Sie sind auf Seite 1von 24

Fr

ee

APRIL 2013

Consumer News
ISSN 2026-710X

your voice

When does my debt stop getting bigger? The Land Matters in Art project exhibition Polytechnic of Namibia enters into an MOU with the Parliament of Namibia Rent Control is Needed in Namibia Namibias 2012 National Population & Housing Census results released Namibian Youth rally behind climate change adaption and Mitigation

Namibian Competition Commission defines undertakings

Introducing iBIZ

Your office faster, more productive and better.


We configure and manage your firewall, e-mail, web access and file sharing services, so you can concentrate on your core business.
For more information please visit your nearest teleshop. Call us now toll free on 1100 or SMS iBIZ to 060123.

iBIZ

The Team
Publisher
Consumer News

Printed by
Printech cc

General Manager/Editor
Willem Gariseb 081 249 8161 081 551 9337 consumernews@iway.na

Editors Note
Willem Gariseb
et me begin by thanking all our readers and advertisers for all your support in the publication of our Magazine. We are simply there because of your support and interest in our publication and we continue to be committed in educating and informing consumers on some dynamic principles and ethics that will protect and guide them in their business with retailers. Inside this edition we give you an update on the Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census Basic Report published by the Namibia Statistics Agency which noted that the countrys population has grown steadily since 1921 rising from one quarter in 1921 through to 1.8 in 2001 and 2.1 in 2011. We have also provided consumers with a guide to buying furniture in shops and shade more exciting stories in our regular columns. It is our commitment and responsibility as the Consumer News to be a watchdog for consumers as we will be the public sphere for discussion of all consumer related news where consumers raise their issues and the state also responds and update consumers on proceedings which concerns them. Once again we thank you all for taking your time going through the pages of our May edition. May you be inspired to inspire others to make a positive impact in our society, as you read through the pages of this book until we meet again.
If there is a book you really want to read but it hasnt been written yet, then you must write it.
Toni Morrison (US novelist)

Editorial Photos

Freelance Journalists Freelance Photographers

Contents
When does my debt stop getting bigger? - P4 The Land Matters in Art project exhibition - P5 Polytechnic of Namibia enters into an MOU with the Parliament of Namibia - P6 Namibian Competition Commission defines undertakings - P8-9 SAA improves on-board experience - P9 Capacity Advancement Program (CPA) in Africa kick starts - P10-11 A consumers guide to buying furniture - P11 Q & A with Jacqueline Prince - P12 Namibias 2012 National Population & Housing Census results released - P14 Namibian Youth rally behind climate change adaption and Mitigation - P15 My Point of View - P16-17 In support of a Basic Income Grant (BIG) - P18 Rent Control is Needed in Namibia - P20 Naindjala to meet Sekotswe in a rematch - P22 Toyota Yaris setting the record straight - P22 Ohorongo Otavi Community Trust Donates new ambulance - P23

Our mission is to create a platform for you the Namibian consumer, who strives to see improvement in the value of goods and services and are savvy enough to spot misleading advertising and poor quality products and services. You deserve more, and together we have power in numbers, so we welcome your contributions, feedback, acknowledgements and your voice on products and services that need our investigation.

You deserve more ...

Contact details
Namibia Consumer Protection Group: Milton Louw. E-mail: miltonlouw@gmail.com Namibia Customer Service Institute: Jon Allen. E-mail:csinstitute@iway.na Website: www.namibiacsi.com Namibian Consumer Lobby: Bob Ziekenoppasser. Te: 064 - 46 1461 or 081 284 8000 Namibian Standards Institution: Tel: 061 38 6400 / Queries: query@nsi.com.na Website: www.nsi.com.na

For all your advertising needs contact: Willem Gariseb at: Cell: +264 (0) 81 249 8161/+264 (0) 85 551 9337 Fax2mail: +264 (0) 886 44443 Email: consumernews@iway.na/willemgariseb@yahoo.com

When does my debt stop getting bigger?


A Concerned Consumer speaks

In Namibia, the Consumer Law can do a lot to prevent the endless circle of debt and poverty consumers get trapped in.

hen I was growing up there were times when our house was very quiet with a large number of family and friends visiting and talking in hushed whispers. The first time I remember it was my paternal grandfather that was in bed and everyone was treating him as if he was already dead. Back then we did not discuss cancer and I could not understand this feeling in the house where everyone was just waiting for the person to die. Fortunately, our family religion tells us that we will one day be heaven together - so there was some consolation during the C days. These days, I get the same impression of evasion when we talk about debt. If we have debt, most of us act as if nothing is wrong and there is no sick person in the house. This month I wish to share with you my experience with debt and the threatened sword hanging over my head that the Sheriff of the Court or some other official can come take my possessions and sell them to repay debts that have been registered with the court. I have two registered debts that I am aware of. Both are debts incurred while running my company and applied by the creditors to my personal responsibility. One is with the Magistrate Court and the other (which is over the threshold of N$ 25,000) is with the High Court. Now you must keep in mind that though you might not wish to discuss your debt, the creditor is doing everything possible to make sure as many people as possible know about it. The use of the threat to inform the widest possible audience is the greatest tool of the creditor to force you to pay what the court has agreed you owe them. (This is important: The amount you are supposed to owe is the amount they have convinced the court you must pay and I will come back to that later.) Allow me to share with you the information about my court registered with the High Court (all public information). The Deputy Sheriff of the High Court was ordered to serve on me a subpoena (an order to appear before the High Court) for

the 11th Day of April 2013 at 10h00. On this day, the Judgement Creditor, namely Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) wishes the court to give and ORDER to pay the outstanding Default Judgement amount of N$ 28,630.00 When I appear in court, the creditor expects me to provide a proof of my monthly salary or income, my monthly income and expenses, proof or all debts and payments thereof, a list of my assets and liabilities, proof of expenses in respect of housing and all other documents that may assist the court to investigate my financial position and determine the instalments to be paid by me for this debt. The debt was for a contract to carry out a survey by my company, NamBizDotCom, on the small-and medium-sized enterprises (SME) at the premises of NEPRU in Bahnhof St in Windhoek. In the spirit of the agreement, NamBiz supplied data on companies previously interviewed in a SME survey but with the understanding such information should be treated confidentially and without sharing with any third-party. After the contract was signed, no office space was available as indicated and the IIPR shared the SME owners information without any regard for to the confidentiality agreement between NamBiz and the SME owner. By now, most of us have learned that my explanation of the behaviour of the foreigner, white male dominated organisation has led to me to withhold my labour or the belief by the IPPR that you have been duplicitous and give Black Economic Empowerment a bad name is of no interest to the court. In the eyes of the law, I have been found guilty after due process has been followed by the creditor. And now we come to the root of my problem. I accept the judgement, but would like some further information or assistance. For example: What was the original debt and what other costs have been added to get to the amount in front of the court; Why did the lawyers make use of a

