FREE

CONSUMER
DECEMBER / JANUARY 2011

Y O U R V O I C E

NEWS

happy holidays
ISSN: 2026-710X w w w.consumernewsnamibia.com
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 CONSUMER
The Team NEWS
Publisher
Consumer News
Editor’s Note
Printed by
John Meinert Printing

Design & Layout

Shapwa Hashali It’s on! The lights are up in Independence Avenue, the shops are
E-mail: shapwa@consumernewsnamibia.com fully stocked with goodies, the bonus cheques have been written,
and festive moods are kicking in. Yes friends, the holiday season is
Editor finally here!
Victoria Kangombe
E-mail: viki@consumernewsnamibia.com It has been a long and eventful year: ever increasing commodity
Cell: 081 236 0803 prices, success stories in the sports circles, politicians (somehow)
motivating the youth to engage in civil discussions, our film industry’s
Journalists budding (was almost tempted to say booming...), consumer rights
Louis Maruwasa
are finally receiving due attention...need I say more?
E-mail: louis@consumernewsnamibia.com
The thought of 2011 brings about feelings of uncertainty for some
Sylvanie Beukes
and for others, hopes for a better year in terms of finances. On that
sylvaniebeukes@gmail.com
note, Consumer News spoke to prominent economist Martin Mwinga
081 395 5190
to get his view on what next year is likely to bring for the consumer.
Perhaps I should just say if last year’s global events ushered you into
Rob Parker
the habit of tightening your belt (tighter and tighter every month),
rob@consumernewsnamibia.com
you have nothing to worry about. For those in denial, turn to page
Kaarina Nairenge
43.
E-mail: knairenge@gmail.com
We are also proud to present you with a list of adventures to take
and places to see at the coast this holiday season. I bet you’ll be
Tendai Karonga
overwhelmed by what you’ll find; turn to page 14 and prove us
E-mail: tendai@consumernewsnamibia.com
otherwise.
Denver Isaacs
E-mail: denver@consumernewsnamibia.com Before you embark on your adventure, Consumer News would like
to warn you away from food outlets that neglect to label their meats
Business Development Manager and produce with best-before or sell-by dates. After an exciting stint
Jacques Nieman as Detectives Black and White, two of our team members discovered
E-mail: jnieman@consumernewsnamibia.com how many shops in the country seem to disregard their reputations,
Cell: 081 203 7180 and the health of their consumers, by stocking and selling expired
meats and produce. What is worse, our team members observed how
Advertising Sales Executive consumers would pick an item and check for just the price and not
Tabeth Nyahasha the potential of a product.
E-mail: tabeth@consumernewsnamibia.com
Cell: 081 409 3448 Finally, many thanks to the team that assisted us with putting together
our beautiful cover. From the photographer to the vendors that lent
Photography us their beautiful crafts. Yes, you may take another look...ogle, it
Norman Skrywer is beautiful. We would like to thank Pambili Young Designers as
E-mail: norman4all@gmail.com wellYou
as Team Namibia for polishing up our concept of a Namibian
deserve more ...
Cell: 081 430 4003 festive season. A thank you also to the following vendors at the Arts
and Craft Centre: Miracle Arts and Crafts, Inspirations Designers,
Leitago /Narib
African chic as well as Elsie Imhof.
E-mail: leitago@yahoo.com
Cell: 081 363 2712
Before I get carried away and forget, please visit our site on
www.consumernewsnamibia.com. Our forums are missing your
Consumer News voice and our videos are uploaded and ready to be premiered.
PO Box 96366 ‘nuff said; happy reading and a blessed festive season.
Windhoek, Namibia
Tel/Fax: +264 61 228 196 Viki
Enquiries
info@consumernewsnamibia.com
CN 01
contents
table of

Feature

Product expiry date

By Rob Parker 04
Editorial

The credit blacklist

By Milton Louw 09
Holiday at the coast
By Denver Isaacs 14
How’s your wellness
By Tendai Karonga 20
A look at pyramid schemes
By Kaarina Nairenge and Rob Parker 26
Boom or Bust
By Denver Isaacs 34
Business Development Services in Namibia
By Philemon Kandiwapa Nahum 36
Public-Private Partnerships
By Luis Maruwasa 37
Mystery shopping
By Business Intelligence Africa 40
Namibia’s economic environment in 2011
By Martin Mwinga 43
It’s the simple things: The waterless toilet
By Luis Maruwasa 44
International

Legalising prostitution?
By Sylvanie Beukes 28
Sports

Boxers take honours this year 32

Let’s strive for safe journeys this

festive season!
Be a responsible road user by obeying the rules of the road. Your safety is your responsibility, therefore take
extra caution and be vigilant when using the road this festive season.

The MVA Fund offers the following road safety tips to help keep our roads safe and minimise the loss of lives:

• Always carry your driver’s license with you.

• Make sure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before embarking on a trip.
Check that all the lights, indicators, windscreen wipers, brakes and tyres are in a
good working condition.
• Seat belts help prevent severe injuries in case of an accident. Ensure that you
and everyone in the car is wearing a seatbelt.
• Where possible, do not drive after dark.
• Take safety breaks every 2 hours in order to avoid driver fatigue.
• If you are going to drink, do not drive – rather use a designated driver.
• Always be alert about pedestrians alongside the road.
• Be visible – always drive with your lights on, even during the day.
• Do not overtake more than one vehicle at a time
• Speed kills. Adhere to speed limits at all times.
• Be courteous to other road users, after all it is the season to be merry!

Keep the MVA Fund Accident Response Number: 0819682 handy

and use it to report motor vehicle accidents from anywhere in the country.
 feature

Red meat is not bad for

you, blue-green meat is
By Rob Parker

for animal consumption, we did not consider this a

grave infraction. Super Spar also came out looking
good and had only some minor infractions such
as improperly labelled meat, but nothing past-due
was found on their shelves.

We did find one chain that consistently

underperformed: Woermann Brock. At first, we
suspected that perhaps Woermann Brock’s lack of
internal controls would only be found in the areas
of Katutura while the store in Klein Windhoek,
which is more upmarket, would be well managed.
This assumption, which can be somewhat justified
if one looks at the cleanliness of the respective
stores, fell apart when we bought expired meat
In a land where chicken is considered a vegetable in Klein Windhoek, the problem seems to be
and where stealing a goat can get you a fifteen company-wide. Though we did find both expired
to life prison sentence, what is the penalty for chicken and game meat in Klein Windhoek, the
selling rancid meat? Surely a hand should be store is still head and shoulders above counterparts
lost on the proposition just to discourage others which bear the name.
from messing with a Namibians’ favourite food.
Onyama. We found expired meat being sold openly and freely
at the Woermann Brock express in Wanaheda. This
This month the Consumer News team decided meat did not even have a best-before date, a package
to go from store to store and have a look at the date, or anything to indicate to the consumer when
freshness of produce, dairy and meat products. this meat should be consumed by. The only way to
We travelled from Katutura to Klein Windhoek in test this meat was to buy it, so we bought brisket.
search of expired goods and we found many such Given that there was no date on the label, there
products. We found, and bought, stinking meat, was no doubt that the meat was not fit for human
rotten tomatoes and more. consumption; the odour was awful and obvious
from the moment the package was opened. This
Firstly though, it would be good form to state what meat was clearly rancid. The label indicated 500
we did not find. We did not find, and we looked, grams but so did every other package of brisket.
one single expired dairy product. Our hat is off to This is a clear indication that these packages have
Nam-dairies for ensuring that the products they not been weighed individually.
have on the shelves are always fresh.
We found many disappointing items at the
Compliments also to the team at Checkers and Woermann Brock in Khomasdal; there was very
Shoprite in whose stores we found exactly zero poor looking produce, tomatoes specifically,
past-due goods, except for a single bag of fat in which should have been pulled from the shelves.
the Checkers at Maerua Mall. As this tends to be We also found apples which were marked past-
>>
04 CN
CN 05
 cont...

