Month: December 2023

WINDHOEK: The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has completed investigations on Namib Mills for allegedly refusing to supply poultry products to small and medium enterprises.

The commission received complaints that the company refuses to sell poultry products including chicken liver, gizzards, meat, eggs and chicken necks to SMEs, saying it has a permanent buyer for those products.

In an exclusive interview with Nampa recently, NaCC analyst, Lovisa Nghishe said the investigation has been complete and handed to the commission board for a decision.

However, the analyst could not divulge much on the recommendations in the report.

‘Depending on what is approved or disapproved, the board will avail the investigation results to the public. Concerning complaints raised on the high pricing of poultry, the commission will make a determination that will be presented to the board and will be shared after approval,’ she noted without indicating the time frame when the report will be released.

In terms of resear
ch function, the NACC through the investigation division carries out research as mandated by the Competition Act, she said.

NaCC’s research process is one that follows more or less the academic principle of research.

‘The investigation entails that Namib Mills has allegedly refused to sell poultry products including chicken liver, gizzards, meat, eggs and chicken necks to SMEs. No exact date has been established for when the investigation results will be shared by the commission board,’ Nghishe said.

The commission is urging SMEs to make use of the commission to report unfair competition. It is important for SMEs to capacitate themselves with the knowledge of competition which is something that should come from the recommendation from the competition to try and advocate directly to create competition awareness, Nghishe added.

In another interview with Nampa, NaCC Senior Researcher, Taimi Amunkete said the commission carried out a study on the private health sector this year and this medical investigation
has been completed. It has been handed over to the commission board as well and further public information will be communicated in due time, the researcher said.

Amunkete said the study sought to better understand the operations of the sector, the position of the commission in light of the judgement in the NACC/Namibian Association of Medical Aid Funds case, as well as to understand cost drivers in the sector.

The division has further embarked on two new studies, one being the review of the merger notification thresholds and filing fees.

‘This is a study that seeks to review the current threshold and propose the appropriate merger thresholds relevant to satisfy the provisions on the Competition Act, provide for the prescription of merger notification thresholds based on internationally accepted criteria and principles, provide and review existing merger filing fees, and subsequently provide revised merger filing fees in line with current economic conditions as well as the needs of the commission,’ Amunkete
said.

The other is the impact assessment into the piggery market following the merger in 2017 of two large players. This study seeks to assess how markets have evolved post-merger and look at the level of competition in the market post-merger looking at the level of competition, entry, import, export and the involvement of smaller producers, Amunkete said.
Source: Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)

RUNDU: A 46-year-old woman’s body was found with multiple stab wounds at Tumweneni Sewer Works in Rundu on Sunday, the police said.

The Namibian Police Force crime investigations coordinator in the Kavango East Region, Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu told Nampa on Tuesday that the deceased was allegedly stabbed with a sharp object.

He said the incident possibly happened around 21h00 or 23h00 between the Ndama and Tumweneni residential areas.

According to Kanyetu, the woman was last seen on Sunday after knocking off from work at the security company where she worked as a security guard around 06h00.

Her body was found at the sewage yard in the early hours of Monday by a passerby, who alerted the police.

Kanyetu further reports that the woman was raped before she was murdered.

Her 38-year-old boyfriend was arrested and detained for interrogation as a person of interest.

Her next of kin have been informed and police investigation into the matter continue.
Source: Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)

SWAKOPMUND: Erongo Regional Youth Forum Chairperson, Serron Nghoshi, has called on the youth in the region to refrain from indulging in illegal activities that will result in them ending up on the wrong side of the law, especially during the festive season.

Nghoshi, in a festive season message availed to Nampa, urged the youth to rather focus on being responsible and respectable and to identify the opportunities that are being presented to them to keep them occupied.

‘It is obvious that the unemployment rate is a concern especially amongst the rural youth as much as it is a national concern. However, this is an issue that can be turned around if the youth can see problems and turn them into opportunities,’ he said.

Youth unemployment in Namibia currently stands at over 40 per cent and is projected to rise as more graduates complete their studies.

Nghoshi said the activities available for youth in the region include volunteering platforms that various institutions have committed to offer under the direct f
acilitation of the Regional Youth Office Directorate of both Sport and Youth Development.

‘These activities will not only help keep them busy and away from the streets, but will also help empower them with self-knowledge and skills, especially the youth that barely have an educational background. Additionally, the abuse of alcohol among the youth has become a concern, hence most of them are not able to determine any opportunities and have no reason to become their best,’ he said.
Source: Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)

WINDHOEK: The deputy chief of the Windhoek City Police, Eliaser Iyambo, has urged motorists to ascertain whether their vehicles are roadworthy before taking to the roads for the festive season.

