just when they hold an international qualification. Secondly she wants Namibian youth to be more socially and politically involved with an attitude towards hopefulness. A participation that would breed the type of change the youth wants to see “I want for young Namibians a country where they feel heard and seen.” Said Bertha.
She believes that our shoulders carry the stories and the destinies of all the other people for whom we pave the way. “I really am a part of something much bigger than just who I am and I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if were to ignore or forget that.” Said Bertha. Finally, Bertha believes she can do whatever she puts her mind to. “I Really have demonstrated to myself that if there is a particular goal I want to achieve, that I get things done to achieve it and I think that's my superpower” She adds “I have a vision that is much bigger than who I am and because of that vision its less and less important whether I am afraid, or whether I am doubtful of myself and that vision drives me to continue going.”
Challenges As a young woman, Bertha has encountered challenges and obstacles especially when she finds herself in male dominated spaces. She says that she has experienced a pressure to perform a certain degree of masculinity and to remove herself from femininity because femininity is associated with weakness or incompetence. Bertha says there are www.rdjconsulting.co.za
instances where that discrimination has almost crippled her, the fact that her efforts had been dismissed because she is a woman or because she is young had almost taken their toll on her. Culturally, Bertha has also challenged norms that subjugate women in their communities. Bertha said she has experienced a lot of attempted erasure of her identity as audacity is not a trait generally expected from women. However, she says she is a lot more aware of how to navigate that type of discrimination and preempt it by highlighting and acknowledging how old she is, knowing that she is competent.
Conclusion As final parting words, Bertha would advise other youths to build a network that is strong and affords them the platform to build the ideas they have for their respective communities. Get in touch immediately with people who are key role players in the area of your interest and passions. Understand that any meaningful connection takes a lot of time to build. Get the work started, write the proposals, send the emails, make the calls, go to the offices, seek that funding and be creative in everything you are doing. Be creative in your approach. Powerfully, Bertha believes that even systems which feel rigid and preestablished can be successfully manoeuvred, and that having that kind of mindset will empower you to engage with these entities and get the work done.
30 NOVEMBER, 2020
TENDERS
CAREERS
ROADS AUTHORITY Description: Consultancy Services for Detailed Design, Tender Documentation, Contract Administration and Site Supervision for the Construction to Gravel Standards of DR 3662 - Tsandi - Iipanda (28 km) and DR 3619 - OnaandaOtamanzi (25 km) in the Omusati Region. Bid Closing Date: 1 January 2021 Description: Roads Authority hereby invites competent and registered companies to submit bids for the following: Consultancy Services for Detailed Design, Tender Documentation, Contract Administration and Site Supervision for the Construction to Gravel Standards of DR 3603 - Onghumbula - Okankolo (68 km) in the Oshikoto Region. Bid closing date:Â 28 January 2021
Description: Roads Authority hereby invites competent and registered companies to submit bids for the following: Consultancy Services for Detailed Design, Tender Documentation, Contract Administration and Site Supervision for the Upgrading to Low Volume Seal Standard for Section A of MR 74: Grootfontein - Rooidag Gate - (74 km) in the Otjozondjupa Region. Bid closing date: 28 January 2021 Description: Roads Authority hereby invites competent and registered companies to submit bids for the following: Consultancy Services for Detailed Design, Tender Documentation, Contract Administration and Site Supervision for the Upgrading to Low Volume Seal Standard for Section C of MR 74: DR 3312 (Aasvoelnes/Nhoma) - Tsumkwe - Dobe Border Post (94 km) in the Otjozondjupa Region.. Bid closing date: 28 January 2021
MUNICIPALITY OF MARIENTAL Description: The Municipality of Mariental hereby invites offers for the following: Sale of 13 single in Mariental extension 3, sale of 2 Business erven in Town and 4 Industrial erven in Mariental extension 4 by means of a closed bid to the highest qualifying bidder. Bid closing date: 28 January 2021
THE SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSION IN NAMIBIA Description: The South African High Commission in Namibia seeks to appoint a service provider for the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of a new electrical passenger elevator at its Chancery in Windhoek. Please confirm the closing date and time as it was not published. Bid closing date: No closing date published
TRANSNAMIB HOLDINGS LIMITED Position: Trainee Train Driver Location: Windhoek Closing Date: 04 December 2020 Position: Operations Officer Location: Windhoek Closing Date: 04 December 2020 Position: Technical Officer Location: Windhoek Closing Date: 04 December 2020 TRANSNAMIB HOLDINGS LIMITED Position: Senior Officer: Server and Database Location: Swakopmund Closing Date: 30 November 2020 SWAKOP URANIUM ER Position: Senior Officer: Server and Database Location: Swakopmund Closing Date: 30 November 2020 Position: Senior Engineer Location: Swakopmund Closing Date: 02 December 2020
NOVEMBER, 2020 31
CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
David Jarrett (Managing Consultant) RDJ Consulting Services CC Chilombo Olga Priscila (Operations Manager) RDJ Consulting Services CC Misozi Mugala (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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