sister company to do the tracing and change my Erf numbers as if I had a new address during the process of getting the default judgement (and neatly changed it back to get the summons served at the correct address)? Which amounts are actually allowed to have interest added? The main debt is stated in my papers, but can the lawyers charge interest on their charges? Or charge interest on the services provided by the Sheriff of the Court? I could really use a clear indication of which costs attract interest and which do not. When does my debt reach in duplum? In Namibia, the Consumer Law can do a lot to prevent the endless circle of debt and poverty consumers get trapped in. Take for example the principle of in duplum. In duplum is a Latin phrase derived from the word in duplo which means in double. The rule has its origin in the Roman Dutch law. It basically provides that interest stops running when unpaid interest equals the outstanding capital amount. It has always been considered illegal (and immoral) to charge interest which is more than the original amount owed, except in special circumstances but people such as banks, lawyers, debt collectors, etc. get away with it because it is a common law rule. This means there is uncertainty when applying the rule, especially by the courts. Thus a creditor should not charge more than twice the original amount due - but lawyers charges, tracing fees, administrative costs, etc. can inflate the debt to almost any amount? This common law in duplum rule has been codified by statute in South Africa, which now protects consumers against predatory interest rates on loans and further provides better clarity about when the rule applies and when not. Namibia needs legal protection for its consumers the Consumer law is a necessity not a nicety!

Consumer News

Land is created to reflect the idea of nurturing the land and its resources, the striped patterns represent the wild animals such as the zebra. These animals are found in game parks and zoos to attract tourists. The artwork is created from recycled plastic material which can also contribute to healthy land reform.
Filipus Shehaama

The Land Matters

in Art project exhibition


lpheus-G.!Naruseb, the Minister of Lands and Resettlements opening remarks indicated that The Land Matters in Art project reinforces the thinking that art, in the context of cultures is integral to life. The Land Matters in Art project was launched in October 2012, and invited established professional artists, aspiring artists, as well as students to join in the first artistic dialogue about land reform. Namibia is pursuing a uniform land reform strategy which takes into account the interests of all stakeholders. This ensures that the use and management of land are properly planned, and that the employees of the responsible institutions, as well as the wider population, are made duly aware of the importance of sustainable land use. The Exhibition began on the 28th March 2013 at four handpicked venues to exhibit these remarkable artworks, including the Soweto market situated in Katutura,which after four days of being put up many of the artworks where destroyed and vandalized. The National Art gallery of Namibia, the Goethe-Centre and the Franco Cultural Centre,one will see prints and media including painting,drawing,photography, sculpture, mixed media, video, textiles, ceramic, land art and other. This event is important because it is

Alpheus-G.!Naruseb, the Minister of Lands and Resettlement to healthy land reform. According to Tolstoy, art must create a specific emotional link between Author and audience, one that affects the viewer. Thus, real art requires the capacity to unite people via communication and so we hope to learn from this project. Land reform is an important political and economic topic in Namibia. It consists of two different strategies: resettlement, and transfer of commercially viable agricultural land. Resettlement is aimed at improving the lives of displaced or dispossessed previously disadvantaged Namibians. Farms obtained by government for resettlement purposes are usually split into several sections, and dozens of families are being resettled on what had previously been one farm. Transfer of commercial agricultural land is not directly conducted by government. Land Matters in Art is intended to encourage people to think and talk openly about land issues, said H.E Onno Huckmannthe Ambassador of the federal republic of Germany. Over a hundred artists handed in a total of 270 works of art, and finally 152 artwork informed by a wide range of topics were selected by the panel. The artworks have also been placed in a catalogue which is for sale; the profits of which will be reinvested in future art projects. -NawaZone

opening a new chapter in Land reform process in Namibia and the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement recognizes the Arts for its contribution to the understanding of land use and its relevance in Namibia. Foibe Amdaba, a graduate of the Katutura Community Art Centre says I attended the exhibition and I was truly blown away by the number of artworks and their variety, the artists really went all out to express themselves on issues concerning our Land and that just makes me proud. We as a young nation should stand together and function as agents to promote social transformation, Land Matters in life as in the Arts. Pieces range in prices from as little as N$17,59 to as much as N$58 300. Anybody, if not everybody will have a little something within their spending budgets to take home. Our land, our heritage, our pride was the slogan for this project and the public seem to be relating and responding well to this as it affects all of us. Filipus Shehaama explains his artwork called Savanna. He says Land is created to reflect the idea of nurturing the land and its resources, the striped patterns represent the wild animals such as the zebra. These animals are found in game parks and zoos to attract tourists. The artwork is created from recycled plastic material which can also contribute

Consumer News

Information and communication technology has revolutionised the way people interact with one another and with institutions and legislatures.
Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab

Polytechnic of Namibia enters into an MOU with the Parliament of Namibia


Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab Speaker of the National Assembly he Polytechnic of Namibia recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of a best practice Parliamentary website with the Parliament of Namibia. Speaking on the occasion, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr TheoBen Gurirab, said that information and communication technology has revolutionised the way people interact with one another and with institutions and legislatures. Worldwide ICT has become instrumental in furthering the state of democracy by encouraging and facilitating the effective engagement of citizens, thus increasing their participation in the political debate and supporting the commitment of parliaments to greater openness, transparency and accountability, said Dr Gurirab. Dr Gurirab noted that Parliaments are elected by the voting public to represent their interest; hence there is a need for regular dialogue with their constituents. Parliamentary websites, according to Dr Gurirab, have evolved over the years from merely providing information about legislature and its work to linking parliament to citizens in order to allow them to freely engage their representatives on critical issues affecting them. He added that, having a website in itself is not enough; a website must be easily understandable and freely accessible. Most importantly it must be well managed and supported and updated daily.

With the assistance of the Polytechnic of Namibia, Dr Gurirab said that Members of Parliament and the citizenry will dialogue on critical issues affecting them, thus bringing Parliament closer to the people. The MOU commits us to work together more closely towards our common goal of development and maintenance of the Parliamentary website, which includes amongst others the development and maintenance of the Parliamentary website, which includes amongst others the development of a user friendly and best practice content management system, databases and the training of MPs and staff on the sustainable usage of the new web presence, he said. In addition to Dr Gurirabs speech, the Rector for Polytechnic of Namibia, Prof Tjama Tjivikua said, In a democracy, readily access to information is a precondition for citizens participation and governance, and this MOU speaks directly to this point. Therefore access to Parliament means access to information, records, archives, galleries, library, sessions. It means also access to meetings, debates and activities of Parliament. He also added that three factors converge to create this partnership between Parliament and the Polytechnic which are; a democratic constitution accessible and attractive for participation; affordable internet access which is becoming more readily available on smaller handheld devices and the intellectual

capacity to deliver as can be seen from the templates we have produced. As a forward-looking university, the Polytechnic strongly supports the desire of our countrys institutions to enhance their performance in governance and domestic accountability, in pursuit of the development agenda and increase in access to information by its citizens, said Prof Tjivikua.