due on the stickers. Touching the apples confirmed expiry dates. As all the other meat was labelled and
their state as they were clearly not fresh anymore. the packages appeared to be fresh, we asked the
Mince in the cooler was being sold five days past management. We spoke to Gunther who explained
the expiry date. When we arrived, this mince was to us that the Super Spar managers check for
still being sold. However, while we were in the expired meat products every morning and remove
store, the counterperson began to pull this mince them from the shelves. We did however find some
out of the refrigeration unit declaring “this is not meat products at Spar in Khomasdal that did not
good”. While we applaud this initiative, it came have any dates printed.
several days too late. Had we shown up twenty
minutes earlier, this spoiled product would have Consumers should pay close attention to those
been available for purchase. dates, as they are not all the same. Some labels
will have expiry dates and others will have the
Woermann Brock Hyper also had their share of date the item was packaged, leaving the consumer
problems; apples and pears well past expiry dates to guess how long the meat will keep. We also
were still being sold. Oranges in the bin, although advise consumers to never buy products that do
not labelled, had clearly seen better days. There not have a best-before date as there is no way to
were also expired Lamb chops still sitting in the know their freshness.
cooler waiting to be sold.
We also found some meat products which were
The problems continue for Woermann Brock even not labelled at the Pick ’n Pay in Eros. We decided
in Klein Windhoek. Tomatoes in the bin looked to speak to the manager, Riann, who was eager
poorly and were out of place in this upmarket to help us. The unlabelled products appeared to
flagship store. Unfortunately we also found past be very fresh and packaged that morning as they
due whole chicken and game. We purchased the sat alongside other packages of fresh meat from
game meat and took it to the offices of the Namibia that morning. Riann explained: “Sometimes
Consumer Protection Group (NCPG) where we the labelling machines erred in printing and I’d
sat with the founder, Milton Louw. From the video removed the packages to be fixed.”
available on our website you can see as we open
the package to recoil from the smell. This product We also found chicken on the shelf which did
is clearly overdue. not have any best-before date at the Pick n’ Pay
on Independence Avenue in Katutura. Expired
Tom Thumb supermarket was also selling past- products have the potential to seriously disrupt
due meat products. We bought mince beef that your holidays as eating past due chicken can cause
was four days past-due when it was purchased. We Salmonella and leave you on the toilet for any
spoke to Paul at Tom Thumb and he was gracious number of days or worse.
enough to refund our money when we returned
the spoiled product. Manny’s in Katutura had Woermann Brock in Damara Location also had
meat that was expiring that day on the shelves but similar problems with expired meat and some
nothing past-due. produce as well. We are certain that it is not the
intent of Woermann Brock to sell consumers
Trè supermarket sold us some mouldy cheese rancid meat or questionable produce but rather
(actually it was ‘cheddar loaf’, and that is not that these constitute crimes of omission rather
really cheese anyway) that had no best-before date than commission, meaning essentially that these
on the package. While we understand that a lack of findings represent a lack of internal controls rather
a package’s date may not allow staff to correctly than a malicious attempt to pass substandard
monitor the shelf life of this product, the mould goods onto the consumer.
should be a hint that it is. There were also several
packages of suspicious meat ready for sale. We did How can the staff know when the meat is expired
not purchase the meat. when there is no best-before date indicated on
the package? If you as a consumer bought an
We visited the Spar supermarket at Maerua expired meat or dairy product, we encourage you
Lifestyle Center, we did not find expired products to return it to the store. It is your right to do so.
but we did find some meat products which lacked Some companies, like Woermann Brock also have
>>
06 CN
 cont...
an email address (complain@woermannbrock.
com) or consumer complaint hotline that we urge
consumers to take advantage of (061-376 100).
It is your right to complain and it is to the benefit
of Woermann Brock to hear and attend to your
complaints.
It is also not in the company’s interest to sell
products which are past due because while they
may get the money for selling that particular
product they will eventually lose clientele
because of this and it will cost them money in the
long run. It is in the interest of an organisation
like Woermann Brock to have a good reputation.
If a supermarket sells poor quality products in
a competitive marketplace such as food retail
they will lose those customers to a rival chain as
consumers will not be fooled twice.
We spoke to Konrad Swiegers, marketing
manager from Woermann Brock and he was very
helpful in explaining what went wrong and how
Woermann Brock intends to fix the problems.
We thank him for his time and genuine concern
over this issue. He also addressed the following
questions for us.
1. How much oversight is there from corporate
over individual outlets?
Every store reports to a senior regional manager
08 CN
who takes responsibility for the day-to-day
running of the outlets. This work is overseen by a
senior operations manager.
2. Is the product being sold to consumers from
the Wanaheda location (the unlabelled and un-
weighed product) from Woermann Brock or an
outside supplier?
Under no circumstances is it policy to sell
unlabelled, un-weighed products in any of our
stores; this practice leads to unhappy customers
and poor stock-control.
3. What positive changes can we expect from
Woermann Brock as a result of our findings?
We are embarrassed and will certainly investigate
all the issues mentioned and find ways to improve
our controls in order to give our customers the
peace of mind that they can always trust what we
offer.
When we returned the meat to various outlets we
were pleased to find that we did not encounter
any resistance. Jacques at the Woermann Brock
in Klein Windhoek, Paul at Tom Thumb and
the Woermann Brock in Wanaheda returned our
cash after being presented with a receipt and the
expired goods. We did mention that we were from
Consumer News, perhaps when you return your
products you should mention that as well.
 editorial
Your bank manager looks at your credit report –
Not at You
There is one list you never want to be on and that is the Credit
Blacklist. A bad credit rating can put your life on hold for
many years as it makes purchasing on credit impossible.
More and more Namibians are getting excluded from this
luxury (well, depending on how you look at it), sometimes
unfairly. We at the Namibia Consumer Protection Group
(NCPG) felt that more information must be circulated to
consumers about the issue, hence this piece.
The Credit Blacklist
A credit default is a black mark against your name that
doesn’t wash away; there are currently three Credit Bureaus,
(Transunion ITC, Compuscan and Credit Information
Bureau Namibia) that have over 50 000 Namibians branded
as credit lepers.
I have found that, mostly young, Namibians are prone to
having problems with credit because, for one, adverts make
it sound so easy to just “Buy Now, Pay Later”. Unfortunately,
when the time comes to paying up, these items are not always
first on their list. This then causes problems as they start
falling in arrears and eventually find themselves blacklisted.
Often, a person does not realise that they have a credit black
mark on their name until the next time they apply for credit.
What is a credit report?
A credit report is a collection of information about you and
how you pay your accounts. It may also include information
about how much credit you have available, what your
monthly debts are, and other information that can help a
lender such as a bank to make a decision about whether you
are a good or bad credit risk. The report itself does not say
you are a good or bad credit risk, it is only a tool to assist the
lender. Unfortunately, most lenders reject you outright if you
are listed at a credit bureau.
Where does all this information come from?
Credit bureaus (or credit reporting agencies) collect this
information from companies, doctors, or any person that
you have done a credit business with. These businesses
are providing information to the bureau in exchange for
information they might require on other customers. The
credit bureau sells your data for lenders to make a decision
on your creditworthiness.
What is in my report?
Personal identifying information. This includes your name,
Not at You
address (current and previous), ID number, telephone and
cellular number, your current and previous employers, and
possibly also your marital status.
Credit History
This section includes information on your banking
history; stores where you have credit cards; and possibly
also businesses that have granted you credit such as
E-mail: miltonlouw@gmail.com
Milton Louw
doctors, dentists, and even your pharmacy. It also includes
information on each account you have: when you opened it,
what type of account it is, how much credit you have been
given, what your monthly payments are and how well you
pay your account.
Public records
This includes judgements against you or any other court
interventions. This is easily available from the courts.
Inquiries
This section indicates any credit business that has requested
to see your information. This section is not always available
to you as an individual. It should also include any companies
that have bought your information for marketing purposes.
What is not on my report?
• Income
• Bank account balances
• Race (cultural group)
• Religion
• Criminal records
• Driving records (speeding fines, drinking
convictions, etc.)
• Maintenance defaults (not yet)
What should you do?
Get a copy of your credit report, have a look at it and make
sure you understand it so that before you apply for your
credit, you know where you stand. A consumer recently
approached the NCPG about a credit-related problem they
were facing. There are many horror stories out there that
would fill an entire magazine to tell them. Below is the
consumer’s story:
“I have recently had the chance to buy my Uncle’s house.
The Government (where I work), has already agreed to
give me a housing loan and I qualify for enough from the
bank. But now the bank does not want to grant me credit
for a black mark from a cash loan company. I spoke to the
cash loan company and it turns out they did not cash one
of my cheques for the amount owing. I spoke to my bank
and explained but they do not accept the explanation.” The
consumer, in tears stated, “I cannot believe it. Through no
fault of my own, someone is allowed to list me as a bad
person!”
CN 09
10 CN
12 CN
CN 13

SWAKOPMUND
NAMIBIA’S
SUMMER HAVEN &
PREMIER HOLIDAY
RESORT
Small in global terms but huge in
hospitality
Where desert and ocean meet in
perfect harmony
A sparkle for the young, serenity for
the aged
Keeper of historic heritage
Oasis for the weary soul
People’s place, where people meet
Magnificent surroundings
Ultimate choice for many and more
Neighbourly, friendly and helpful
people
Destination just for YOU
editorial
Sunny Seasons
By Denver Isaacs
The Namibian coast and the December holidays have certainly become the
hottest combo since the pairing of fish ‘n chips. This is because and coastal
locals have a long history of entertaining visitors to their shores. This year
is set to be no different, whether your idea of a good time is cruising over
deep seas, sand-boarding down Dune 7, or flying silently over the Walvis
Bay lagoon in a hot air balloon. This month Consumer News digs out some
of your holiday options if you find yourself in Swakopmund, Walvis Bay
or Lüderitz.
Swakopmund
The Erongo capital is known for its cool summer air and for being the
country’s number one holiday destination. If you’re looking to find
your way to the museum or the Martin Luther steam locomotive, the
Swakopmund Municipality is a good place to start.
Municipal Fair
The municipality can also enlighten you on what to expect at the Annual
Christmas Fair which is set for the weekend of December 17 and 18.
Expect a lot of hand and home-made products as well as children’s
entertainment. Applications for sites were already finalised in October. For
more information, contact Ms. B. Bezuidenhout at
bbezuidenhout@swkmun.com.na
Africa Leisure Travel
If you’re new to the west coast and are in the mood for adventure, you
can go to the guys who regard themselves as the “specialists at the coastal
town of Swakopmund”. Whether you’re travelling in a group or just need
someone else to handle the planning logistics for your visit, Africa Leisure
Travel will have you sorted. Their events list ranges from dinner in the
desert as well as half-day tours to the Cape Cross Seal Colony and Oyster
Sundowners experiences.
They can also assist you with booking and reserving other activities taking
place at the coast such as quad biking, sand boarding, or Dune Olympics.
You can reach them at
Tel: (064) 463 812, or email: alt@iway.na
African Adventure Balloons cc
Balloon pilot and host Lowe Potgieter boasts over 30 years of flying
experience and 12 years of ballooning in Swakopmund. He considers the
Namib Desert, the dune belt, and the Lagoon over Walvis Bay as some
of his trademark destinations. Visitors can even extend their adventure
to include a sunset tour with fellow holiday hosts Sun Sail Catamarans.
Among the sites you’ll see on this tour are the wreck at Pelican Point,
oyster farms, the lighthouse and the seal colony. You’ll also, if you’re
lucky, scoop a glimpse of dolphins, whales, Leatherback turtles, and
possibly a school of Sun fish. Contact Mr Potgieter at (064) 403 455
Pleasure Flights and Safaris
Another option, if you like flying but don’t care for going silently with
the wind, is Pleasure Flights & Safaris. These guys have been conducting
sightseeing and scenic flights since 1993, and allow for exclusive and
individually planned Fly-In Safaris, flight modules for self-drivers and
a combination of attractive flights and professionally guided excursions.
They can be reached at (064) 404 500, or through their website:
www.pleasureflights.com.na
>>
 Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay is without a doubt Namibia’s adventure capital.
If eco-friendly 4x4 and quad bike tours, boat cruises,
sandboarding, surf and boat angling, kayaking, windsailing
and kite-boarding – amongst others – tickle your fancy, then
Walvis is the place to be.

Apart from these activities, some of the popular attractions

are the artificial Bird Island with its guano collections, the
lagoon and its spectacular birdlife, Dune 7 (highest in the
area), Sandwich Harbour (sanctuary for birds), the nearby
Namib Naukluft Park (fossilised plants and wildlife), the
local museum, as well as the prospect of experiencing
indigenous Topnaar culture.

Mola-Mola
Take a guided tour with the guys from Mola-Mola and go
dolphin and flamingo scouting, or visiting the Cape Fur
Seals. A trip usually starts as early as 8 am and ends later
in the day with a settling down for a Namibian oyster and
sparkling wine lunch. If that sounds like your cup of tea,
call Mola-Mola at (064) 205 511, or visit their website www.
mola-namibia for more information.
Catamaran Charters
Relax in the saloon, on a trampoline or on the deck of the
45’ Royal Cape Catamaran “Silverwind” as it takes you on a
dolphin and sea cruise. Again, it’s sightings of three types of
dolphins, Killer Whales and rarer sightings of Leatherback
Turtles and Sun Fish have made this cruise popular. Contact
Catamaran Charters at (061) 233 922 to book your trip.
Dare Devil Adventures
If sleeping late and leisurely strolls on the beach are your
idea of the perfect holiday, don’t come to these guys. Dare
Devils promises the ultimate rush in adventure with quad
biking and sand-boarding trips through the dunes, with
stunning scenery throughout the experience. Check out their
website, www.daredeviladventures.com or phone Joao at
0811 491261 if you dare.
>>

Passenger Services

It’s Holiday Time; Reach your destination

in Comfort and Safety...
We offer a daily service between Windhoek , South (Keetmashoop) and the Coast (Walvis Bay). Book with us now and enjoy the comfort
of reclining seats, vending machines and video or DVD entertainment as you make your way to your destination. Choose betwee business
class and economy class. StarLine also offers chaters from windhoek to Okapuka, Heja Lodge and Aris at a reasonable rate. Sitting capac-
ity is 98 passangers, ablution facilities are available on board.