‘My advice to people who want to embark on the road for the festive season is to ascertain and correct the defects on their vehicles. The prime purpose of this is just to save lives,’ Iyambo said here on Tuesday during the launch of the City Police’s road safety campaign.

The City Police and the Roads Authority launched the campaign as part of the National Festive Season Road Safety Campaign to sensitise motorists about the importance of the roadworthiness of their vehicles.

Several car owners brought their vehicles to the City Police headquarters for free testing at the mobile vehicle testing station provided by the Roads Authority.

Iyambo said the initiative was meant to encourage motorists to keep their vehicles in good working condition, especially when embarking on long journeys.

‘It is part of the national f
estive season road campaign, where we are saying to do the right thing and save lives, so we were urging members of the public to ascertain whether their vehicles are roadworthy,’ he said.

With regards to crime prevention in Windhoek during the festive season, Iyambo said that operations are already underway.

‘We already have an operation that is ongoing between the City Police and the Namibian Police Force in the Khomas Region. We are targeting housebreaking and armed robberies and we already have members that are carrying out the operation in all 22 zones within the Windhoek municipality, so we are urging members of the public to report any suspicious movements,’ according to Iyambo.

Meanwhile, he commended the good relationship between law enforcement and members of the public in combating crime in the city.

Housebreaks, robberies, and thefts from vehicles were major criminal activities that the police dealt with over the past year.

‘But the number of those crimes has drastically gone down because of
the concerted effort between the law enforcement officers and the community. We would like to thank the community for providing us with information. A number of hard-core criminals are behind bars, but they did not put themselves there; they were caught by the police with the assistance of the community,’ Iyambo said.
Source: Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)

KATIMA MULILO: Twenty-three houses were officially handed over to their new owners at Bukalo village in the Zambezi Region on Tuesday.

The construction of the houses was funded through the Buy-a-Brick initiative, a partnership between the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia and Standard Bank.

Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Eveline Nawases-Taeyele, commended the initiative during the handover, saying it focuses on addressing the causes of inequality at a time when the Namibian nation is faced with an acute housing shortage and other social economic disparities.

‘Our government will persist in providing support to families seeking shelter, access to affordable land, and benefits from infrastructural development, particularly in informal settlements. We will continue bringing economic and infrastructural development to disadvantaged communities through programmes like the Decentralised Built-Together-programme, Urban and Rural Housing Loan Programme, and other informal settlement initiatives
,’ stated Nawases-Taeyele.

The deputy minister urged additional stakeholders to collaborate in tackling the social challenges associated with adequate housing, saying homes not only provide families with a secure place to live, but also establish a social standing in society.

She encouraged new homeowners to maintain their houses, fulfill their housing loan obligations, and contribute to council services payments, emphasising the communal nature of assistance.

‘Only when you play your part can other people in the community be assisted. We will support your efforts and therefore don’t give up, continue to fight poverty through teamwork and concentrate on your development,’ the deputy minister said.

The beneficiaries, upon receiving their new homes, said moving into these residences is not merely sentimental moment but also a restoration of their dignity as equals in society.

Some of the beneficiaries noted that moving into their new houses restores their dignity as equals in society.
Source: Namibia Press
Agency (NAMPA)

OPUWO: The Otjiungukua netball and football teams won the annual Omongua football and netball tournament on Monday.

The tournament took place at Omongua in the Omaheke area, starting Saturday and ending on Monday.

Otjiungukua FC defeated Gauteng FC by a 3-2 score line in the semi-finals, before defeating Orevia FC by a 1-0 score line in the final. Orevia FC advanced to the final by defeating Big Five FC in the semi-finals 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw after regular time.

The Otjiungukua netball team defeated the Otjovakombe netball team in the final game by a 27-17 score line after defeating the Kajalami netball team by a score of 27-17 in the semi-final.

Before their defeat in the final game, the Otjovakombe netball team defeated the Ombero netball team 27-12.

According to event organiser Mabeth Kazeurua, the competition was a big success, even though around six teams did not show up after registering, claiming job responsibilities. Kazeurua told Nampa on Tuesday that the competition served
as a platform for the selection of the constituency’s all-star squad, which will represent Omongua in the Namibia Rural Sports Development Federation events in 2024.

Otjiungukua Football Club received N.dollars 9 000, a trophy and gold medals, while Orevia FC received N.dollars 6 000 and silver medals, while Big Five FC and Gauteng FC each received N.dollars 3 000.

Each of the four quarter-finalists received N.dollars 500.

Otjiungukua, the netball champion, won N.dollars 4 000, a trophy and gold medals, Otjovakombe received N.dollars 2 000 and silver medals, while Ombero and Kajalami netball teams received N.dollars 1 000 each.
Source: Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)