As a forward-looking university, the Polytechnic strongly supports the desire of our countrys institutions to enhance their performance in governance and domestic accountability, in pursuit of the development agenda and increase in access to information by its citizens.
Prof Tjama Tjivikua

Consumer News

18th Road, 13 Street, WalvisBay, Shop No. 5 Cell: +264 812 332 666 / +264 813 064 468 Phone: +264 64 221 448 Fax2email: +264 88 649 685 Email: info@izzycranes.com.na Website: www.izzycranes.com.na
Isai Zimina Haishonga Director Kauvitheni Mike Haishonga - Marketing Communication and Sales

Izzy Cranes is the agents for Iron Group Equipment solution in Africa.
We have a wide range of equipment and Spares including: Construction and Minning Equipment, Industrial Equipment, Agro Equipment ,GENERATORs and DIESEL ENGINES. NB: we can also offer our financing services to our clients who want to purchase equipments, if they dont have enough Finance. Term & Conditions apply.

Construction & Minning Industrial & Agro Equipment

Generators

Diesel

Engines

Diesel

Innovation, Excellence, Quality & Convenience


You will achieve the level of safety that you demonstrate you want to achieve.
For more on: http://www.izzycranes. com.na/products.php Like our page: http://www.facebook. com/IzzycranesNamibia

Izzy Cranes cc

All Iron Group products Sold by Izzy Cranes carry a 2 year or 10 000 hours warranty that is supported by our business and 500 hrs interval services are done by our technical department.

Consumer News

The definition of an undertaking as defined applies to entities including individuals, as long as those entities are carrying on any business for gain or reward in the production, supply or distribution of goods or the provisions of services.

Mr Vitalis Ndalikokule, Director: Mergers & Acquisitions

Namibian Competition Commission defines undertakings

Who is an undertaking?
Vitalis Ndalikokule The purpose of this article is to clarify the Namibian Competition Commissions stance on the interpretation of the term undertaking as contemplated in Section 1 of the Competition Act 2 of 2003 (the Act), especially in relation to Chapter 4 of the Act. The principles set out in this article will be followed and be further developed by the Commissions practice in individual cases. The interpretations provided herein, are not binding on the Commission.
n terms of Section 1 of the Act, the term undertaking means any business carried on for gain or reward by an individual, a body corporate, an unincorporated body of persons or a trust in the production, supply or distribution of goods or the provision of any service. It must be observed in the context of competition law, that the concept of an undertaking encompasses every entity engaged in economic activity, regardless of the legal status of the entity and the way in which it is financed, managed or controlled. This includes private individuals who either run their own businesses (sole proprietors) or control (either individually or jointly) other undertakings. For the purpose of the Competition Act, an undertaking includes private individuals who either run their own businesses or hold any interest in or control over any other undertaking and all registered companies, close corporations and business trusts, even if they are not trading (producing, supplying or distributing goods or

providing services) at the time that they enter into a transaction which constitutes a merger or acquisition. This was confirmed by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) which held in Hfner and Elser v Macrotron GmbH (Case C-41/90 (1991) ECR I-1979, (1993) 4 CMLR 306) that: the concept of an undertaking encompasses every entity engaged in an economic activity regardless of the legal status of the entity and the way in which it is financed. In Pavlov case (Case C-180/98 etc (2000) ECR I-6451, (2001) 4 CMLR 30) the ECJ added that, it has also been consistently held that any activity consisting in the offering of goods or services on a given market is an economic activity. An entity can be found to be an undertaking only as a result of the activity it is engaged in; its legal form is irrelevant. Natural persons has been held to qualify as undertakings, although an individual acting as an employee would not be, nor would an individual purchasing goods or services as an end user/ consumer, since that behav-

Consumer News

iour is not economic. The Commissions interpretation of Section 1 of the Act with regards to the concept of undertaking is without prejudice to the interpretation which may be given by the High Court of Namibia. Undertakings are direct participants in a merger or acquisition of control. In this regard Article 42(1) of the Act provides that: A merger occurs when one or more undertakings directly or indirectly acquire or establish direct or direct control over the whole or part of the business of another undertaking. With regard to the relevance of control by undertakings, it is the concept of acquiring control that will determine which are the undertakings involved. On the acquiring side, there can be one or more undertakings acquiring sole or joint control. On the acquired side, there can be one or more undertakings as a whole or parts thereof. As a general rule, each of these undertakings will be an undertaking within the meaning of Sections 1 and 42 of the Act. Acquisition of sole control of the whole undertaking will be the most straight forward case of acquisition of control. The un-

dertakings concerned will be the acquiring undertaking and the target undertaking. Where the target undertaking is acquired by a group through one of its subsidiaries, the undertakings concerned are the target undertaking and the acquiring subsidiary if this is not a mere acquisition vehicle. The subsidiary is normally the undertaking concerned. However, for the purpose of calculating the turnover and assets, the turnover and assets of all undertakings with which the acquiring undertaking has a link must be specified for the purpose of Rule 7(4) and shall be taken into account. In this regard the group is considered to be a single economic unit. There is abundance of EU case law showing that both the EU Commission and the European Court of Justice have shown an inclination to adopt a wide definition of undertaking. Companies, clubs, co-operatives, trusts, partnerships and certain individuals are regarded as undertakings subject to competition law in terms of the Act. In terms of competition law, the term undertaking must be understood as designating an economic unit.

The notion of undertaking is relative and has to be established in concrete terms with regard to the specific activity under scrutiny. The definition of an undertaking as defined applies to entities including individuals, as long as those entities are carrying on any business for gain or reward in the production, supply or distribution of goods or the provisions of services. When determining what filing fee the merging parties have to pay: Regarding the acquiring undertaking: The Commission follows the group approach i.e. looks at the total turnover and value of the assets of the entire group of undertakings to which the acquiring undertaking belongs. Regarding the target undertaking: The Commission looks at the total turnover and value of the assets of the primary target undertaking and all its subsidiaries also being transferred. If any doubt exists as to who qualifies as an undertaking in relation to a proposed merger, parties are free to contact the Mergers and Acquisitions Division of the Commission for advise.

SAA improves
on-board experience

ohannesburg, Wednesday, 27 March 2012. South African Airways (SAA) has announced three product enhancements that are set to delight customers flying on the award-winning South African national flag carrier. SAA is a premium brand proud to associate with other quality and established premium brands to offer customers a world-class service when travelling. From 1 April 2013, SAA customers will be able to flip through the pages of a newly designed onboard magazine, Sawubona, and enjoy sipping on one of the worlds finest champagnes, Taittinger, as well as select cuisine from a menu designed by Chef Benny Masekwameng, Executive Chef of Tsogo Sun. SAA appointed Ndalo Media as the publisher of its onboard magazine, Sawubona, and tasked the publisher to produce a bold publication that will unearth positive South African stories and share them with the world. SAA is confident that the fresh, warm design and editorial approach sets Sawubona apart from other inflight magazine. Through the introduction of one of the worlds finest champagnes, Taittinger, it is evident that SAA only offers the best of the best to customers travelling business class on international and long-haul regional flights. The excellent champagne from Reims, France, will also be enjoyed by customers visiting SAAs Premium and Cycad lounges. SAA also has the pleasure of collaborating with Tsogo Suns Executive Chef, Benny Masekwameng to create a delectable new menu set to delight travellers taste buds. SAA is proud to showcase and expose quintessentially South African cuisine by partnering with established hotel group Tsogo Sun in this regard.