Starline is a product of:

For inquiries and bookings contact our reservation offices:
+264 61 2982175 (WHK), +264 64 208 504 (WB) or +264 63 229 202 (KTM)

CN 15
 cont...
Other
Walvis Bay hosts beach sports events and musical shows that
draw heavy crowds annually. Next to the most famous desert
landmarks in the land, Dune 7, Walvis Bay now boasts palm
tree-shaded picnic sites. Dune 7 is a favourite among sand-
boarders, paragliders and quad-bike enthusiasts.
Self-Exploration
Of course you can decide to take full responsibility of your
destiny and make your Walvis Bay holiday one of self-
exploration. Some of the sights you might want to take note
of include the town’s 3,500 hectare salt field; it’s one of the
largest solar evaporation facilities in Africa and produces
close to 700 000 tons of high-quality salt.
The natural lagoon in Walvis Bay is another attraction, being
the largest single area of shallow water on the west coast of
Africa. Its appeal is further enhanced by thousands of birds
that fill it, among others, flamingos. The lagoon has been
estimated to be a safe haven for between 70 000 and 120 000
birds, and a feeding station for up to 200 000 birds on their
natural migration route to and from the Arctic Circle. You
could just book out a quad bike and spend as many hours as
you’d like going up and down the desert dunes. If you need
some direction while at the harbour town, contact the Walvis
Bay Municipality at (064) 201 3111.
Lüderitz
Known for its colonial architecture, Lüderitz is best visited
with a camera on your shoulder. The most striking of these
16 CN
architectural sites are the Goerke-Haus, a former magistrate’s
residence built in 1909 and the Lutheran Church which was
built in 1912. The history of the town is on display at the
Lüderitz Museum. The Arts and Crafts Centre may also hold
some interest to tourists.
The latest attraction at the town is the Lüderitz Waterfront
that boasts ample spots for shopping, eating and socialising
with the locals. There’s also a beautiful camping ground on
Shark Island that has vast sandy beaches to lounge on. For
this, you could get in contact with the guys at Grosse Bucht
and Agate Beach. Call up the Lüderitz Town Council at
(063) 202041 for more information.
Respect where you holiday
While enjoying your time at the coast, don’t forget to take
responsibility for keeping the area around you clean. The
Namibia Coast Conservation and Management Project
(Nacoma) warns that people found littering in the dunes and
on any of the country’s beaches will be prosecuted in line
with environmental laws.
Besides being an eyesore along beaches and the country’s
treasured fishing sites, marine litter affects the areas where
birds, seals, marine life and wildlife occur and are protected.
Certain types of marine debris such as broken glass and
medical waste wash-ups, further pose a serious threat to
public health.
According to Nacoma, 80 per cent of all debris found on
beaches, coastal waters and oceans are washed, blown
>>
 h a m p i o n CHOOSE
TH E

C ASTE T

S E T H E
CHOO S T E
W I N N I N G T A
AW A R D - C E
A N D A C H A N
AN D S T S
R E A T P R I Z E
T O W I N G
a r t i c i p a t i n g
o u r n e a r e s tp
Visit y kL a b e l o u t l e t
C a r l i n g B l a c
o r e d e t a i l s
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Terms & Conditions

1. This competition is run by Castle Brewing Namibia (CBN) and is open to all members of the public who are 18 years of age or older and resident in
Namibia, except the employees and their immediate families of CBN, CBN’s advertising and promotion agencies and associated companies, and outlet owners
and their immediate families and staff.
2. The rules may be amended by reasonable notification at any time during the competition, and will be applied and interpreted at the sole discretion of CBN.
Participation by the entrants constitutes acceptance of these rules.
3. Entrants must complete the entry form and place in into the entry box in store.
4. A lucky draw will be conducted at the end of the promotional period and winning consumers, who will be contacted telephonically, will win the Prize.
5. The prizes cannot be transferred or exchanged for their cash value.
6. CBN reserves the right to make media announcements and/or publications of the names and photographs of winners of the competition.
7. All entrants and winners indemnify CBN, its associated and subsidiary companies, and its directors, officers, employees and agents, against any and all
claims for any loss or damages, whether direct, indirect, consequential or otherwise, arising from any cause whatsoever from their participation in any way
howsoever in this competition.

Enjoy Responsibly. Not for Sale to Persons Under the Age of 18.
CN 17
or dumped from shore, while 20 per cent comes from Swakopmund, Cape Cross or the camping
recreational boats, fishing vessels and ocean platforms. sites at Mile 14, Jakkalsputz, Mile 72 and
The organisation says that over 265 different species of Mile 108.
marine and coastal wildlife are threatened through being
entangled, smothered or otherwise having their digestive • Quad biking and other motorised bikes
systems interfered with. are prohibited on beaches between
Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, and
Off-road rules on all beaches north of Henties Bay, or in
While quad biking, 4x4ing and beach buggying along the the entire Swakop River.
coast remain popular activities at the coast, recent years
have seen practitioners catch major flack for the damage • Quad and two-way bikes may travel without a
to the conservation areas left by their tracks. So to remain permit in the Omaruru bed, only 5 km inland
on the safe side, adhere to these rules to avoid a run-in with from the beach.
the authorities.
• No quad bikes or two-wheel bikes are
• Off-road drivers may obtain free permits allowed north of the Omaruru River, up to the
to drive in specially demarcated off-road Ugab River.
areas in the dunes between Swakopmund
and Walvis Bay. Permits can be obtained • Driving on any conservation area is strictly
from the Ministry of Environment prohibited.
and Tourism in Swakopmund (064) 404576
and Walvis Bay 064 205971/2; from There you have it folks, the coolest places
Desert Explorers in Swakopmund
(064) 406096; from Dare Devil Adventures at to hangout this festive season.
Langstrand (064) 220158;from Dune 7 Adventures in
Walvis Bay 0812934868 / 0812538484; or from the
Walvis Bay Tourism Centre 0814261200 / 0811286713.
• No driving is allowed on the beaches at
Henties Bay, Wlotzkasbaken,
 editorial
How’s Your Wellness?
By Tendai Karonga
It is no secret that organisations and businesses that
invest in their workforce tend to perform better. One such
investment is a well thought-out wellness programme.
“We were searching for employees but people turned
up instead.” Anita Roddick, in her book, Business As
Unusual, founder of The Body Shop, the late Anita Roddick
understood that employees are people; they are people who
spend most of their days, months, years and lives working
for the survival of your business. Employees are people
who have families, hopes and dreams, and personal lives
that impact their work and the contribution they make to
the growth of any business. Investing in your workforce
does not simply mean training programs, bonus packages
and a reward system, it means investing in the physical and
psychological well-being of your staff.
How’s Your Wellness?
When the M.D Anderson Cancer Centre, based in America,
introduced a wellness programme to its employees, its
president John Mendelsohn would go around asking staff:
“How’s your wellness?” to encourage participation. A
corporate wellness programme, at its most basic, is any
workplace-sponsored effort to promote a healthy lifestyle
among employees. For some, this means encouraging
employees to take walks at lunch, reminding them of
available vaccinations or providing gym memberships.
Making a healthy lifestyle part of an organisation’s day-
to-day culture is a powerful way of creating a successful
wellness programme. In a recent survey for the Harvard
Business Review, it was found that managers who set health
goals inspired their colleagues by making them feel less self-
conscious about participating in wellness programmes.
Also, including all employees in the process of creating
the programme creates a sense of belonging while uniting
the workforce to work towards a common goal. Having
company-sponsored annual wellness days where families
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are encouraged to be part of benefits the greater masses
as the employer is extending the idea of healthy living to
the employees’ households. Such measures and activities
also help to deter employees from feeling distrustful of
management’s motives.
Healthy workers lead to a financially healthy organisation.
“The benefit of such a program,” says Freddy of Windhoek’s
Exclusive Health and Wellness gym, “is that everyone wins.
The staff enjoys a fitness programme that is tailored to
individual needs and the employers gain from having a more
active workforce that takes less days off due to ill health.”
With their fitness consultants on hand, Exclusive Health and
Wellness can assist with structuring a corporate wellness
programme.
Investing in the health of the workers has the potential to
reduce the health care costs that an employer would end
up paying while increasing productivity. In the long run,
the company would develop a reputation for caring for
its workers. In addition, the employee would benefit from
health education, discount membership, a healthier lifestyle,
less workplace stress and increased confidence. Not to
mention the growth of a more positive relationship between
management and staff as both parties feel the other’s position
and contribution is valued.
A Good Foundation
While the relationship between an employer and their staff
will always be tricky to manage, recognising the effort that
staff put in will always be worthwhile. The contribution that
different individuals make in a company are the sum parts
that make the whole; without these individuals dedicating
their time and effort the whole could not exist, let alone
function. Understanding this, places the company in good
stead with its employees, and programs like a wellness plan
only add to the loyalty and trust that all organisations need to
enable them to run smoothly. Invest in people and you reap
the rewards. Literally.
street next to Wanaheda Police Station
 KETTLE
Why pay for boiling a full
kettle of water if you only
need a cup?

GEYSER • Only boil the amount of

water that you need
Why pay for hot water not being used? • Keep your kettle’s
element clean of chlorine
• A geyser accounts for up to 40% of your electricity bill. build up by boiling
• Ensure that your thermostat is set to no more than 55 vinegar.
Degrees Celsius.
• Wrapping your geyser in an insulating blanket can cut
power consumption by half.

HEATER AUTOMATIC WASHING

Why pay for heating rooms MACHINE
that are not occupied? Why pay for full cycle when
washing only 2 items?
• Electric heaters that
• It is a fact that a front
are controlled by
loading washing machine
thermostats are more
uses less water and
energy efficient.
power than top loaders.
• Oil filled heaters are
• Use warm and cold water
the safest.
settings
• Only heat rooms that
• Only use the machine to
are occupied.
do full loads of washing.

ELECTRIC STOVE
• Use a pressure cooker when preparing
food that normally takes a long time
to cook.
• Consider buying a stove with a
convection oven.
• The size of the pot to match the size
of the stove plate.
• Use cooking utensils with flat bottoms
and tight covers
• Do not use grill compartment to make
toast
• Don’t use a stove to light a cigarette.
• Never use the stove or hot plate as
heaters.
FRIDGE
• Don’t open fridge doors unnecessarily
• Ensure that door seals are intact
• Switch off the fridge when it is
empty or when going on holiday
• Let hot food cool down before
placing it in the refrigerator
• Defrost the fridge regularly
• Leave space between items on
shelves, this allows cool air to
circulate more easily.

MICROWAVE DISHWASHER
• Defrost food before cooking in microwave.
• Only use a microwave to cook small to medium quantities of food • Run it only when it
• Compare cooking times on packaging and use the method that is full
takes the least time and power. • Turn it off before
the drying cycle
starts and dry
dishes manually.
• Connect the
machine to the cold
water supply
• Make sure that
all the filters stay
clean.

For more information please visit our website at www.nampower.com.na

 FREEZER AIR-CONDITIONER
Why pay for cooling/heating rooms that are not occupied?
• Clean and inspect filters regularly
• Set your air conditioner to recirculate cool air instead
of drawing in warm outside air.
• Protect outdoor cooling units from the sun.
• Freezers that are iced up use substantially more
power, so keeping freezers frost free will save you
power and money.
• Not overstocking your freezer means that cold air
circulates easier and less power is required to keep
temperature constant.