Consumer News

Capacity Advancement Program

erck Serono a division of Merck, Darmstadt, Germany recently launched its Capacity Advancement Programme (CAP) in Africa at the UNAM School of Medicine Campus. The program which established a partnership of Merck Serono with the University Of Namibia School Of Medicine and the Ministry of Health and Social Services will ensure that the CAP initiatives are rolled out and implemented throughout Namibia. Merck Serono aims to expand the professional capacity in Africa in the areas of research and development, clinical research, supply-chain integrity and efficiency, Pharmacovigilance, Medical education, and community awareness with a special focus on the management of people with diabetes and prevention of the disease. With Merck Seronos long experience in diabetes management, beginning in 1957 with the development of metformin (Glucophage), it seeks to raise awareness of diabetes in Africa by educating the public and supporting the health care system on ways to prevent, diagnose and manage the condition effectively. This initiative supports the development of educational programs such as accredited Clinical Diabetes Management training, mainly targeted to medical undergraduates at local universities in Africa so that, ultimately, they act as diabetes

ambassadors thus addressing the medical education for health care providers in rural areas in the future. This three year scientific educational program which will be offered by the Serono Symposia International Foundation (SSIF), an independent organization providing medical education programs accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) at the University of Namibia, University of Nairobi and the Makerere University in Uganda, is made possible through an educational grant from Merck Serono. Speaking at the launch of the CPA the Chief Executive Officer for Merck Serono, Dr Stefan Oschmann said, The rising number of diabetics all over the world is a call to prioritize diabetes care and awareness to prevent the disease from turning into a national epidemic, adding that through the leadership, faculty leaders and students, this program will seek to improve the healthcare sector not only in Namibia but also throughout Africa. Oschmann noted that the CAP will provide critical education and empowerment to those affected and dealing with diabetes to show the way to manage and prevent it. This demonstrates our Commitment to long-term partnership for providing accessible and equitable health care as well as contributing to social and economic development of the continent, he said.

The School of Medicine is a pioneer in Health Care delivery for Namibia with intent to turn out highly skilled Health professionals for the country and Africa as a whole. Considering that recent WHO statistics reveals that Non Communicable disease (NCD) account for 38% of all mortality, while cardiovascular disease including diabetes account for 19% of the Namibian population, the importance of this program cannot be overemphasized
Proffessor Nyarango

Professor Peter Nyarango, the Founding Dean of the University Of Namibia School Of Medicine emphasized that, The University of Namibia School Of Medicine in particular is delighted and honored to be part of this initiative. The School of Medicine is a pioneer in Health Care delivery for Namibia with

10

Consumer News

(CPA) in Africa kick starts


intent to turn out highly skilled Health professionals for the country and Africa as a whole. Considering that recent WHO statistics reveals that Non Communicable disease (NCD) account for 38% of all mortality, while cardiovascular disease including diabetes account for 19% of the Namibian population, the importance of this program cannot be overemphasized. Proffessor Nyarango also noted that this program will serve as an excellent platform for further development of a specific policy that is operational for NCD, particularly Diabetes and Obesity. The initiative will improve the quality of future Diabetes medical care. This will definitely go a long way in improving diabetes health care not only in Namibia but the rest of Africa, he explained. In support of the CAP program, Professor Isaac O. Kibwage, the Principal of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Nairobi also said that Nairobi University is ready to support initiatives such as Merck Seronos Capacity Advancement Program and associate with other institutions whose overall objectives and goals are directed towards alleviating challenges in the provision of healthcare especially emerging diseases such as Diabetes. He said, In order to achieve sustainable economic development and a middle income state in Kenya by 2030, we need to transform our health sector to provide quality; accessible and equitable health care and this will start within universities. Professor C Opio, Senior Lecturer at Makerere University also expressed his gratitude for the Public Private Partnerships between Uganda and Merck Serono to implement their capacity advancement program in Uganda and Makerere University to support diabetes health programme in Uganda. This program will contribute to provide accredited scientific education for diabetes health care provid-

In order to achieve sustainable economic development and a middle income state in Kenya by 2030, we need to transform our health sector to provide quality; accessible and equitable health care and this will start within universities.
Professor Kibwage

ers in rural areas and Clinical Diabetes management for medical undergraduates of local African universities so that, ultimately, they act as Diabetes ambassadors.

A consumers guide to buying furniture

his month Consumer News has provided consumers with a guide to buying furniture in shops. The following is a list of some tips consumers need to ponder when making a choice to buy furniture: 1) Salespeople often dont get paid unless you buy something Most staff in furniture stores makes their income via commission, and some stores require salespeople to sell a minimum amount of furniture before they qualify for any commission. The result of this structure is aggressive and sometimes misleading sales pitches-like claiming a living room set is almost sold out or that a certain sale will never take place again. Often, this is untrue; furniture stores often repeat sales and incentives, especially during national holidays. 2) Be careful of quality. Not all furniture is created equal. When comparing wooden furniture, pieces made with solid wood typically tends to weather the elements better. Consumers must also conduct some quick tests of their own at the store before making a purchase- including checking bed and chair frames to confirm that the joints are solid. If it wobbles and shakes, that is a

sign of problems in the future. And check that seams, on sofas (for example) that are in a straight line, consistent and not fraying. 3) You should never pay the full sticker price. Getting a good price at a furniture store does not just mean shopping during a sale or close to holidays. Most furniture retailers mark up their prices by about 80 percent (and in some cases more) to maximize their margins. When stores run a promotion or sale, they mark the price back down to give the illusion that there is a big sale. That is why consumers should try to negotiate even beyond the discounted price but do not expect a salesperson to agree to a lower price right away. Often, consumers who pay with cash have more bargaining room. Thus negotiating with a manager or store owner is best as they do not have to ask permission to make a deal. 4) Our financing plans may do damage to your credit score. No cash on hand to buy that dining room set? No problem at least not for the retailers. Most major furniture stores now pitch financing programs to consumers especially to those who do not pay with cash. Many

of these financing plans are downright usurious resulting in the consumer spending much more than the value of the items purchased. 5) The best deals are in the back. Most large furniture companies use a racetrack or maze layout in their showrooms rather than traditional rows. This is because of the fact that in order to see a specific piece of furniture that they came into the store for, consumers will have to walk through most of the inventory, including accessories like pillows first to find it. This strategy is meant to boost sales by increasing the chances of impulse buying and is the same strategy that sees supermarkets placing the milk and bread at the back of the store. The layout also works to a stores advantage when it advertises sales. Most discounted furniture is typically placed in the back of the store so that the shopper walks through the entire store first seeing the newer and more expensive furniture that is up front. The store is betting that some shoppers will end up buying a non-sale piece rather than the advertised product that brought them into the store in the first place or better yet, theyll end up buying both.

Consumer News

11

Q & A with LIH C.E.O Jacqueline Prince


C.N: Tell us a little background about yourself. Who is Jacqui Prince? J.Prince: I see myself as an individual with a definite mission in this lifetime. My mission is to try and achieve positive benefits for the citizens of Namibia. While I was born in South Africa, I came to Namibia during the independence struggle and went to work in the Legal Assistance Centre. Though I was inexperienced in the law, through hard work and the support of the individuals at the Centre, I was able to make a positive contribution. C.N: Where do you place yourself in the academic world? J.Prince: I have always felt that the more you know, the more you know that you dont know. There are no straight forward answers to this question because there are people who were less fortunate than some of us and did not study are probably just as good as me and my learned colleagues. I loved studying, even though my studies took place at night after a hard days work and before dawn the next day. I tend to be very hard on myself and hold myself to a high standard. My academic qualifications include studies in Human Resources, Marketing and a MBA I hope that when time permits, I will be able to complete my doctorate degree in business. C.N: Can you share with us your thoughts about the investment industry in Namibia? J.Prince: Since independence, the Namibian Government has pursued free-market economic principles designed to promote commercial development and job creation to bring disadvantaged Namibians into the economic mainstream. To facilitate this goal, the government actively encouraged donor assistance and foreign investment. I can therefore confidently say that Namibia remain committed to stimulating economic growth and employment through attracting foreign investment, hence the Foreign Investment Act of 1990 which serves as the primary legislation governing foreign direct investment in Namibia. It is interesting to note that the Act does not impose performance requirements on foreign investors which is an great incentive. For certain industries, however, there are local content requirements to exempt final products from duties under the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Foreign firms enjoy the same investment opportunities as local companies. In addition, there is a free flow of financial resources within Namibia and throughout Common Monetary Area (CMA) countries of the South African Customs Union (SACU) which include Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa and Lesotho. Capital flows with the rest of the world are relatively free, subject to South African exchange control. This is an indication that generally speaking, Namibias investment industry is attractive. I believe Namibias investment industry is complex because it is merely 20 odd years old, and as much as people are saying we should have been doing better after so many years, what they forget is that we started off with so many drawbacks. Our laws were messed up, we were traumatised, and the imbalances were immense. Our FDI legislation aims to address these issues and to balance the scale between Namibias self-sustainability and the foreigners gain through local investments, In other words we should create a win-win business investment environment. C.N: In Namibia, we do not have a consumer protection Act. Do you think this is something that should be adopted here? J.Prince: Most definitely! Namibias consumers are open to all kinds of ill-treatment because of the lack of a consumer protection act. Many businesses get away with abusing consumers, who have very little to go on, with no real form of recourse or retaliation for bad service provision, sub-standard and often overpriced products . Our neighbouring country South Africa sets a very good example with such laws and regulations and companies are exceptionally mindful of the parameters set out by these laws. C.N: What challenges do Namibian consumers face? J.Prince: One issue which comes to mind almost immediately in the face of the situation Namibian consumers find themselves in is the publics unawareness of consumers rights. Consumers should make a point of educating themselves on what such an Act would term unacceptable and/or unethical practices of businesses. This in turn, I believe would compel the inevitable, i.e., laws to enforce Namibian businesses to adhere to ethical and good governance practices. I speak with a good measure of certainty when I say that Namibia is a co-signatory to quite a few conventions in this regard, as I have attended many international conferences where this issue was discussed and agreed upon on a global and regional level. A lot of companies from South Africa use Namibia as a dumping ground for products. We see goods in our stores that have advertising on them for South African contests which have expired, so they sell the leftovers here. Few companies have Namibian websites or customer care lines for consumers to call. C.N:What advice do you have for the Namibian Consumers? J.Prince: Stand up for yourself and make it known nationally that we need legislation to protect our consumers. In the absence of real action from the consumers, very little will be done. All Namibians have full access to Parliament and Parliamentarians. Raise this serious issue with vigour and dont accept no for an answer. The Act may serve consumers in varied and numerous ways, such as price control hence saving money; reminding people that they now live in a free Namibia where peoples rights and dignity is protected and respected at all costs and applies to all citizens whether economically impoverished or not. We need to start observing the practices of businesses and even encourage marketing students to undertake some research on this issue. One will be amazed at how really bad it is for Namibian consumers.

12

Consumer News

Competition Snippets

What is the purpose of Namibian Competition Act 2 of 2003?

The Namibian Competition, Act 2 of 2003 was enacted with the purpose of enhancing the promotion and safe guarding of competition in Namibia in order to;

Promote the efficiency, adaptability and development of the Namibian economy (Economic Development) Provide consumers with competitive prices and product choices (Consumer Protection) Promote employment and advance the social and economic welfare of Namibians (Employment Creation and Poverty Reduction) Expand opportunities for Namibian participation in world markets while recognizing the role of foreign competition in Namibia (Foreign Direct Investment) Ensure that small undertakings have an equitable opportunity to participate in the Namibian economy (SME Development) Promote a greater spread of ownership, in particular to increase ownership stakes of historically disadvantaged persons (Black Economic Empowerment)

Consumer News

For more information contact:

The Namibian Competition Commission P.O.Box 2104, Windhoek, Namibia Tel: +264 61 224 622 / Fax: +264 61 401900 Email: info@nacc.com.na www.nacc.com.na

Alternatively, find us at:


269 Independence Avenue BPI House Mezzanine Floor Windhoek

13

Namibias 2012 National Population & Housing Census results released

he Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census Basic Report recently released by the Namibia Statistics Agency noted that the countrys population has grown steadily since 1921 rising from one quarter in 1921 through to 1.8 in 2001 and 2.1 in 2011. According to the Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census Basic Report, the total population enumerated in Namibian during the 2011 Census was 2 113 077 of which 903 434 people were in urban and another 1 209 643 people in rural areas. The total population in private households was 2 064 489, while there were 27 402 people in institutions and 21 186 people in a special population category (homeless, travellers, prisoners, fishermen, etc). The census results also revealed that the population of Namibia has been growing steadily since the first post-independence Census of 1991. The intercensal population growth rate between 2001 and 2011 was 1.4 percent compared to 2.6 percent between 1991- 2001. The annual growth rate for urban areas was 4.0 percent, which is much higher than the national rate. There was however, a negative growth rate of 0.1 percent in rural areas due to high migration to urban areas.

The highest growth rates were recorded for Erongo (3.4 %) and Khomas (3.1 % compared to 1.9% in the period 19912001). Conversely, Omaheke had a lowest growth rate of only 0.5 percent compared to 2.5 percent in the period 1991 -2001.