TV/DVD/STEREO/
COMPUTERS
Why pay for 24
hours usage?

IRON • Standby-button
consumes en-
• Use a thermostastically controlled iron that switches itself ergy.
off when the correct temperature is reached. • Switch off the
• Switch an iron off once it has reached the correct power button.
temperature and complete the ironing on stored energy.
• Use distilled water in steam irons
• Iron low temperature fabrics first to reduce warm-up time

TUMBLE DRYER CELLPHONE

• Tumble dryers are great
appliances, but consume vast
amounts of energy.
• Use correct temperature
setting to minimise electricity
use.
• Removing excess water before
putting clothes into the • Only recharge your cellphone battery when it is com-
tumble dryer saves time and pletely drained
power. • Never leave your cellphone charging overnight
• Best of all, use sunny days to • When your cellphone is fully charged, unplug the char-
dry clothes outdoors. ger.

SMALL APPLIANCES LIGHTBULBS

• Replace conventional bulbs with Compact Fluorescent
Light (CFL) bulbs where possible.
( Toasters, electric grills,
• CFL bulbs give the same light while using a fifth of the
slow cookers, electric
power and last 10 times longer.
pots/pans)
• Always switch off lights when you leave a room.

• They use less

electricity than a
stove

For any queries or further information please contact the Namibian Standards Institution on (061) 386 400 or e-mail: query@nsi.com.na

For more information please visit our website at www.nampower.com.na

 Vote for a good
government
We should always vote
for good leaders who will
protect women’s rights.
Don’t ignore women who call for help
Call the police.
Make a noise – bang pots, shout or blow
whistles.
Stop the man if you can do it safely.
Call others to help if you are scared.
Tell the abuser the community thinks
that what he is doing is wrong.

Abusing
women is
a crim e!

e n ’s
o m
W r e
t s a
Desert Soul HDC supports
r i g h
The 16 Days of Activism
h t s !
Against Gender Based
n r ig
Violence.
u m a
h
For more information,
contact us at
Tel : 061 - 387450
Fax : 061 - 309763

Atlas House, 1st floor

c/o Mandume Ndemufayo
Avenue and Sam Nujoma
Drive, Windhoek Namibia

24 CN
 Help arrange safe
`

places for women to

stay in your community
Raise money to support these
shelters.
Give books, food and clothing
to shelters.
Ask churches, businesses and
clinics to help set up safe places.

Each one, teach one

Teach children that violence
against women and girls is
wrong.
Invite women’s organisations
to talk at your school, church or
workplace.
Write letters to the TV station,
your local radio and newspaper.

Vote for effective national and local leaders

Vote for leaders who will do something to stop
violence against women.
Local leaders can make sure there is good lighting
and safe transport in your community.
They can help make the community safer.
They can cut tall grass and bushes where attackers can hide.

Take action in the community

Get religious and traditional leaders to speak
out against violence against women.
Create a Community Police Forum and
help fight crime.
Don’t look down on women who
divorce or leave partners who abuse
them. All women have a right to be happy.

CN 25
 editorial
Investigating pyramid schemes
By Kaarina Nairenge and Rob Parker
According to their website, Travel Ventures
International (TVI) is a dynamic company that is
dedicated to bringing today’s lifestyle-conscious
consumers the most superior travel and hospitality
products and services, while providing a unique
opportunity to promote TVI Express through
independent distribution.
The Bank of Namibia, however, felt differently about
the model that TVI Express employs and claims that it
is a pyramid scheme. We investigated TVI Express and
their practices.
After days of investigating, we have found that TVI
Express is indeed a pyramid scheme. A pyramid
scheme is an illegal practice characterised by a few
individuals at the top of the structure who entice others
to participate in the scheme by paying a stipulated fee.
In turn, these participants recruit others who all pay
a fee to join. The primary distinction of a pyramid
scheme is that there are no physical products or real
services being made. The only sales are when new
members pay the said fee. Given that the only real
sales of TVI are the recruitment fees we found this to
be a classic pyramid scheme.
TVI Express is vague about what it sells; all they do is
sche
give hints on how one can combine travel, the internet
and network marketing to grow one’s finances while
vacationing on the most exotic locations on the planet.
Some claim that the 7 days 6 nights accommodation
which you get by paying the $250 membership fee and
another $150 processing fee is the product. Others say
that the “back office” where you access a travel portal
powered by Travelocity is the product. The discounts
supposedly offered by TVI Express are actually
provided by Travelocity and Travelocity.com; these
show the same price as TVI Express’ “back office”.
The only thing that TVI Express requires you to sell
is itself as, according to the FAQ’s on its website,
“you don’t need to sell any products”. This is a telling
remark because the FAQ also states that you would
have to recruit two people to get paid.
There are several other reasons to suspect that TVI
Express is not all they claim to be. Unlike most
legitimate companies, TVI Express does not seem to
have a named owner or an address. The fact that TVI
Express chooses to hide who is behind the company,
their investors and the address is a good indication that
something is not right.
26 CN
However, a study of their “back office”, from which
you can order trips, revealed that the reservations
were handled by res99.com, which is actually a part of
Travelocity. A further search turned up World Choice
Travel, which offers private-label booking portals,
through the Travelocity Partner Program. At best, TVI
Express has backing of Travelocity, and no one else,
and it is merely that of an “affiliate” relationship. TVI
Express, thus far, have not released any names of their
strategic alliance partners, despite repeated requests.
This has lead to speculation that they do not actually
have any.
TVI Express claims to have backings from “strategic
partners” in the travel industry. This is seen in the
PowerPoint presentations they deliver to potential new
recruits where they use logos from many of the largest
airlines, hotels, cruise lines, and more. Hundreds of
members have posted on their blogs, articles, and
websites claiming that TVI Express is in partnerships
with all the biggest names in travel.
TVI Express features Warren Buffet on their website,
claiming that he is one of the powers behind the
programme. This is clearly an attempt at creating the
impression that one of the world’s wealthiest men
somehow is partnered with TVI in defrauding people
off 330.00 US dollars at a time. Buffet is not the only
person who TVI Express claims to be an associate;
there are actual legitimate businesses like Lufthansa
and the Marriot, among others, which are suing TVI
Express for claiming partnership with them. TVI
Express has been banned in Australia, China, Hungary
and Namibia and is not legal in the United States or
Canada among others. This is not a legitimate business
as this strongly worded statement, that appeared in
the Republikein, from the Bank of Namibia, warns
consumers.
“After the Bank of Namibia scrutinised the business
models of both H&C and TVI Express against the
relevant provisions of the Act, the Bank of Namibia
concluded that the business operations of the two
above-noted schemes place substantial emphasis on
recruitment of participants to these schemes. In this
respect, the schemes offer lucrative incentives to the
participants, calculated primarily on the basis of the
number of participants or members they recruited into
the schemes. It is evident that these recruitment-based
incentives serve as a bait to attract potential participants
into joining the schemes, with the prospect of making
easy money by recruiting others.”
This is the case with TVI Express’ and other
recruitment-based programmes’ incentives, they serve
as bait to attract potential participants into joining the
schemes with the prospect of making easy money.
Many Namibians have fallen into these schemes as it
surely seems to be a short-cut of making money without
sweating for it. As we frequently state at Consumer
News: “If it sounds too good to be true: It probably is.”
We spoke to the Bank of Namibia and here is what
they had to say on the matter, we thank them kindly
for their time
1. Does the BoN differentiate between MLM and a
pyramid scheme? What is the difference?
Yes. The Bank of Namibia draws a distinction between
Multi-level Marketing companies and illegal pyramid
schemes. “Multi-level Marketing” refers to any
business practices in which products or services are
marketed and sold directly to consumers by participants
who earn rewards based on their own volumes or value
of products and services they have sold or rendered.
Sometimes, participants also earn rewards based on the
volumes and value of products and services sold by
other participants whom they have recruited into the
business practice.
On the other hand, a pyramid scheme is any business
practice by which a participant gives consideration in
exchange for the opportunity to receive compensation,
which is derived primarily from such participant’s
emes
introduction of others into the business practice rather
than from the sale of products. Pyramid schemes
come in so many forms that they may be difficult to
recognise without an in-depth analysis. However, they
all share overriding characteristics. They promise the
participants rewards based primarily on recruiting
others to join the business practice and not based on
sale of goods to the public.
2. If one has participated in TVI Express or a similar
scheme, how does one get their money back?
Getting one’s money back is not guaranteed. However,
in terms Section 7 of the Banking Institutions Act 2 of
1998 (as amended), if the Bank of Namibia is satisfied
that a person has obtained any monies in contravention
of Section 5, they may direct the person to repay all
the monies so obtained by him or her including interest
or other amounts which may be owing by the person
to the respective persons from whom he/she obtained
the monies. Any person who refuses or fails to comply
with directive of the Bank in terms of Section 7 (1)
shall be deemed to be unable to pay its debts in terms of
Section 345 of the Companies Act or be deemed to have
committed an act of insolvency in terms of Section 8
of the Insolvency Act. Therefore, the Bank of Namibia
may apply for the winding-up or the sequestration of
the estate of such person as the case maybe.
3.Why did the BoN feel it was necessary to speak out
against Holiday Cash and TVI Express?
Based on the investigation, the Bank of Namibia issued
the media release with the aim of warning members
of the public on the danger of investing in businesses
of such nature. TVI Express and Holidays & Cash are
not the only business entities that the Bank of Namibia
has made pronouncements on. The frequent and
voluminous queries from the members of the public on
the operations of these two entities prompted the Bank
of Namibia to conduct an investigation/assessment on
their operations, upon which the public warning was
based.
4. Lawyers from TVI Express have met with the
BoN regarding their pronouncement, what was the
outcome of that meeting.
The Bank of Namibia did not meet with TVI Express
yet. Therefore, we are not in a position to answer this
question.
5. Are there means of preventing such schemes from
entering the market?
Due to the manner in which these business entities
operate, it is very difficult to prevent their entry into
the market. By nature, the schemes are introduced by
word of mouth, referrals and via electronic mail. One
of the measures to effectively curb the operations of
pyramid schemes is to sensitise members of the public
about the danger of engaging in such schemes. People
need to be aware of what red flags to look out for
before they can decide to part with their hard-earned
money in search for quick riches. As a final note,
pyramid schemes are outlawed in terms of the Banking
Institutions Amendment Act, no.14 of 2010.
I hope that the above addresses your questions
sufficiently.
Ndangi Katoma
HEAD: CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
Sources:
1.http://hubpages.com/hub/TVI-Express-Scam-Tactic-Analysis-
How-and-Why-Do-People-Fall-for-a-Scam
2.BoN warns against tow pyramid schemes, The Namibian,
retrieved 11 November 2010 <http://www.namibian.com.na/index.
php?id=28&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=73965&no_cache=1 >
3.BoN warns public: Holidays and Cash (H&C) and TVI Express
in violation of the law, die Republikein, retrieved 11 November
2010, <http://www.republikein.com.na/die-mark/bon-warns-
public.115812.php >
CN 27
 international
Legalising prostitution?
Think Again!
By Sylvanie Beukes
Why legalise prostitution? The pro-legalisation
argument is simple: legalise it to regulate it and tax
it. The anti-legalisation argument maintains that it
devalues those that provide sex in exchange for money
and somehow provides a platform to abuse providers
of such services.
According to proponents for the legalisation of
prostitution, making the profession legal will allow for
it to be managed instead of ignored. When prostitutes
operate independently, and in secret, they often become
abused by their customers and ‘owners’; legalising
would therefore mean that pimps and organised crime
syndicates would no longer control women. The
legalisation of prostitution will also assist nations in
mitigating the exploitation of under-aged individuals
for sex.
Contrary to that, child prostitution has risen
dramatically in the Netherlands and Australia’s State
of Victoria where prostitution is legal. An Amsterdam-
based Children Rights organisation estimates that
the number has gone from 4,000 children in 1996 to
15,000 in 2001. The group also estimates that at least
5,000 of these children are from countries outside of
where the study was conducted, with a large segment
being Nigerian girls. This should not be a shocking
result because within the commercialised sex sector,
virgins and young girls fetch a higher price than their
older counter parts.
28 CN
Other pro-legalise prostitution advocates claim that
legalised prostitution empowers and professionalises
the individual providing the service. Those at
the opposing end however claim that dignifying
prostitution and granting it ‘a profession’ status doesn’t
empower the service provider; it only accentuates the
negative aspects of the sex industry.
According to a report compiled by the governmental
Budapest Group, legalised prostitution industries are
one of the root causes of sex trafficking. The group
reported that 80% of the women in the Netherlands’
brothels are trafficked from other countries. Findings
such as these nullify claims that legalisation would
mitigate the negative aspects, as well as regulate the
expansion of the sex industry.
Over the last decade, as pimping became legalised and
brothels decriminalised in the Netherlands in 2000, the
sex industry expanded by 25 per cent. Legalisation of
prostitution in the State of Victoria, Australia, has led
to massive expansion of the sex industry. While there
were 40 legal brothels in Victoria in 1989, in 1999
there were 94, along with 84 escort services.
The idea behind legalisation is to get prostitutes and
gigolos off the street and into safer settings. However,
in the Netherlands, women in prostitution point out
that legalisation of the sex industry will not erase the
stigma of prostitution. Instead, it makes providers
more vulnerable to psychological abuse because they
will lose anonymity through registration.
It is for reasons such as this that the majority of
women in prostitution choose to operate illegally and
underground. Members of Parliament who originally
supported the legalisation of brothels on the grounds
that this would liberate women are now realising
that legalisation actually reinforces the oppression of
women.
It is also argued that legalised brothels and other
controlled prostitution establishments protect women
by enforcing condom use policies. In reality, the
enforcement of condom policies is left to the individual
women in prostitution and an offer of extra money can
invalidate such policies. So-called “safety policies”
in brothels do not protect women from harm. Even in
brothels where there is constant activity monitoring
and where bouncers are utilised, women stated that
they were injured by buyers and, at times, by brothel
owners and their friends.
Findings in many studies highlight that most women
in prostitution did not deliberately choose to enter
prostitution. They did not sit down one day and decide
that they wanted to become prostitutes, such choices
are survival strategies. Ask anyone that promotes the
idea of legalising prostitution if they would allow their
daughter, sister or mother to become a prostitute.
The answer in most cases would be no. So if it isn’t
good enough for you and your loved ones, what makes
you so sure it’s good enough for others?
Frankly, it is our duty as a civilised society to help
women get out of prostitution and not to help them
flourish in it. There’s too much on how to keep women
in prostitution but very little on how to help women
get out of it!
References
1. Coalition Against Trafficking in Women International,
The Ongoing Tragedy of International Slavery and Human
Trafficking: An Overview, retrieved on 19 November 2010
< h t t p : / / a c t i o n . w e b . c a / h o m e / c a t w / re a d i n g ro o m .
shtml?x=53794>
2. New Rights for Dutch Prostitutes, but No Gain, New York
Times, retrieved 19 November 2010,
<http://www.walnet.org/csis/news/world_2001/nytimes-010812.
html>
3. 10 Reasons for not legalising prostitution, Prostitution:
Research and Education, retrieved on 19 November 2010,
<http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/laws/000022.html>
4. The Budapest Group, The Relationship Between Organized
Crime and Trafficking in Aliens, retrieved on 19 November
2010, <http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pubs/ccaps-spcca/traffick-
eng.htm>
5. The Sex Sector, International Labour Organisation,
retrieved 19 November 2010,
<http://www.ilo.org/>
CN 29
 Choose the correct
motor oil
Engen Xtreme 5W-40
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• Synthetic engine oil for high
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• Extended engine life
• Smooth engine operation

Engen Xtreme 15W-40

High performance motor oil
• Excellent performance at high speed
• Faster lubrication of moving parts
• Easier cold starting
• Meets manufacturers requirements

Engen Dieselube700 Super

Oil for new and high performance diesel engines
• Superior diesel engine oil
• Exceeds latest diesel engine requirements
• Exceptional control of soot
• Low evaporation for reduced emissions
• The oil for longer engine life

Engen Protecta Hi-Mileage

Engine oil for vehicles with high odometer reading
• Extends engine life
• Better protection against wear
• Compensates for normal ageing
• Conditions and rejuvenates oil seals

Engen Premium 40
Premium mineral oil for older petrol engines
• Thicker oil
• Keeps engine clean
• Cost effective.

30 CN
Make it last
  

CN 31
 sports
Boxers take honours this year
While many other sporting codes yielded mixed results
overall, topping the list for the best performances on the
Namibian sporting front this time around is undoubtedly
the heroic performances of local boxers. Namibia’s
bantamweight pugilist, Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda is
the man who stands out among the rest as he shone this
season.
The stocky boxer capped his exhilarating display in the ring
with the Sportsman of the Year award and further proved
his prowess with a recent win over Tawanda Chigwida of
Zimbabwe on an 8th round TKO on November 25. Ambunda
is the current World Boxing Organisation (WBO) African
bantamweight title holder after he defeated his challenger to
extend his record to 14 wins without a loss.
When he scooped the Sportsman of the Year award, Ambunda
was quoted saying: “I feel very proud of myself because I did
not expect it. I won the Most Improved Sportsperson of the
Year in 2006 when I was still an amateur, and to win this
award now as well makes me very proud. This will motivate
and encourage me to become a World Champion.
“This was my year because I worked hard for it. I am now
aiming very high because I want to become Namibia’s next
world champion,” he told Namibia Sport, a local sports
magazine. Ambunda beat cyclist Dan Craven, rugby player
Jacques Burger, bowls player Graham Snyman and gymnast
Robert Honiball to the award.
There were several other Namibian boxers who raised the
bar this season and most are surely destined for world titles
in the not too distant future. These are credible fighters
such as Vikapita ‘The Beast Master’ Meroro, Tyson ‘The
Unstoppable’ Uushona, Jatoorora ‘The Sting’ Tjingaveta,
Immanuel ‘Prince’ Naindjala and several others who are
climbing the ladder to stardom.
Most of these boxers operate under the stable of the
hardworking Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Tobias, who himself was a
fighter and now a seasoned boxing promoter and manager.
32 CN
The other notable achievement by a Namibian came via
the exploits of shooter Gaby Ahrens who clinched a bronze
medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi,
India.
She also won two gold medals, one at the Africa States
Competition in South Africa and another at the African
Shooting Grand Prix in Windhoek. This makes her the most
supreme shooter on the continent. To underline all her
achievements, Ahrens was crowned Namibia’s Sportswoman
of the Year. She related that it was a very special moment
for her as she had managed to emulate her father, Hasso
Ahrens, who won the Sportsman of the Year award in 1975
as a soccer player.
“This award is very important to me because my father won
it 35 years ago and I really wanted to follow in his footsteps,”
she said after the awards which were held by the Namibia
Sports Commission (NSC). Ahrens beat bowls player Diana
Viljoen, physically challenged athlete Johanna Benson,
gymnast Kimberly Ann van Zyl and marathon athlete Beata
Naigambo to the award.
Other awards, which also signified great overall performances
for the year, were achieved by wrestler Jason Afrikaner who
took the Junior Sportsman of the Year award after winning
a bronze medal at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore,
while swimmer Christine Briedenhann won the Junior
Sportswoman of the Year award.
The 14-year-old Briedenhann competed at the Senior African
Swimming Championships where she reached two finals,
breaking one Namibian Open record and five age group
records along the way. Swimming this year, like the previous
seasons also produced a dozen Namibian records on the
national and international scenes, making them one of the
most progressive and fast developing minority codes in the
country.
Each year a new breed of swimmers comes to the fore
and the ones that are in the business continue to keep the
standards high. This is all due to the commitment of their
coaches and their administrators who selflessly dedicate
their time to the sport.
On the rugby front, Namibia’s senior team, which has already
qualified for the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) Rugby
World Cup billed for New Zealand next year, have also done
the nation proud this time around. Despite their fourth straight
qualification to the world’s biggest spectacle in world rugby,
the Namibians also lifted the IRB Nations Cup after grinding
out an impressive 21-16 win against fellow Rugby World Cup
qualifiers Georgia to clinch the title for the first time.
Namibia Rugby Union president, Bucks Bock, after the
victory, was quoted saying: “It was a major achievement for
us; it is the result of our participation in the Vodacom Cup
earlier this year that gave us the edge and prepared the
boys. The gap between our professionals and our amateurs
has narrowed greatly. That is why they were able to gel and
work together,” he added.
Judging from their improved play in the various facets of the
game, and a dynamic new generation of players, Namibia is
currently competing in test matches in Europe in preparation
of their world campaign and this time, they are at least
guaranteed of putting points on the scoreboard, On the
football pitch, Namibia’s Senior National team was possibly
the biggest losers with poor shows overall and off the field
controversies that overshadowed the play on the field. The
most recent being the embarrassing exit of the national team
coach, Tom Saintfiet, after Namibia’s 3-0 defeat to Gambia in
a 2010 African Nations Cup qualifier.
That was compounded by aspects such as the lack of money
for training camps, lack of interest from players attending
training camps due to the lack of poor professional conduct of
Saintfiet, and the little support to ignite a sense of motivation
in the team from the authorities proved fatal. Chances are
slim that the Brave Warriors will qualify for Africa’s major
football show, let alone win any of their international Fifa
friendly matches if there are any scheduled.
The Namibia Football Association re-elected John Muinjo to
the presidency recently but the situation, with regard to the
performance of the national teams across the board, remains
deplorable. The lack of funds is used as a scapegoat to cover
up all failures.
On a another note, the Namibia men and women’s indoor
hockey teams will participate at the 2011 Indoor World Cup
due to be held in Poznan, Poland from February 8 to 13 next
year. Hockey has also been dodged by allegations of racism
and recently the Minister of Sport, Kazenambo Kazenambo
hotted out at the authorities in that sector to get it right or
ship out.
The message by the outspoken minister was not received
kindly by the president of the Namibia Hockey Union (NHU)
Jesse Schickerling, who flatly denied any allegations of
racism. Despite that, hockey reached a milestone on an
individual basis, when two hockey players attended a five
week training program in Germany to prepare for the Indoor
World Cup.
Namibia’s lethal striker, Siyabonga Martins and goalkeeper DJ
Strauss were in Germany with Wolfgang Kluth who coaches
Rot Weiss Koln the current in- and outdoor champion. That
was a plus point on the hockey side which, in recent years,
has struggled to maintain a consistent level of performance
on the international level.
Among the biggest winners this year on the athletics and
road running sphere, were veteran runners Luketz Swartbooi
and Helalia Johannes, who both netted a N$10 000 each
for winning the 2010 Old Mutual Victory Race Series. Both
athletes won two out of the three legs of the series to be
crowned the overall series winners. This year the tournament
also served as a qualifier for the World Half Marathon
Championships which were held in Nanning, China in
October.
Swartbooi finished 36th out of 68 athletes, completing the
21,1km event in a time of 1:05:27, which was 5:20 behind
the winner, Wilson Kiprop of Kenya. Johannes finished 16th
in a season’s best time of 1:11:57, which was 3:33 behind the
winner Florence Jebet Kiplagat of Kenya.
Also interesting this season, the Oshana region was the
overall winner of the Namibia National Championships for
the Physically Challenged that took place in Windhoek. The
Khomas region was second, with the Omusati region third.
The Karas region was awarded with the Best Spirit Award.
The athletes were competing in the track and field events
and the competition was held in order to select athletes
that would be eligible to represent the country in different
international competitions next year. The Namibian cricket
team also had its good spell on the crease with spectacular
batting and bowling coming off some of the veterans such as
Sarel Burger, Louis Burger and others.
The cricketers had a busy year this season, but failed to
make the grade to their would-be second appearance in the
International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup due early next
year. Overall, the Namibian sporting year produced mixed
results as custom over the past five years and the major
achievements were more on an individual level than team
sport.
The rugby team will be at the World Cup next year, Namibian
swimmers excelled as they splashed their way to numerous
victories, while the professional boxers, including amateur
boxer Japhet Utoni also did his country proud by bagging a
bronze at the Commonwealth Games.Next year should be
a year of sporting celebration in various ways as some of
the codes have proven some improvement in their quest for
glory.
CN 33
 editorial

Boom or Bust
When the recession’s done and the future seems uncertain
By Denver Isaacs

The past few years, with talks of recessions from suppliers and/or start-up grants from business
and hard times, if nothing more, has certainly development agencies.
illustrated the importance of the entrepreneur in
society. The heroes of the free enterprise system, Commission over Salaries
it is they who create wealth, employ others, and One of the easiest ways to keep costs under control,
according to US retailer, Furniture Store, is to adjust
make the most meaningful contributions to
the way you pay salespeople. Reasons surrounding
national development. team building and customer service might prompt you
to scoff at this, but in tough times, salaries are difficult
Considering that the ecomomy is said to have been
to reduce. Commission rates vary with sales levels so
stabilising, and tourists have been returning to the
you want to do everything you can to keep salespeople
land of the brave to set that particular, and important,
motivated and their commissions rising.
industry into recovery, what better time to take stock
of your million-dollar idea and its execution than the
One excellent system you might consider for raising
present?
commissions, sales and overall gross margins is to
vary your commission rate with your gross margin
The most important ingredient to building your empire
percentage achieved on the sale of each item. For
is obviously a great idea. However, without a proper
example, if your average gross margin is 45% and you
framework and strategy, great ideas can fold. According
already pay a straight commission of 6%, you might
to the guys who developed the entrepreneurship
change to a variable rate by setting a high commission
curriculum at the Polytechnic of Namibia, what
rate of 8% that corresponds to a high gross margin of
sets the entrepreneur apart from the dreamer is the
55%.
accumulation of the five M’s of business:
At the opposite end, you might set a low gross margin
The business five
percent of 30% that corresponds to a low commission of
• Money (Start-up and running capital)
3%. Any sales in the middle of this gross margin range
• Manpower (Employees, Consultants, Stakeholders)
are paid at a rate of 3% to 8%. So, if a sales associate
• Materials (Inventory, Parts and Assembled products)
sells a home theatre system at 45% gross margin, she
• Machinery (Equipment)
would receive a 6% commission. However, if she sold
• Man-hours (Basic Salaries, Overtime)
the dining set at 55%, she would get 8%. On the second
item you would give an extra 2% and gain an extra 8%.
Whether you’re about to embark on a new venture, or
getting ready to hit the new year running, Consumer
Treat Lay-offs like the plague
News takes from the lessons taught by the recession to
US financial writer Eric J. Adams quotes employment
help you make sure you survive the tough times. Take
agency Creative Assets CEO Kristin Knight in saying
a look at the above-listed areas and start evaluating and
“avoid lay-offs if you can.”At first glance, the writer
tweaking your plans to see yourself prospering in time
says, layoffs seem a simple equation in bad times.
for the next busy season.
Fewer employees obviously result in lower costs. At
first glance.
The Crucial Element
Money is among the most crucial ingredients for
In the long run however, there are costs associated with
starting a new venture. Your financial resources affect
letting employees go, including the potential cost of
all other aspects of your business – you will need to,
severance packages, as well as intangible costs like
for instance, acquire equipment, human resources,
the loss of continuity and intimacy between staff and
buildings and land. You’ll need financial resources
clients. “It doesn’t help your reputation among clients
in the form of start-up capital (investment from
and customers if your sales reps or designers are
shareholders or co-founders); short-term / long-term
here one day and gone the next. With every walking
loans (banks and venture capitalists); trade credit
employee goes a little bit of company knowledge,”
said Knight. “So if layoffs are inevitable, consolidate
back-office positions first and strive to retain customer-
facing personnel.”
She also warns that when the recession goes, you’ll be
saddled with more costs as you have to rehire and retrain
workers. “Strive to hold on to your employees now,
and when the economy reengages, you’ll be in a prime
position to take advantage of new business instead of
scrambling for employees to fill key positions,” said
Knight.
Evaluate Inventory
Ranging from materials and parts to fully assembled
products, inventory and its reduction is not something
most people would prefer to think of. According to
freelance writer and industry analyst William Brandel,
it’s crucial for companies to bleed down inventory
during tough times in order to reflect the downturn in
sales. Inventory optimisation is as important then, he
says, because of its impact on available cash.
“In accounting terms, inventory is an asset. So
inventory that is on the books through manufacturing,
assembly and distribution represents credit-funded
inventory. With credit at a premium, it’s in a company’s
best interest not only to keep inventory levels tight, but
also to sell goods as soon as possible,” Brandel says.
“Nobody wants to run out. If there’s too little,
customers won’t get orders in a timely manner and
market opportunities will be missed. Yet if a company
carries too much and demand drops, then the inventory
must be ‘bled down’ or reduced in price until it has a
buyer,” he says.
Local considerations
One way of increasing your share is to compete in a
bigger arena. Namibia currently makes more than
a third of its revenue from shared trade with South
Africa, Botwana, Swaziland and Lesotho. The current
revenue-sharing agreement between the regional
authorities is currently awaiting amendment to be
better in favour in South Africa. This however means
not so lucky for Namibia and the rest of SA’s smaller
neighbours.
The current revenue-sharing agreement was devised
as a way to compensate the smaller economies for
SA’s virtual monopoly on attracting investment, and a
change in this atmosphere deserves a monitoring eye.
As was earlier stated, the entrepreneur is an important
source for socio-economic growth because he or she
creates wealth, employs others, and makes the most
meaningful contributions to national development. So
if you are an entrepreneur and want to build (or extend)
your empire, consider the pointers above because
without a proper framework and strategy, that great idea
will fold. During holiday seasons especially, existing
businesses face the risk of loss due to factors like over-
or even under-stocking, understaffing, or even failure
to market oneself. So, for all intents and purposes,
assess and reassess your million-dollar dream in order
to better approach economic uncertainties caused by
holiday seasons and recessions.
 editorial

Public-Private Partnerships
New drivers for economic growth
By Luis Maruwasa
P
PPPs, or Private-public partnerships, are being touted c) Improved Level of Services or maintaining existing
as new drivers for economic growth in many nations, level of services. PPPs can introduce innovation in how
but is this fact or a cleverly marketed falsehood? PPPs service delivery should be organised and carried out. It
occur when public entities such as municipalities and or can also introduce new technologies and economies of
government ministries and entities engage in partnerships scale that often reduce the cost or improve the quality
with privately-owned firms to take advantage of an and level of services.
opportunity, or to provide a good service.
d) Enhancement of Revenues. PPPs may set user fees
Government can engage in these for several reasons. For that reflect the true cost of delivering a particular service.
instance, a lack of resources to exploit an opportunity PPPs also offer the opportunity to introduce more
on its own, a desire for expertise it does not possess, or innovative revenue sources that would not be possible
to perhaps encourage investment in a certain field in the under conventional methods of service delivery.
country. The idea is usually to enhance infrastructure and
service delivery. PPPs potentially bring the efficiency e) Economic Benefits.Increased involvement of regional
of business to public service delivery while avoiding a government in PPPs can help to stimulate the private
need to fully privatise. sector and contribute to increased employment and
economic growth.
The private operator is normally compensated by
government or by the consumer for services/products South Africa ranks as the THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING
rendered. Some case studies suggest that PPPs are nation with the greatest
complex, demanding and time-consuming. However, experience with PPP on TEAM NAMIBIA
317 JOBS
under the right conditions, and in the right sectors, they the African continent. It
can offer significant benefits to government, the private has over 50 such part-
sector and consumers. A recurring theme is that for nerships on the drawing
PPPs to be successful, governments need to undertake board and an estimated CREATED ( THAT KNOW OF ) IN 2010
WE

thorough feasibility studies that address the issues 300 projects with this
Be Namibian - Buy Namibian. Creating Jobs.
of affordability, value for money, risks involved, and type of structure have
environmental impacts. been implemented since Steven Lochner, h roSSoUW,
PrinceSS KaUriKa, r BranD,
1994. PaUL venter, JP LoUW, J.
According to the JSI Research and Training Institute nGUtJinaZo, Gia SimoeS,
The U.S. Trade and Pa DieDericKS, Je hUtchinS,
Incorporated, the main benefits of PPPs are: SoPhia Sheehama, r voiGt, afra
Development Agency SchimminG chaSe, LJe moUton, Z
a) Cost Saving. With PPPs, regional governments may (USTDA) has been pro- BaSSon, eLmarie oDenDaaL, c van
LoGGenBerG, JacqUeS nieman, aW
realise cost savings for the construction of capital projects moting public-private maaSDorP, roB ParKer, rc Smith,
as well as the operation and maintenance of services. Cost partnerships in Na- P naKanDUUnGiLe, victoria
savings can also be realised by regional governments in mibia. The hallmark of KanGomBe, Lc nePenDa, taBeth
nyahaSha, ShaPWa haShaLi,
the operation and maintenance of facilities and service USTDA assistance is es- LS ShatiWa, JameS viLLet, af
systems. Private partners may be able to reduce the tablishing links between hammonD, eLKe BocKmUehL,
cost of operating or maintaining facilities by applying U.S. companies and hanS von LiereS, cJ Greeff, eS
hanSen, mn ShivUte, DeiDre
economies of scale, innovative technologies, more overseas project spon- SchroeDer, aJ cLaaSen, Jaco

cilbuP
flexible procurement and compensation arrangements, sors, bringing proven BinDeman, J WeSterDUin, nt
private sector solutions efraim, WK Greyton, mariSSa
or by reducing overhead. eSterhUiZen, DWn eSterhUiZen,
to development chal- mK PoniSo, JG BocK, BernarDU
b) Risk Sharing. With PPPs, regional governments can lenges. PaULUS, ma GeiGUBanD anD many
otherS emPLoyeD at team
share the risks with a private partner. Risks could include namiBia memBer comPanieS
cost overruns, inability to meet schedules for service WoULD LiKe to WiSh yoU ...
delivery, or the risk that revenues may not be sufficient
to pay operating and capital costs. >> ... HAPPY HOLIDAYS
37 CN Be Namibian - Buy Namibian. Creating Jobs.
www.teamnamibia.com
Part1
editorial
SMME and Business
Development Services (BDS)
in Namibia
SMMEs are at the forefront of job creation and income
generation; these businesses are responsible for significant
portions of economic growth in developed and developing
economies alike. It is no wonder that some of the world’s key
development agencies have taken a keen interest in creating
the most conducive environment and support mechanisms to
allow smaller businesses to thrive.
This has, as a result, seen a significant increase in the provision
of Business Development Services (BDS) in recent years.
These services offer a platform to access information and
include training, advice, mentorship, coaching and business
planning packages. These services are ideally provided
alongside access to business finance (but business financing
is not the focus of the discussion here).
Amongst the proponents that are adopting BDS as an
important component of the economic growth strategy are
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
the World Bank and the International Labour Organisation
(ILO). African countries such as Kenya and South Africa
have included the provision of BDS as key components
to their economic growth and small business promotion
strategies.
The Namibian experience
The Namibian small business sector is weakly developed
as compared to other African countries; small business
development has only recently emerged as a policy priority.
This is because independent economic activities were
suppressed under the Apartheid system, and it is for that
reason that one would hardly come across an indigenous
culture of production and trading in the country. Furthermore,
Namibia is still largely a part of the South African economy;
its business life is dominated by South African firms.
The prospects of the small business sector are regarded as
rather poor. The focus of existing studies and development
approaches is one of the large problems which obviously
hinder the sector. Local Economic Agency for Development
CC (LEAD) would like to show that the development of the
small and informal enterprise sector in Namibia will mainly
be the outcome of entrepreneurial strengths and improved
market opportunities.
In the opinion of policy makers, there is a stigma on small
and informal enterprises as entities that are unprofessional
and are merely providing a means of survival for people who
have no other choice other than a sector worth promoting in
its own right.
Philemon Kandiwapa Nahum
Small business in Namibia is not uniformly defined. The
government, its agencies and NGOs all apply different
definitions, each entities focusing on different areas as
yardsticks (areas such as education level of both employer
and employees, number of employees as well as fixed and
liquid assets among other things).
The Ministry of Trade and Industry’s definition that an
SMME has less than 10 employees and capital value below
N$250, 000 is not appropriate; a recent survey demonstrated
that the enterprises that employ 10 or less people operate
with an average capital value of almost N$400, 000.
According to the ILO survey, the educational and training
level of informal sector entrepreneurs is rather low.
According to the survey, almost half of the staff in SMMEs
does not have what is considered a formal education: 16.4%
had no schooling, while another 27.5% did not finish primary
school. Perhaps more significantly, ¾ of all employees
surveyed did not receive any job related training and ¾ saw
the importance of training to improve business.
At the coast, only a third of the staff complement in the
SMME sector has primary education (up to grade 7), the
remaining ⅔ enjoyed higher education (grade 11 or higher).
In the North, both the percentages of primary and secondary
education are lower; the entrepreneurs however do not have
a low level of school education. However, their exposure
to formal vocational training is low; less than 20% of
entrepreneurs received relevant training, even less had any
management-related training. The majority were trained on
the job during tenure with a former employer in larger firms.
In this issue, we juxtaposed the SMME situation in Namibia
to what BDS is and how it can, as an economic development
strategy, assist relevant entities with developing the SMME
sector further. In the next issue, we will examine a solutions-
based approach to developing this sector.
Philemon Kandiwapa Nahum is the founder and owner-
manager of Local Economic Agency for Development CC
(LEAD)
36 CN
below: carried out a study in 2003 and found widespread abuse
Figure 01 : Generic structure for PPPs of workers rights. According to LaRRi these included
forced pregnancy tests for women who applied for jobs;
non-payment for workers on sick leave; very low wages
Government and no benefits; insufficient health and safety measures; no
compensation in case of accidents; abuse by supervisors;
PPP Agreement and open hostility towards trade unions etc.

Private Party In 2008 the company closed it operations without notice

Share Loan to government and employees, leaving thousands on the
Equity Holding (Special Pur-
Agreements Debt
pose Vehicle) streets without work. It left behind a series of industrial
accidents involving workers, contaminated water,
industrial waste and a bill which the City of Windhoek had
Sub-Contracts to pick and pay for a clean up.

Sub-Contractor Sub-Contractor Ramatex is seen as a prime example of the dangers

e.g Construction e.g Operator
Source : Southern African National Treasury
In Namibia, USTDA helped to promote the improvement
of the Trans-Kalahari trade corridor. This was done
by funding an early investment analyses and a sector
development orientation visit for Namibian officials
and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG). A public-
private partnership of Namibian transport stakeholders
was formed to maximize the use of Namibia’s trade
lanes. USTDA’s assistance provided investment
recommendations and a business plan for a multimodal
system to increase corridor traffic.
The Ministry of Works and Transport identifies the
WBCG as a public-private partnership established to
promote the utilisation of the Walvis Bay Corridors,
which is a network of transport corridors principally
comprising the Port of Walvis Bay, the Trans-Kalahari
Corridor, the Trans-Caprivi Corridor, the Trans-Cunene
Corridor, and the Trans-Oranje Corridor.
The WBCG‘s public-private partnership set-up allows
it to pool resources and authorities of both transport
regulators and transport operators, thus effectively
serving as a facilitation centre and one-stop shop
coordinating trade along the Walvis Bay Corridors and
linking Namibia and its ports to the rest of the southern
African region.
of entering into private-public partnerships where too
many concessions are given to the private partner based
on promises rather than actual legal binding documents.
Ramatex was given many concessions by government only
to turn around and fall flat on its delivery of the promised
benefits to Namibia.
PPPs represent an incredible opportunity for national
development and growth, but also present a danger
of extreme exploitation, with the private entity taking
advantage of the government concessions to maximise
profit to the detriment of the environment, labourers, and
ultimately, the consumer through losses in the form of
public funds invested in the venture. It is hoped that in
future the government in Namibia will engage in the due
diligence applied to the dealings of the WBCG and avoid
disasters like Ramatex.
References
1. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Public-Private
Partnerships, retrieved 16 November 2010, <http://www.ustda.gov/
pubs/brochures/ustda_publicprivatepartnerships.pdf>
2. The Walvis Bay Corridor Group, Home page, retrieved 16
November 2010, <http://www.wbcg.com.na/>
3. Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland, The Ramatex closure in
Namibia: Hard lessons to be learned, retrieved 16 November 2010,
<http://www.sask.fi/english/magazine/ramatex/>
4. The Ministry of Works and Transport, The Walvis Bay Corridor
Group, retrieved 16 November 2010, <http://www.mwtc.gov.na/wb_
corridor.php>

At present, the WBCG is one of Namibia’s most

successful PPPs. At times, things go wrong and a prime
example can be found elsewhere in Namibia. In the
Otjomuise area of Windhoek, one finds the skeleton and
waste of a PPP gone bad. At its inception the Ramatex
garment factory was flaunted as a shining example of
Namibian industrialisation and government cooperation
with private companies to create jobs and better lives for
people.

Instead, Ramatex quickly went from a shining knight

to a devil in disguise. Before Ramatex’s 2008 closure,

39 CN
 from wherever

North

Coast
East

South

...to wherever
/100527

NAMPOST HAS OVER 127 BRANCHES NATIONWIDE,

ALL EQUIPED TO DELIVER ACROSS NAMIBIA FASTER AND SAFER

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , C o n t a c t : W i l m a r c L e w i e s , N a m P o s t C o u r i e r, V o i g t S t r e e t , S o u t h e r n I n d u s t r i a l A r e a , P. O . B o x 2 8 7 , W i n d h o e k ,
Te l : + 2 6 4 6 1 2 0 1 3 1 8 1 , F a x : + 2 6 4 6 1 2 2 8 9 8 8 o r e m a i l t o c o u r i e r @ n a m p o s t . c o m . n a . w w w . n a m p o s t . c o m . n a
 ?
editorial

Ever heard of Mystery Shoppers

Have you as a customer ever wondered how companies and shops How to undertake a mystery shopping programme
find out how you feel – whether you are excited, satisfied and loyal to It is generally more effective to utilise professional mystery shoppers
their products and services and whether they meet your expectations? from an independent research company who can provide companies
You’re not so sure? The best way for companies, organisations and with unbiased feedback, and who will generally have very limited prior
shops to find out is by way of research. knowledge of an organisation and its staff members. Their anonymity
means that all people in the organisation, including top management,
There are many different research methods which can be used but the can be mystery shopped. The results presented by “outsiders” are also
most well-known and most often used ones are customer satisfaction more likely to be better received by staff members and would avoid
and feedback surveys and mystery shopping surveys. the feeling of being spied on.
The benefits of research surveys are immense: How does mystery shopping work?
• Effective ongoing monitoring of customer service
levels The steps of this scientific process involve
• Opportunity to ensure that standards and policies • Briefing on areas to research;
are adhered to • Questionnaire design;
• Ability to identify weaknesses in your current • Personal or telephonic interviews or observation;
processes • Quality control;
• Fostering better understanding of perceptions • Capturing;
amongst customers • Data analysis and recommendations; and
• Exceptional customer service focus which • Reporting.
motivates staff to always provide good customer
service Some results may be surprising: businesses may find that almost all
• Improved staff morale: good customer service enquiries were directed to one person in the organisation, despite the
is recognised and rewarded and poor achievers open availability of information to all staff. It might be found that
are given training to enable them to improve their management performs more poorly than staff in the initial mystery
performance shop. In some of these cases, poor customer service skills by staff can
• Increase in customer recruitment and retention be traced directly back to the poor example set by management and a
levels as a result of the improved customer service lack of emphasis on the importance of exceptional customer service.
and processes
• Interest in new products and services To round off the mystery shopping process, a good research company
will provide:
Customer satisfaction surveys measure and evaluate the attitudes, • Recommendations to improve on weaknesses
opinions and satisfaction levels of customers and clients. • Training on all areas of business
• Guidance to your employees on how to improve
But customer satisfaction is an abstract concept and the level of on researched areas
satisfaction will actually vary from person-to-person and product/
service to product/service. The state of satisfaction depends on a By undertaking regular mystery shopping, an organisation can
number of both psychological and physical variables which correlate monitor customer service levels in the business and take action when
with satisfaction behaviours such as return and recommend rate. necessary to ensure that the customer service levels are conducive to
The level of satisfaction can also vary depending on other factors of the creation of favourable perceptions. That will translate into more
the customer such as other products against which the customer can business, more productive use of resources, motivated and focused
compare the organisation’s products. staff and a high level of customer satisfaction.

To conduct customer satisfaction and feedback surveys, customers are
normally interviewed straight after they have been using a product
and/or service from an organisation or when they have visited a store.
Customers are often asked about key areas of any business and its
products and services, and how they have perceived the business.
Companies can then use the data to implement and revise policies
and procedures, introduce new products and/or services or change any
aspects of the current products and services.
In this issue we want to elaborate somewhat on Mystery Shopper
Surveys. These are powerful tools to help businesses understand what
it is like to interact with them from a customer perspective. Unlike
surveys, trained mystery shoppers go into the store looking for certain
things and make detailed observations as the experience unfolds.
Mystery shoppers are researchers, pretending to be normal customers
performing specific tasks such as purchasing and/or enquiring about
products and services or registering complaints and then provide
detailed reports or feedback about their experiences with employees,
the products and services offered and the general perception of the
exterior and interior of the branch. Mystery shoppers are briefed on
the company’s expected standards and measure results prior to the
start of a survey.
Customer research surveys – whether it is through asking customers
or using a mystery shopper – provide a foundation in which a
company can start building upon its customer relationships. They
can be an important first step towards achieving the ultimate goals of
exceptional customer satisfaction, loyalty and retention.
Now, what does this tell you?
Companies that are prepared to have some consumer/customer
research conducted are generally those who care for their customers.
They have an interest in how you feel, what they are good at and what
they need to change in order to let you feel better and more satisfied
using their products and services.
It is thus strongly recommended that if you have the opportunity to
participate in such a survey, that you do!
Contact BIA on (061) 254 810
Email: karen@consultburo.com

41 CN
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GIPF - guaranteeing your
pension benefits Benefits of GIPF
- Normal
Retirement
- Early Age

Ill Health

Disability
- In Service
Death - After Retirement

Funeral

Resignation

Retrenchment

Regional Offices:
Keetmanshoop
Funeral benefits 063 226021
Otjiwarongo
GIPF pays: 067 307078
• N$5000 on the death of the Swakopmund
member or spouse. 064 461735
• N$1000 on the death of a Oshakati
qualifying child of the member 065 220587
aged between 1 and 18 years Rundu
and
066 256820
• N$500 on the death of a
qualifying child of the member
Katimo Mulilo
who is younger than 1 year or a 066 252686
stillborn. Ondangwa
This benefit is paid within 48 hours 065 241381
after the submission of the claim. Gobabis
062 564098

GIPF is a fund that provides pension benefits

for civil servants and employees of member
institutions.

Tel: 061 205 1111 Fax: 061 205 1209 www.gipf.com.na

 editorial
Namibia’s economic
environment in
By Martin Mwinga
We are on the eve of a new year, there are those who
depend on astrology to find out how secure their futures are
and for those that claim to be more pragmatic, Consumer
News spoke to economist Martin Mwinga of First Capital
Namibia to get a heads-up on what Namibia’s economic
environment might look like next year. It has to be said, the
future looks bleak. Mwinga however reassured us that as
long as we live within our means, we will not have to break
our heads over the picture he painted.
According to Mwinga, the economy in 2010 was slightly
better than the previous year. Exemplifying the salary
increases that took place in both the government and
private sector, Mwinga attributed this to the government’s
fiscal policy of placing money in the consumer’s hands in
order to increase buying power and thus increase the flow
of money and resources within the economy.
He than pointed to the growth in 2010’s GDP figure (approx.
4.4%) which he says was slightly misleading because most
42 CN
43 CN
2011
of the growth was in a narrowed-down sector and is not
broad-based. Most of the growth happened in the mining
sector because of all the investments made in the uranium
sector in 2009/2010.
With regards to 2011, Mwinga shone the light on climate
change, high energy prices, globalisation, and urbanisation.
He quoted the World Food Programme (WFP) to pinpoint
these factors as the carriers of the new face of hunger;
“These aspects are transforming the world food situation,”
he said.
According to WFP, “Food prices are rising and are affecting
not only the world’s poor, but also communities that had so
far been food-secure. That is, people who suddenly can no
longer afford the food they see on store shelves because
prices have soared beyond their reach.”
Mwinga projected that “2011 will be a tough year because
global food prices will keep going up; the unemployment
figure in Namibia is likely to stay the same, if it doesn’t
increase; we will be experiencing more price increases, and
the oil price is likely to average U$85/ barrel. Government
will not be able to subsidise and so will have to adjust
petrol prices again.
“You have to understand that our government is under
pressure with reference to revenue so we are not likely to
enjoy tax relief and the subsidies we are getting now,” said
Mwinga. He then added that the ZAR might lose its value
towards the last two quarters: “This is good for exporters
but not for the average consumer.”
Regarding the banking sector, he mentioned that consumers
have reached the end of the borrowing cycle; “banks are
tightening their lending criteria, our standards of living
are thus likely to be reduced.” To counter this, Mwinga
reiterated that the economy needs to grow in order to create
jobs. We need to innovatively boost those sectors that
contribute to the growth of our economy.
“Unless we get foreign direct investment, it has to be done.
We need a total package to contain and support people
in the rural areas and informal settlements to counter
urbanisation/ uneven migration. All in all, we need to adjust
our mentalities to the idea that we will have to tighten our
belts for next year. We need to examine the way we spend
while we are finding innovative means of becoming self-
sustainable as a nation and so that we do not depend on
imports to feed our people,” he concluded.
 NAMFISA
CONSUMER EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA) was established by
virtue of an Act of Parliament (Act No. 3 of 2001). NAMFISA has a mandate to supervise the
Namibian non-bank financial sector.

NAMFISA’s Mission is to effectively supervise non-bank financial institutions in Namibia. By

doing so, NAMFISA will promote market discipline and integrity, a sound sustainable
financial industry and the protection of consumers.

One of NAMFISA’s strategic goals is to ensure that consumers are well-informed and have
confidence in financial services and products. This will be achieved through a continuous
consumer education and awareness campaign.

Our Campaign Objectives

Through our Consumer Education Campaign, we collect, design and disseminate
information on financial services and products with the aim of increasing consumers’
awareness and knowledge about financial services and products offered by the Namibian
non-bank financial services industry. We also create awareness about consumers’ rights
and responsibilities in relation to non-bank financial services and products.

Our ultimate aim is to have enlightened consumers who are able to

make informed financial decisions.
As part of our Consumer Education Campaign, we use radio, television and print media
(newspapers and magazines) where we bring you empowering information. We invite
you to follow these campaigns.

In the next edition, we will tell you how you can lodge a complaint against any provider
of non-bank financial services and products.

NAMFISA is NOT a financial services / products provider, b u t

NAMFISA supervises all Namibian non-bank financial institutions.

We want to hear from you, contact us:

0800 290 5000 P.O. Box 21250, Windhoek or SMS to 3030*
or Email: consumer@nam sa.com.na
*normal SMS charges apply
 editorial
It’s the simple things:
A look at the waterless toilet
By Luis Maruwasa
For many of us, the toilet is not something we think much about,
unless of course... Most of us come from homes where toilets are
a standard feature and the only time we stress about them was
when a sibling was taking too long to get out so we can relieve
ourselves.
For a great number of people in the Third World however, the
hygiene and dignity of a private and water-flushed toilet are
luxuries. Even more startling, some people have never used a
water-flushed toilet in their lives...believe it.
Even if flush toilets could be provided to all, another problem would
rear its head – the cost of water. For lower-income households,
a water-flushed toilet is a commodity they simply cannot afford.
Even with this knowledge, most of us don’t worry much about the
fact that there are people who don’t enjoy the luxury of a toilet, we
just shelf this realisation into the “ag shame” category of thoughts
and think that government, or someone else, will do something
about it.
For one man, however, the conclusion was far different; he
reasoned along the lines of Gandhi’s axiom: “Be the change you
want to see in the world.” German-born Peter Arndt from the Clay
House Project in Otjiwarongo realised that no one was going to
do anything about this social disparity because the person that is
supposed to do it is not his neighbour, nor the government, but
himself.
On 5 July 2010, the Namibian newspaper wrote:
“In a global first, German-born Peter Arndt from the Clay House
Project in Otjiwarongo, Namibia, has invented a new dry toilet
technology which has the potential to drastically improve the lives
of not only Namibians, but millions of people around the world...
the newly-improved, locally-produced Otji-toilet…is set to make a
real global difference.”
The Otji-toilet, named after its place of origin, Otjiwarongo,
combines the advantages of saving water and hygienic standards.
The composting/dry toilet has no flush, it therefore makes the
expensive system of wastewater treatment obsolete. A good dry-
toilet system should separate the liquids from the solids in order to
avoid contamination and odour.
The drying chamber under the Otji-toilet collects the excrements in a
perforated container while the liquid is caught by a urine separation
bowl and drained away. The excrements are dried in the container.
This process is enforced by a black sun-adjusted metal plate. The
excrement container is to be removed every six months and dried
in the back part of the drying chamber. Afterwards, the excrements
can be disposed or collected for the further composting. The toilets
are equipped with an exhaust pipe which prevents strong smells.
The liquid is drained away and filtered through a simple French
drain that is inoffensive to the groundwater. The solids therefore
dry faster and emit fewer odours. The Otji-Toilet is a non-costly
advanced dry-toilet system solution for urban and rural areas.
Compared to a flush toilet, the Otji-toilet saves more than 90 000
litres of water per household annually and about N$1,600 of the
water bill. All together, it will save about 54 000 m³ of water as
well as the corresponding infrastructure like water piles, waste
water pipes, and waste water treatment plants.
Otjiwarongo and Outjo are examples of where the Otji-Toilet has
already become the standard system for informal settlements.
The Otji-toilet is an affordable and hygienic alternative to the
traditional water-flushed toilet for lower-income households that
cannot afford the high water costs brought on by a “normal” toilet.
This project is funded by SODI (a German non-governmental
organisation), the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), and the European Union. These entities have to-date
financed for the construction of 600 Otji-toilets. Also, a number
of farmers, municipalities and Regional Councils have already
ordered more than 1,200 Otji-toilets. The project is currently being
replicated in Zambia and Mozambique.
It can be seen how pertinent this technology is when even the
Namibian on Friday 19 November 2010 ran a story on page 7 that
focused on the lack of service delivery in the DRC community
in Swakopmund. It highlighted the lack of quality toilets and of
the putrid conditions of the units that are being shared by several
households to one unit.
All in all, it is refreshing and inspiring to see local solutions to local
problems emerging. The more local invention and solutions like
these are created, the more our country will grow and the better the
lives of people in Namibia will get.
CN 44
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CONSUMER
JANUARY 2011

Y O U R V O I C E

NEWS

TIME for business

Business
Martin Mwinga Public-Private today...
on 2011 Partnerships
Business
tomorrow

ISSN: 2026-710X w w w.consumernewsnamibia.com