On Households main source of income, the Census results revealed that wages and salaries were the most frequent main source of income in Namibia with almost half (48 %) of all households having this type of main income. Farming was recorded as the second source of income covering 16 percent of the households followed by the old age pensions which recorded 14 percent and other non-farming business activities which also recorded 12 percent. Lastly, orphan and disability grants were the main source of income for only 0.7 percent of the households. The Census Results also revealed that there were some major differences between urban and rural areas as the urban areas recorded 68 percent of the households getting their main source of income from wages and salaries, followed by business activities (non-farming) in 15 percent of all households. At the regional level, wages and salaries predominated in Erongo, Khomas and Karas, where more than 70 percent of households had these main sources of income. By contrast, farming activities were the main source of income in many northern regions, particularly in Kavango where 43 percent of households reported farming as their main source of income.

Bank Windhoek has sponsored N$ 40 000 to the Namibia Amateur Golf Union (NAGU) to host the annual Zone VI Golf Championship which will take place from 22 - 25 April 2013 at the Windhoek Golf and Country Club. Pictured at the handover of the sponsorship are F.l.t.r., George Vink, Captain of WGCC, Riaan van Rooyen, Head: Corporate Communication and Social Investment at Bank Windhoek and Hugh Mortimer, Tournament Convener at NAGU.

14

Consumer News

Namibia is one of the driest countries in Southern Africa with a mean annual rainfall that ranges from 25 mm in the south west and the west to 700 mm north and north east, and noted that Namibia ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1995.

Secondary Sector records a slight increase


he Secondary Sector grew by 5.9 percent with construction sector being the main growth driver as it recorded 12.1 percentage growths on the backdrop of increased real estate development, road, water supply, airport and port development. This growth was supported by the increased government spending on public works projects, through the Targeted Intervention Programme for Economic and Empowerment Growth (TIPEEG). The NSA report reviewed that although TIPEEG has not met its targets, it has never the less had a positive impact on the construction sector over the past two years. Fish processing contracted by 4.9 percent as a result of lower output from the fishing sector along with declining appetite for processed fish products in the export markets. The tertiary sector on the other hand grew by 6.9 percent. Due to increased Gross national disposable income, low interest and inflation rates which increased consumer appetite to consume and borrow, pushed up wholesale and retail trade activity by 12.1 percent. This, according to the NSA report, has also had a positive effect on financial intermediation as consumer appetite for credit also increased. Hotels and restaurants, a proxy for the tourism sector, contracted by 0.6 percent due to the fact that there were a few foreign tourists and also the few tourists who came did not spend a lot in the country. The transport and communication sector was reported to have increased by 5.7 percent on the backdrop of increased economic activities in the mining and manufacturing sectors and hence the storage and transport subsector enjoyed stronger growth. But the biggest driver for the growth in the tertiary sector was in health, which grew by 11.8 percent. Talking of consumption expenditure, the report recorded that consumption expenditure increased by 6.8 percent where most of the consumption growth came from the government sector. At the same time, investment grew by 11.6 percent while net savings had a substantial turnaround, increasing a whopping 81.7 percent at nominal prices, which was mainly private sector driven, total national savings amounts to N$19.3 billion in nominal terms. This according to the NSA report implies that not only are the consumers consuming more, but they are saving almost 30 percent of their incomes in an environment where businesses are investing and government is spending.

Namibian Youth rally behind climate change adaption and Mitigation


he National Youth Council recently launched the 6th National Youth Week which will run under the theme Youth for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, at Supporters Sports Bar in Windhoek. The 6th National Youth Week, which will be held from the 25-27 April 2013 in Eenhana, is an annual opportunity to recognize the countries young people to communicate, educate, participate and raise awareness of different topics related to youth development as well as to create a platform that can enable them to push for their participation in all areas of society. Speaking at the launch of the Youth Week, the Environmental Commissioner, Mr Teofilus Nghitila, who is also the event Patron, said Namibia is one of the driest countries in Southern Africa with a mean annual rainfall that ranges from 25 mm in the south west and the west to 700 mm north and north east, and noted that Namibia ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1995. Mr Nghitila noted that Namibia prioritized placed climate change on the development agenda in order to safeguard the livelihood of Namibians, particularly, the youth. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism, being the government institution tasked by the government to coordinate climate change issues in Namibia, has embarked on various projects and initiatives to ensure that young peoples voices on this matter is heard. One such initiative amongst others was the establishment of the Namibian Youth Coalition on Climate Change and the formulation of the climate change Youth Action programme (YAP). This years commemoration will not only focus on youth participation and striving towards action towards climate change mitigation and adaptation but more towards Youth Participation for Sustainable development and the role young men and women can play towards nation building.

Mr Teofilus Nghitila

Consumer News

15

My Point of View
f you bought office furniture for N$500 you would expect excellent service, right? Well, that is not what we got from a very exclusive and expensive furniture supplier recently. We recently relocated to new office at my workplace, and I had the privilege to work with lets call them company C. Their furniture is truly good quality, heavy, and good looking and strong. This whole relationship started going wrong when we asked for quotations and upon receipt of our furniture we discovered that a portion of the goods quoted on

originally is what was delivered. We had single chairs, which we wanted to know prices of back then, make their way to our offices. The business chairs and visitors chairs varies in terms of ranges, something the sales person overlooked and I think she should have advised us on or double checked. They put pressure on us to have our goods delivered and once we agreed on a date and told them in no uncertain terms that we need our office set up by such and such a date, they still ignored our request and our furniture took 4 days to arrive.

The first day they first delivered tables and four chairs and only chairs on the second day and nothing on the third day then the rest of the furniture on the fourth day. No apologies, no responses to emails stating how unhappy we are, nothing. This to me is a clear example of excellent product quality but no idea of customer service. We have been in our offices for two days now; they have not called to find out if we are happy with the furniture, nothing. I would rate their furniture 12 out of 10. And their service 4 out of 10.

Motherhood Sleep
eople often frown upon those who do things differently which is the same situation when you do your motherhood differently. I see my husband as my sons primary care giver especially when I am on the road and luckily for me he does an excellent job every time. We have made some decisions as to how we will raise our son with regards to sleep and food. In our society is often customary for a baby to co-sleep with parents until they reach a certain age. Or sometimes even until the next baby arrives. I know parents

whose children have completely taken over their beds. I mean they have 2 kids and they all sleep in one bed. They have gone as far as purchasing a new bed to make way for them all. I have another friend whose husband sleeps in the room next door so mommy and baby can have a good nights rest. This has been happening for the past 2 years but for us there is a line. From birth, our son slept in his cot even though there were times he used to sleep in our bed, but it was never a norm. When he was 3 months old, we started

putting him in his own room. His nanny sleeps with him and we keep his monitor on, I get up whenever he is awake to go say hallo. He smiles at me and either continues playing or finishes up his bottle of milk. He self-soothes, and falls rigAht back to sleep. We never have to cuddle at night to get him back to bed. I believe the ease we have been experiencing with our son is because of the rules we had right from the beginning. He is not afraid of his cot and sleeps peacefully night after night. In my opinion, parents are to blame for their childrens bad habits.

16

Consumer News

My Point of View

House - Plans versus Actual

he saying, things are not always as they seem, seem true when you are building a house for yourself. In this case I am referring to your architectural plans which normally portray a very different picture from what comes out at the end of the day

CN 16

I have experienced this on many occasions. I was once involved in renovations to an office, then there was my own house and recently, my work relocated to a newly built premises. I was involved with this project from the signing of the contract and with assurance; I can note that architectural plans are definitely misleading to a layman. Sometimes the surprise you get is good and sometimes it is bad. I remember when our house foundation was done, we thought what a small house this is going to be, but when the house reached ceiling height, we could not believe our eyes. The same goes for my work offices, when we saw the 3d images, the place looked so different; 14m on paper is not the same in reality. At the end of the day, there are so many things one has to be sure of, and the bad part is that we do not always know this until the project is well under way. Hence it is very important to be as involved as possible from the beginning to the end. When you are building a house the procedures and fees etc. are different as to when you are constructing offices where you have an engineer, project managers and so forth. Next month I will give you more information on the interesting things I found regarding all the professionals involved in construction.

Consumer News

17

In support of a Basic Income Grant (BIG)


By Milton Louw ince my student days I have been very interested in politics and more specifically in finding a balanced political philosophy that would be able to address the very specific problems of Namibia. Most of my friends (and most critics) would say that I am Marxist in leaning and that I should move on because Marxism is dead. In fact I am not a Marxist but a Georgist named after the philosophical writings of Henry George. The central principles of Georgism are free exchange of goods in markets, with limited regulation of commerce; no taxes on labour; high taxes on certain kinds of property; private ownership of property, but fully offset by taxes that virtually eliminate unearned wealth. Georgists believe it is possible to unite fairness and efficiency by taxing away the rewards of privilege so that people can earn money only by being productive. Since much of the power of modern corporations derives from those privileges, proper taxes could reduce that power. The way I understand it the central dogma is that things regarded as nature ( i.e. land and other natural resources) belong to all of the citizens. How is it now possible to use such a philosophy that we can meet the desire stated in the Namibian Constitution of ..securing to all our citizens justice, liberty, equality and fraternity? After 23 years of Independence, many people are still living in absolute poverty and are deprived of basic human needs, such as food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter, health care and quality education. Besides those living in absolute poverty, we also have relative poverty which is defined contextually as economic inequality in the Namibian society in which we are living. The solution lies in first making sure the income from taxes and levies as well as the allocation of these funds to ensure national objectives should be done through Parliament. The Parliament should establish a mechanism to ensure the usage of the economic resources shall be used to secure economic growth, prosperity and a life of

human dignity for all Namibians. Once the finances are in place, we should be able to provide a monthly income to all citizens regardless of their economic status. This citizens dividend is being proposed in Namibia as a Basic Income Grant (BIG). The arguments against a Citizens Dividend / Basic Income Grant Argument 1 Were already paying too much in taxes, but you are calling for an expensive new program. Certainly, paying part of your own, legitimate earnings to support a new program is no way to make our country better. The Citizens Dividend plan avoids that problem in two ways. First of all, it does not take anyones earned income at all; the plan will be funded only by revenue that is not earned, not part of the free-market system. Secondly, since the Citizens Dividend will provide a definite income floor for those who have little or no other income, it can render other programs, such as welfare, needless. We can finally get rid of degrading, ill-managed welfare-style programs, for once and for all, and cut taxes as a result. Argument 2 We have no business deciding who gets more and who gets less. Thats correct. In the Citizens Dividend plan, everyone receives a dividend, the same amount. That means that no ones RELATIVE economic position is changed. No one gets a bigger benefit than their neighbour, so no one is given an unfair privilege. Our current system gives out huge valuable privileges to some, and tax bills to others -- thats what we need to stop. Argument 3 Some recipients might work less or quit their jobs. That probably would never happen -- people always want more money to improve their lives and provide for their future and their loved ones. But, one hundred thousand people in Namibia decide that their Citizens Dividends enable them to quit their jobs. There are over five hundred thousand Namibian who are unemployed, looking for work. So now one hundred thousand of them can find jobs. The result

Georgists believe it is possible to unite fairness and efficiency by taxing away the rewards of privilege so that people can earn money only by being productive. Since much of the power of modern corporations derives from those privileges, proper taxes could reduce that power. The way I understand it the central dogma is that things regarded as nature ( i.e. land and other natural resources) belong to all of the citizens.

is that two hundred thousand people are happier than they were before, theres less unemployment, employers can get more enthusiastic workers, and you and I can probably get better-produced goods and services now. Marvellous! The very best thing that can happen to make our society more competitive internationally, is for unhappy workers to get out and make way for people who really want to work for a living.

Argument 4 Todays system is good enough. Todays system funnels millions of dollars a year into the hands of people who did not earn it, and takes millions in taxes from people who DID earn it. Meanwhile, our nation is becoming less competitive in the world economy. Instead of a sound economy, weve got a leaky bucket -- and we deserve better. Some people are making loads of money without earning it -- and thats what we need to stop. Unearned revenue, from outside the free-market system, belongs to all of us. No one has any better claim to it than you! You never signed away your claim! So get your equal share, rather than letting some fat cats (or corrupt officials) take it all.

18

Consumer News

Consumer News

19

Rent Control is Needed in Nam

amibian rent prices have increased drastically over the past few years and people cannot afford these prices as their salaries have not increased in the same ratio. One possibility being proposed is a rent control mechanism that is governed by a law. What is meant by Rent Control? Rent control refers to laws or regulations that set price controls on the renting of residential housing. It functions as a price ceiling. Rent control exists in approximately 40 countries around the world. Generally the laws dictate the frequency and degree of rent increases and are limited to less than the rate of inflation. The issue is quite divisive and we should look at both sides of the argument before we make a decision on whether this is a solution for Namibia. Arguments for rent control First, on the economic front, such a law gives the tenant the ability to insist on certain improvements being done a minimum standard, without allowing the landlord to retaliate with higher rental fees. Secondly, the social dynamics of rent control, or to use the correct term, rent stabilisation, is an important one for consumer protection. Without rent stabilisation, landlords can demand any increase and tenants must either pay or move. These regulations provide some assurance that the consumer can maintain stability in their housing situation. Third, the moral argument is that

housing is a human right that is more important than the property rights of the landlord. With this argument, the landlords income is restricted to a formula, for example no more than 20% higher than the monthly instalment on a bond for a house of this value. Arguments against rent control The main argument against is the putting a cap (highest price) on rent reduces the quantity and quality of housing available. Introducing rent control reduces the number of investors willing to purchase housing for the purpose of renting to receive an income. Thus rent control can lead to creation of less housing, raises prices and increases urban decay in certain areas of a town. If rent control should be introduced in Namibia, this will reduce the resale value of affected properties. Thus, banks and other mortgage holders would find the values they estimated to be higher than the true resale value if they need to foreclose. In addition, municipal valuations would have to be reduced in line with the value reductions. What is causing the problem? Rather than just accept Rent Control as the only solution, we need to look closer at the problem and find the causes of rental increases. In essence, a free market economy such as ours allows all interested would-be tenants equal opportunity to offer a rental amount for the space. In conditions of

monetary inflation and housing shortages rents rise as landlords have tenants willing to meet their asking price. In other words, the landlords would reduce rents if no-one was willing to pay the rental fee. Conclusion Rent Control can be used as an interim measure to attempt to keep rental affordable, but this is not a solution that will solve the problem of the housing shortage in urban areas. Municipalities have to increase the number of erven available for building of lower income housing and the prices should stabilise once the supply and demand equation is more balanced. The increase of rent in Namibia has led to high-cost to income ratio. Thus the families affected by high or unaffordable rentals means they are now unable to afford non-housing necessities such as food and medicines. The answer to the problem of high cost to income ratio is to directly increase the income of low-income households. The Government should look at a policy programme that provides food stamps, health insurance, national pension plans, etc. that make non-housing expenses more affordable. In addition, the proposal for a Basic Income Grant should we discussed and possibly implemented. Namibia needs to find sustainable solutions which improve health, safety and comfort for all its citizens, and more specifically reduce the costs incurred by low-income families for the use of water, energy and housing.

20

Consumer News

Consumer News

21

Naindjala to meet Sekotswe in a rematch


amibian boxer, Immanuel Prince Naidjala will meet Botswanas Leslie Sekotswe in a boxing rematch for the IBF International Bantamweight title at the Windhoek Country Club on July 5. This rematch came as a result of their fight on 20 March 2013 which was a defining moment for the two boxers but ended in a draw after one judge scored it 116-112 in favour of Sekotswe, another scoring 119-107 in favour of Naidjala and a third a 115-115 draw. Sekotswe was reported by the Botswana media as to be having a lot of support at the rematch, following Ngowis visit to Botswana to market the fight. The tournament is being promoted by the Sunshine Boxing Promotion Academy, which is run by Nestor Tobias. The fights promoter was recently quoted in the media saying that the winners future will be bright and that he is going to help both boxers reach their goals after the fight. There will be several fights on the undercard while the tournament will be promoted by Nestor Tobias of the Sunshine Boxing Academy.

Toyota Yaris setting the record straight

he 2013 Toyota Yaris is a FWD subcompact car available in three-door hatch and five door hatch trim levels which is powered by a 1.5 liter 4 cylinder engine that produces 106 hp and 103 lb-ft of torque. Fuel mileage falls within an EPA estimated range of 30 mpg city to 38 mpg highway, depending on transmission selection.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options The 2013 Toyota Yaris is a subcompact economy car available as either a two- or four-door hatchback. Standard features on the L include 15-inch steel wheels, a rear windshield wiper, power door locks, air-conditioning, four-way-adjustable front seats, a tilt steering wheel, a trip computer, a fold-down rear bench seat, a cargo cover, Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, HD radio, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB/iPod interface. Safety Standard safety features include antilock brakes (rear drums for all models except the SE, which gets four-wheel discs), traction and stability control, active front head restraints, front seat side airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags and a driver knee airbag Interior Design and Special Features The Yaris interior couldnt be simpler or easier to use; there are just a couple of gauges to read and most will appreciate that the large speedometer is placed directly in front of the driver, rather than in the center of the dash as in the previous Yaris. Those worried about a subcompact car affording a low view of the road will find the high-mounted front seats help provide fairly high sight lines, though the lack of a telescoping steering wheel can be a problem for taller drivers. The new-generation Yaris extra length means theres a refreshing amount of rear-seat legroom, while even those of above-average height will find acceptable headroom in back.

22

Consumer News

From left to right: Mr Hans Wilhelm Schtte - Managing Director OC / Ms Ndapewa Nambili : Hon Councillor : Otavi Constituency / Ms Hilde Jesaya - Mayor of Otjiwarongo / His Excellency Dr Sam Nujoma - Founding President / Mr Markus Damaseb - Mayor of Otavi / Mr Samuel Nuuyoma Governor Otjozondjupa Region.

Ohorongo Otavi Community Trust Donates new ambulance


decided to assist in an identified need of Hans-Wilhelm Schtte, Managing Direchorongo Otavi Community the Otavi community in the handling of tor of Ohorongo Cement. Trust (OOCT) in collaboracasualties, hence the donation of a brandI trust that this ambulance will be put tion with Support e.V. in Ulm, new ambulance to the value of N$ 348 to good use and that it will assist in saving Germany, made a pledge by donating an 000-00 to the Otavi Town Council, in aid lives by transporting injured Namibians to ambulance during the recent Otavi Infor the Otavi Health Clinic. the nearest hospital to get proper medivestment Expo & Festival Gala Dinner. The ambulance was handed over to Mr cal care. After all, a healthy community The Gala Dinner took place on SatMarkus Damaseb, the Mayor of Otavi, equals a healthy economy, said Schtte urday, 13 April in Otjiwarongo and was who happily received the vehicle from Mr OOCT & E.v. Support supported attended by His Excellency, Dr Sam Nuvarious projects in the joma (founding President), Otjozondjupa region in the the Mayor of Otavi, the Maypast, like the donation of or of Otjiwarongo, various sun creams & setting up of councilors and dignitaries. an Albino corner, donations As part of Ohorongo Ceof hospital & specialized ment (PTY) Ltd.s commitmedical equipment, and ment to develop the Otavi more recently, the donation community, the company, of wheelchairs & walking in co-operation with the frames to the Tsumeb PriOOCT, focuses on the vate Hospital. needs of the local community More than N$ 2.4 million within the Otjozondjupa has already been donated to region, mainly focusing on the Otjozondjupa region, Infrastructure, Education the Otavi town, Oshikoto A side view of the ambulance that was pledged by Ohoronand Health Care. and Tsumeb district via the go Cement as part of the Gala Dinner, held for the Otavi Because Ohorongo cares OOCT. Investment Expo & Festival on Saturday, 13 April 2013. about people, the company

Events Calender
The following is a calendar to remind consumers and show our recognition to the countrys holidays within the month of May: DATE Workers Day Cassinga Day Ascension Day 12 May Movement Africa Day EVENT COMMEMORATED 01 May 2013 04 May 2013 09 May 2013 12 May 2013 25 May 2013

Consumer News
General Manager/Editor
Willem Gariseb 081 249 8161 081 551 9337 consumernews@iway.na

Consumer News

23

Fly Southern Africas most connected airline.

Choose the simpler way to connect from Namibia to China or Germany via Johannesburg with SAA. Avoid the usual stress and fly SAA all the way. Enjoy competitive baggage allowances and stretch out in luxurious business lounges. Just a few more reasons to fly with us. For more information call 061 273 350/40. South African Airways. Bringing the World to Africa and taking Africa to the World.

flysaa.com

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen