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JUNE 2013
Consumer News
ISSN 2026-710X
your voice
NWR launches the Nam Leisure Card Local weapons and ammunition supply companies merge
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Editors Note
Willem Gariseb
ccording to David Suzuki, a famous Canadian environmentalist activist and author, Our personal consumer choices have ecological, social, and spiritual consequences. It is time to re-examine some of our deeply held notions that underlie our lifestyles. It is of paramount importance to know that society has become consumerist as a result of advertising and this result in the creation of false consciousness in the minds and lives of consumers. We now identify ourselves with the products we buy and thus our brands are now symbols of who we are. As some scholars have said, we are what we consume and this being the case, it implies that we need to buy in order to become. Consumer News Magazine is there not only to protect the needs of consumers by alerting and informing consumers on such subliminal aspects targeting their money, but we want to create a space for the producers and policy makers to respond to certain questions and issues of concern amongst consumers. Needless to emphasize that everyone, regardless of our societal positions and qualifications, is a consumer at a point in time. Thus we are the public sphere for the discussion of all consumer related issues of any nature. In this edition, we thus retain our regular columns and introduce a new initiative in the tourism industry in Namibia, which will enable Namibians to understand the importance of tourism to their standard of living and to the economic, social and environmental development of the country. May you enjoy reading the pages of our magazine. Until we meet again..
General Manager/Editor
Willem Gariseb 081 249 8161 085 551 9337 consumernews@iway.na
Editorial Photos
Contents
Advancing towards a transparent tourism market and training sector P4-5 NWR launches the Nam Leisure Card P5 More on Genetically Modified Organisms P8 Designed To Fail P10 Will the Govt be able to walk the talk? P10-11 Bank Charges and Bad Customer Service P11 Whole of State aviation policy alignment critical to aviations efficiency and economic contribution P12-13 Tips on the public offer to buy shares of Bank Windhoek P15 Local weapons and ammunition supply companies merge P16 Point of View P18 Motherhood P18 Solar Geyser vs. conventional geysers P18 Where Do Human Hair Extensions Really Come From? P20-21 Namibia has lost its godliness P22 The New BMW Series Sedan P23
If there is a book you really want to read but it hasnt been written yet, then you must write it.
Toni Morrison (US novelist)
Our mission is to create a platform for you the Namibian consumer, who strives to see improvement in the value of goods and services and are savvy enough to spot misleading advertising and poor quality products and services. You deserve more, and together we have power in numbers, so we welcome your contributions, feedback, acknowledgements and your voice on products and services that need our investigation.
Contact details
Namibia Consumer Protection Group: Milton Louw. E-mail: miltonlouw@gmail.com Namibia Customer Service Institute: Jon Allen. E-mail:csinstitute@iway.na Website: www.namibiacsi.com Namibian Consumer Lobby: Bob Ziekenoppasser. Te: 064 - 46 1461 or 081 284 8000 Namibian Standards Institution: Tel: 061 38 6400 / Queries: query@nsi.com.na Website: www.nsi.com.na
For all your advertising needs contact: Willem Gariseb at: Cell: +264 (0) 81 249 8161/+264 (0) 85 551 9337 Fax2mail: +264 (0) 886 44443 Email: consumernews@iway.na/willemgariseb@yahoo.com
Chairperson of the NWR board Mrs Lea Namoloh, Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Honorable Pohamba Shifeta and the Acting Managing Director for NWR Zelma Hengari.
One of the primary functions of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, according to Shifeta, is to develop programs which can assist Namibians in understanding the importance of tourism to their standard of living and to the economic, social and environmental development of the country. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism will actively seek to make training in the tourism sector more accessible to previously disadvantaged Namibians and vulnerable groups through liaison with relevant stakeholders, he said, adding that, there is a need for well qualified tourism human resources at all levels that are able to understand the needs of the visitors and the vitality of efficient and friendly customer service which makes training a priority. It is against this background, that GIZ and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism together with other relevant stakeholders have initiated the development and establishment of the Online Tourism Training Platform. The Tourism Training Namibia web-platform is designed to answer the training needs of the tourism industry in Namibia.
The project will have different components, ranging from gathering of tourism training and employment info, pilot course development, marketing and process concept development, stakeholder networking and training of stakeholders and partners and the training platform aims to meet the needs of the end consumer/user / Employer. TheMinistry of Environment and Tourism belives that through this kind of tourism training platform, the ministry could address elements contained in NDP4 and specific focus on tourism. All in all the platform can be seen as a clearing house mechanism for the Namibian tourism sector in that it will make information about training and job opportunities available on line. This becomes important especially for learners and job seekers as they will have a one stop shop where they can find all information regarding training and job opportunities in one place. Speaking at the Launch, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of German, His Excellency Mr Onno Hueckmann said well trained staff is a basic require-
Consumer News
Mr Evans Simataa, Miss Namibia and Hilma Johannes Acting Assistant to the Managing Director.
amibia Wildlife Resorts recently launched the Nam Leisure Card during the Namibia Tourism Expo. The Chairperson of the NWR Board, Ms Lea Namoloh introduced the membership card which offers Namibian members a 50 % discount at any of the 19 NWR facilities. Sadc and international independent travelers can also apply, qualifying for discounts of 25 % and 10% respectively. Mrs Namoloh said the benefits of being a member go beyond the discounts as 5 percent of the value of any member booking towards conservation projects, including the NWR Enviro-Kids programme and joint projects with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism- providing a double feel good experience. She also indicated that NWR is looking to expand the benefits of membership over time this is just a beginning. Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Honorable Pohamba Shifeta said Namibias protected areas offer ideal opportunities for relaxation and leisure and quality family time to relax and replenish but acknowledged that peoples budgets are often stretched due to the demand of essential expenses. The NamLeisure Card would make it a whole lot easier, helping to enhance the physical and emotional well-being of our people. Hon Shifeta indicated that stimulating domestic and regional tourism has long been a subject receiving close attention in his Ministry and NTB, as in the Tourism sector it is widely acknowledged that countries with healthy domestic tourism numbers are less susceptible to the impact of unpredictable global events. This initiative will encourage and assist Namibian and SADC residents to become more regular travelers and to reap the benefits from recreational travel.
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GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms, are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals.
uring the past few weeks, the local media have written a lot of articles on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and the various protests staged around the world against the company Monsanto which manufactures GMOs. A number of consumers contacted the Consumer News Namibia Magazine to find out more about the issue. GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms, are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. These experimental combinations of genes from different species cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding. Most commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide (weedkillers) or to produce an insecticide (to kill insects that eat them). Despite biotech industry promises, none of the GMO traits currently on the market offer increased yield, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit. In contrast, there is growing evidence that connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage and violation of farmers and consumers rights. Are GMOs safe? Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe. In more than 60 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. In developing countries such as Namibia where
there is little or no consumer protection, the governments have largely been ignoring the problem. Are GMOs labelled? Unfortunately, even though polls consistently show that a significant majority of consumers want to know if the food they are purchasing contains GMOs, the powerful biotech lobby has succeeded in keeping this information from the public. Recently, the Namibia Consumer Trusts has sent samples of Namibian consumer products to be tested in South Africa. What are the effects of GMOs on the environment? Over 80% of all GMOs grown worldwide are engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. GMO crops are also responsible for the emergence of super weeds and super bugs: which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange). GMOs are a direct extension of chemical agriculture, and are developed and sold by the worlds biggest chemical companies. The long-term impacts of GMOs are unknown, and once released into the environment these novel organisms cannot be recalled. How do GMOs affect farmers? Because GMOs are novel life forms, biotechnology, companies have been able to obtain patents with which to restrict their use. As a result, the companies that
make GMOs now have the power to sue farmers whose fields are contaminated with GMOs, even when it is the result of inevitable drift from neighbouring fields. GMOs therefore pose a serious threat to farmers sovereignty and to the national food security of any country where they are grown, including the United States. Namibia is planning on testing for GMOs It is thus with great pleasure that we take note that the Namibia Consumer Trust (NCT) received an official invitation to witness the inauguration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestrys Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) testing facility recently. NCT informed us that they are delighted that the expert who will be doing the demonstration of how GMO testing is done is the same Professor NCT had asked to do the GMO tests on Namibian popular maize. NCT intends to continue with these tests; with hope that these may be done locally in the near future. That is if the lab can also do tests for independent civil society. With pressure from the civil society, such as the Namibia Consumer Protection Group (NCPG), Namibia Consumer Trust (NCT and the Consumer News Namibia Magazine, we hope to continue to pressure the government and state agencies to do more to ensure the foods we eat are not doing us harm in the long run.
Consumer News
THE NAMIBIA TOURISM BOARD FACILITATES THE TOURISMXCHANGE WEEK FOR SMEs
The Namibia Tourism Board is a statutory body created through an Act of Parliament, Act No. 21 of 2000. Its main mandates are; 1. To market and promote Tourism by encouraging persons to travel to and within Namibia 2. To promote the development of the Tourism Industry and environmentally sustainable tourism by actively supporting the long-term conservation, maintenance and development of the natural resource base in Namibia 3. To regulate the Tourism Industry in Namibia by putting measures in place to ensure that services rendered and facilities provided to tourists comply with the prescribed standards. 4. To promote adequate training of persons engaged or to be engaged in the tourism industry In order to fulfil the fourth mandate, NTB always initiates training programmes aimed towards improving skills in the hospitality and tourism sector. As part of the drive to improve the skills of the entrepreneurs from the Previously Disadvantaged Namibians, in 2010 NTB contracted the University of Witwatersrands Business School to provide a course on Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation. At the end of the training graduates receive a Certificate of Competence. Those entrepreneurs who successfully complete the training programme are then assisted to have access to the market. Ten (10) entrepreneurs
www.namibiatourism.com.na
who recently graduated from the training were taken to Johannesburg and North West Province in the Republic of South Africa for a week long TourismXchange programme. The primary objectives of this exchange week are to; 1. Provide participating Namibian emerging entrepreneurs with adequate training and support, enabling them to develop their enterprises into fully independent tourism companies. 2. Ensure that the participating Namibian emerging entrepreneurs build business links and exchange ideas and experiences with their South African counterparts in order to achieve increased market share. 3. Promote market linkages with global entrepreneurs www.namibiatourism.com.na in the tourism industry, trade buyers and investors so as to boost the South African and Namibian tourism, trade and investment potentials. 4. Provide an integrated platform for South Africa and Namibia to showcase their products, services, tourism destinations and cultures to the domestic market and a large cross section of the travel trade and consumers across the globe. 5. Increase cooperation between African states, working closely with stakeholders, with a view to facilitating global movement of tourists, addressing restrictive travel barriers, and fostering mutual understanding and collaboration. The TourismXchange week takes place in April with 10 emerging tourism and hospitality entrepreneurs every year.
Consumer News
www.namibiatourism.com.na
Designed
To Fail
JULIA HANGO ave you ever wondered why your DSTV remote control only lasts 6 months and your cell phone only a year? The consumer electronics market is changing at a fast pace, thus after you rush out to buy the latest gadgets, always bear in mind that a better model is often introduced shortly thereafter. The producers want to make sure their customers buy the newest version as shorter times between sales equal more sales overall. According to listverse.com, marketers have found ways to convince us to buy a new gadget even though our old gadget is still fully or mostly functional. Selling a phone to a single customer every 18 months is far more profitable than only selling him one every five years. Therefore, producers are interested in shortening the time between sales. The processes of becoming out of use, discarded, obsolete is called obsolescence. To sell more products, producers are interested in speeding up this process, which is where the scenario gets nastier: Its called planned obsolescence when products are deliberately designed to fail after a certain time. Planned obsolescence occurs where the process of engineering meets the theories of capitalism. Products arent designed to last a long time; theyre designed for the dump. In this situation, engineers dont aim to create the best possible machine. They aim for maximum profit through steady sales. Very often, when putting a new gadget on the market, commonly available features are being deliberately omitted. Many customers will upgrade to the succeeding gadget with slightly better features once it is introduced. This is a very good example: the first iPhone didnt support 3G internet bandwidth, MMS, universal Bluetooth, not even video recording, all of which were considered to be standard features. Customers stormed the stores when the iPhone 3G came out: It had all that! But the poor 2 megapixel camera resolution remained the same. Style obsolescence happens when the gadget works totally fine and the only flaw is that it isnt popular anymore. The customer who doesnt want to be unpopular will buy a stylish new gadget. Thats because, unlike hipsters, having popular gadgets will make a customer feel popular. According to Elias Chaves at listverse, marketers employing style obsolescence are able to set new trends so customers can buy more popular gadgets, and kill old trends so customers notice that their gadget is outmoded and therefore consider getting a newer one.
There is a growing international trend for governments, in both developed and developing countries, to focus on the need to provide greater value for money in the delivery of public services.
women, adding that, In order for Namibia to realise Vision 2030, we must walk to talk and sharpen our commitment to improve the quality of services delivered to all who live in or visit our country. The Charter was first launched by the Founding President, Dr Sam Nujoma in 1997 and had nine general principles. After the review, accessibility was added as a principle, making the principles ten. These include Standards, Information, Courtesy and Helpfulness, Consultation and Participation, Accountability, Transparency, NonDiscrimination, Quality of Service, Value for money, Accessibility. Let me try to elaborate on these principles:
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What does this mean for us consumers of the Government of the Republic of Namibia?
Standards This means each ministry; organisation or state owned enterprise must set, publish and monitor clear standards of service that a public servant should uphold. Information The state organs should provide information about the public services they offer in a prompt straightforward and open manner that is readily understandable to all consumers. Courtesy and Helpfulness Each public servant (GRN employee) must provide a courteous and helpful service suitable to the convenience of those entitled to the service. Consultation and Participation Ensuring that there is regular consultation with those who use the services of the public sector and, having taken their views and priorities into account, provide a choice wherever possible to the benefit of the consumer. Accountability Provide details of performance against targets and identifying who is responsible. Such services are being provided by public servants who can be identified readily by their customers as they should be wearing name badges. This is to ensure that public servants are accountable for their actions at all times. Transparency Disclose how public services are managed together with the cost and performance of specific services which are open to public scrutiny in all actions taken in public office. Non-Discrimination Ensuring that services are available and provided equally and fairly to all. Quality of Serivce Publicize straightforward feedback procedures. Provide where errors have been made, an apology, full explanation and early correction of the error. Value for Money Provide efficient, effective and affordable public services. Accessibility Ensure accessibility to public service by accommodating the service needs of our service users. It is interesting to note that at the launch in 1997, the Founding President stated, It is also my hope that parastatals and the private sector will follow this example and helps make the delivery of services in Namibia as efficient, cost-effective and consumer-focused as possible. Let us hope that will come to pass
any people complain about banks customer services especially during the paydays and end of the month. This is something which is easy to pick up as a consumer because we are physically experiencing the frustration of standing in a queue. However there is another problem which we do not often notice and yet costs us some money, the problem about bank charges. Sometimes the bank charges us and we complain but not very often do we actually realise that the bank charges were incorrectly calculated. Recently a consumer complained about a bank mistake that costed him more money than expected. I have been a customer of a certain bank for over twenty years and generally consider their service to be the best of all the banks in the country. Recently however, I had to reevaluate my opinion. By chance I had been asked to provide a copy of my bank statements of the past six months for a business deal I wished to conclude. Upon glancing through the statement, I noticed an amount of N$ 10,000 that had been deposited in my account. Having a reasonably good memory, I could not recall that any client had paid me such a perfect round number for any work undertaken. After careful scrutiny, I noticed the amount was deposited on a Friday, and then reversed the following day, indicating an incorrect deposit. Thus it was a clerical error of the bank with the account number or something. However the next line in my bank statement had me sitting up straight. There was a charge of N$ 185 for Cash Handling Fees. The bank had reversed the incorrect deposit of cash into my account, but charged me for their mistake. To the concerned consumer my advice is for you to contact the complaints department of your bank. If you still feel unhappy with the service, then you can contact the Bank of Namibia (BoN). The Guidelines for Lodging Complaints have been developed by the Bank of Namibia to guide clients of commercial banks to lodge complaints with the BoN. The guidelines further establish complaint handling procedures at the BoN to ensure a consistent approach in complaints resolution. As consumers we often complain, but do not follow up and allow the company involved to correct their mistakes. The Bank of Namibia has opened up a new chapter in getting banks to change their consumer culture, but it is still up to us as the consumers to make use of these complaint mechanisms.
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Increased growth will lead to a far greater catalytic contribution to domestic and continental GDP, job creation, skills development and tax base growth.
the airline functioning as a substantial economic enabler. As measured by a recently commissioned Oxford Economics Study the group comprising SAA, SAA Technical, low cost airline Mango, SAA Cargo, Air Chefs and SA Travel Centre, collectively contributes 3,6 billion Rand through direct output to the South African economy, 4 billion indirectly through its supply chain and 1,6 billion Rand through spending employees and respective supply chains. In addition there are 12,4 billion
Rand in catalytic benefits through tourism bringing a total contribution to the South African economy to 21,6 billion Rand. Equal to SAAs contribution to GDP is the fact that the Group supports 34000 jobs in South Africa, says Bezuidenhout. 11 500 of these are directly supported by the Group while 16400 jobs lie in the SAA supply chain and a further 6300 jobs are supported through the spending of Group employees and its supply chain. The study shows a tourism benefit of a further 51400 jobs as an effect from the
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outside South Africa, where Whole Of State aviation policies have succeeded include Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and, closer to home, Ethiopia. This position was very much supported at the IATA (International Air Transportation Association) Annual General Meeting in Cape Town. Association Director General Tony Tyler noted the African opportunity. In a statement he noted that
Global connectivity enabled by aviation has a very powerful role to play in integrating the 54 national economies of Africa and connecting them to the world. With a few kilometres of tarmac, even the most remote destination becomes part of the global community. African aviation already supports an estimated US$ 67 billion in economic activity annually and 6,7 million jobs.
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PRESS RELEASE
2.
Electricity tariffs in Namibia, just like in most other SADC countries, will continue to rise over the next five years. However, the Electricity Control Board in consultation with Government is embarking on a support tariff study to address the issue of affordability of electricity by vulnerable members of the society. Various capital projects need to be undertaken in generation and transmission in order for Namibia to become self-reliant in meeting its electricity needs and move away from being a net importer. Importing power perpetually is not a sustainable option for Namibia since the country has no control over the energy import tariff escalations which can have a negative impact on NamPower, the customers and the economy as a whole. However, Namibia will continue to pursue projects promoting regional integration for mutual benefit. New generation capacity would address the power supply gaps and enhance security of supply to ensure continued investment in the energy dependent sectors of the economy.
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There is a need to provide for the costs of future network and generation expansions in order to avoid price shocks to consumers in the future. 4. The N$ 20 million made available from the National Energy Fund Electricity Levy through the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the N$ 40 million reduction The approved effective tariff adjustment of 13% for the year 2013/2014 is intended to in the long run marginal cost (LRMC) contributed to reducing the anticipated ensure that NamPower can sustainably provide for the future electricity needs of the nation. The approved tariff adjustment is effective from 01 July 2013. increase in tariffs. 5. The need to create and maintain a favourable environment for investment in the energy sector to stimulate economic growth by ensuring cost reflective tariffs. 6. The need for NamPower to sustain its operations and service delivery in the short, medium and long term; Siseho C Simasiku - Chief Executive Officer
Promotions
Consumer News
12h00 noon. Where can I get a prospectus with an application form and reference number? Any of Bank Windhoeks full-service branches countrywide; Any stockbroker registered with the NSX; The Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX); or The Bank Windhoek Holdings website: www.bwholdings.com.na or Bank Windhoeks website: www. bankwindhoek.com.na. What documents do I need to bring when I apply for shares? Required documents for individuals Identity document (certified copy) Proof of bank account Required documents for nonindividuals Registration certificate (certified copy) Proof of bank account Resolution specifying signatories Identity documents of signatories (certified copies) How do I pay for the shares that I applied for? Pay for the shares in one of the following ways: Cash and cheque deposits in Bank Windhoek branches (use the special deposit slip for the listing). Quote your reference number on the special deposit slip. For internet transfers, please quote your reference number. Who can I contact for more information on the public offer? Email: info@bwholdings.com.na HelpDesk: (061) 299 1322; (061) 299 1324 or (061) 299 1343.
Christo de Vries
Act, the Bank may however not recognize the shares as security for the loan. Can a Trust apply for shares? Yes, a Trust can apply for shares. The Trustees of the Trust would need to sign the application for the shares. When will I know if I will get all the shares that I applied for? The allocation of shares will commence after 13 June 2013. You will be informed before 20 June 2013 if you have been allocated all the shares that you applied for. The official results of the public offer will be announced on 20 June 2013. When will I get my share certificate and when can I start trading these shares? Share certificates will be issued to Bank Windhoek Holdings shareholders from 27 June 2013, but you can trade your shares before that date. Contact your stockbroker, who will be able to assist you in this regard. Can anyone apply for these shares or do you have to be a Bank Windhoek client? Yes, if you have a bank account at any financial institution you can apply. You do not have to be a Bank Windhoek client or a Namibian citizen to apply for shares. What is the deadline to apply for shares? The public offer closes on 13 June 2013 at
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ers conference to give merging parties a chance to address any concerns that other stakeholders may raise. Agra is a public company registered in accordance with the laws of Namibia with shares being held by numerous individual shareholders. One of Agras branches is called Safari Den, an undertaking controlled by Agra, which is engaged in the importing, wholesaling and retailing of weapons and ammunition and related products as well as outdoor products. On the other hand, Rosenthal is a private company incorporated in accordance with the laws of Namibia and involved in importing, wholesaling and retailing of weapons, ammunition and related products and, to a lesser extent, outdoor products. Safari Guns & Outfitters, also one of the primary target undertakings, is a private company incorporated in accordance with the laws of Namibia with its primary business activities including the importing, wholesaling and retailing of weapons, ammunition and related products and, to a lesser extent, outdoor products. Market Share - Related products 16.5 2 15 35 MS Squared
Rosenthal Kalahari Agra (Safari Den) Ahrens Guns & Ammunition CC Safari World Arms CC (The Gun Shop & Outdoor Centre) Totals
31.5
992.25
37.5
1406.25
31.5
992.25
100
2723.5
100
2762.5
100
2718.5
Estimated market shares in the wholesale market for firearms, ammunition and related products based on revenue for the period January to December 2012.
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Consumer News
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My Point of View
recently travelled to Windhoek for business and had the pleasure of staying at Hillside Executive Accommodation. And what a pleasure it was. Hillside Executive accommodation is located in Klein Windhoek, one of the upmarket eastern suburbs of Windhoek. Entering Windhoek from Hosea Kutako International Airport, Hillside is situated on 93 A Nelson Mandela Drive and is quite easy to find as the building is very attractive with a sign on the durawall nicely labeled Hillside. Hillside offers various apartment rates ranging from Studio Apartments which can take two adults and one child at a cost of N$650.00 for a single and
The opinion expressed for the articles are not from Consumer News but are the opinions of the writer. N$700.00 for a double. The one bedroom apartment is charged at N$850.00 for a single and N$900.00 for the double room. Two bedroom apartments are charged at N$1300.00 and can sleep up to 6 people and all children under 6 stay for free. I stayed in a studio apartment, and they only have baths tabs, which I am not a fan of, but I can do with it for a few days. The other apartments have showers and each apartment is equipped with a kitchen, as they do not offer breakfast. Their kitchen has a stove and oven microwave, toaster, glasses, cutlery, crockery, a kettle and even coffee, tea and milk sachets. They also provide dish clothes and dish washing liquid too. The apartment is cleaned every morning and the coffee and tea filled up. They have flat screen TVs with approximately 12 channels, much more than some establishments I know, but no NBC though. You have 24hour secure shaded parking, free wireless access, and even braai facilities. In my opinion, not offering breakfast is what will make me go back to them time and time again. There are so many restaurants in the area which gives one a choice every morning. It is always the breakfast that puts me off. I rate Hillside Executive Accommodation 10 out of 10. Need I say more
Motherhood
y little muffin is 8 months old and so incredibly cute. He has been crawling for more than a month now, and motors around in his walking ring everywhere in the house. Yes, my son has a walking ring. Initially we were not going to get one, but this was a gift and once we started using it, we realized how easy and safe it is. We do however only put him in there for very short periods at a time and he lets us know when he has had enough too. We did a lot of research on walking rings, and found the following interesting
bit: walking rings are banned in the UK and Jolly Jumpers are banned in Canada. The reason for them being banned is more as a safety risk than anything else, but they are not good for certain developmental areas, like baby should be crawling on his or her tummy or rolling around to improve co-ordination and to strengthen their hips and legs. I personally feel that if it is in moderation for a few minutes a day, not necessarily every day, and your baby is safe - make sure stairs are closed (assuming you have stairs and that you have gates on them)
and that your baby cannot reach certain places where he or she can get hurt, or pull over heavy things like book shelf. A walking ring can do more good than bad. I put my son in the walking ring when I am cooking and put obstacles in strategic places so he can still move around but not get into trouble whilst I keep an eye on him. We never put our son is gadgets, or equipments to enable him to do something like sit up if he could not do it by himself. The walking ring was the exception
y father first came with the idea to install a solar geyser instead of a conventional geyser. Regardless of the fact that it is green to do so and it reduces your carbon footprint, it will also save you some money on electricity. I did some research to give you facts: Solar radiation is a free, clean and inexhaustible source of energy. In a split second the sun radiates more energy than is converted and stored by plants in fossil fuel over millions of years. Solar radiation is converted efficiently into a usable form of energy that heats water which we can use in our homes, factories and offices. Your solar geyser has the greatest return
on investment and is the most efficient form of solar energy currently available. It is an affordable product and basically pays itself off over two to three years. The geyser can be operated efficiently and affordably in any climate. Currently the purchase & installation of 150L Electric water heater is around N$6 000 where as a purchase & installation of a 150L solar geyser is around N$12 000. The difference between the electric geyser system and the solar geyser system of the same capacity is N$6 000. If your house holds an electricity bill of N$1 200, by switching to a solar geyser you can save 50% of your electricity bill, which means that
what you will be paying for electricity will be N$600. One of the questions I had was, will our water be heated on a cloudy day especially considering we live in Swakopmund? The answer is yes. Although the heat output of the solar collector is reduced on overcast days, it will still be able to provide heating through the infrared rays which passes through the clouds to maintain water at the required temperature. So you do not have to worry about running out of hot water on a rainy day. I cannot complain about our geyser and I can tell you this, we saw a difference in our electricity bill from month one!
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Benefits: Increases productivity Maximizes quality Increases revenue Improves employee morale and satisfaction Saves time and money Enhances ability to attract new customers that have adopted requirements for certification Improves accountability of management Increases employees understanding of their roles in success of their work and the company. Creates greater motivation and dedication
Every Namibian company (large enterprise and SME) would like to improve the way it operates, whether that means increasing market share, driving down costs, managing risk more effectively or improving customer satisfaction. ISO 9001 is designed to help your organizations to ensure that quality management system (QMS) and processes meet the needs of their customers and other stakeholders. A quality management system gives framework needed to monitor and improve performance in the organisation.
For more information contact: Lorna T. Shikongo-Kuvare certification@nsi.com.na Tel: 061 386400 http://www.nsi.com.na
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Where Do
Linda Kozlowski
There has been a huge upswing in hair and the celebrity culture has made hair extensions more popular, and everyone wants hair from India.
JULIA HANGO
air extensions have become the it accessory lately, from Brazilian hair extensions or simply human hair as women love to add some length for a special occasion. According to the Head of International Business Development at Alibaba.com, Linda Kozlowski, There has been a huge upswing in hair and the celebrity culture has made hair extensions more popular, and everyone wants hair from India. It is widely perceived that the best quality hair comes from Asian or Eastern European countries, where poverty tends to be high and work is poorly paid. For these people, selling their hair can be the best way to feed their families. The newfound value attached to hair has led to the emergence of a phenomenon known as a hair farm, whereby husbands have forced their wives into selling their hair, slum children being tricked into having their heads shaved in exchange for toys and women with long hair have been targeted in movie theatres and in one case, held down by a gang and had their hair forcibly cut. Hair factories give women contracts to grow their hair to a certain length under strict conditions in which the hair must grow. The women, and sometimes whole families, must keep their hair away from any contact with pollutants such as cigarette smoke and make sure it is kept in top condition. Some factories even
provide nutritious food for its workers to ensure that the hair is of high quality. When the hair is harvested, the women line up at the factory before their heads are shaved completely bald and they are sent out to start the whole process again. With hair extensions becoming so common these days, people care more about acquiring them than knowing their origin and a few number of people really takes time to think about where human hair extensions come from. Hair comes from every nation but there are a few who are dominant in the market. India and Brazil are the core suppliers, but there are also poor women living in the Ukraine, and prisoners in Russia who have been shorn for profit. There are also
Hair comes from every nation but there are a few who are dominant in the market. India and Brazil are the core suppliers, but there are also poor women living in the Ukraine, and prisoners in Russia who have been shorn for profit. There are also women who sell their hair in the UK and USA but this tends to be for higher prices and under better circumstances.
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Consumer News
Human Hair
Extensions Really Come From?
women who sell their hair in the UK and USA but this tends to be for higher prices and under better circumstances. According to a New York Times story, small operators tour villages in rural India and pay paltry sums for the hair of women who have few choices. There seem to be few if any, men selling their hair. Commenting on hair extensions, Sophie Makonjo, a media student at Katutura College of the Arts says, I wear extensions and I know lots of people who do and although I feel for these people who shave their heads it will not stop me from buying or wearing them. Its hair and it grows back. It is not like they scalp people. Imani Shoombe, a naturalist who advocates for both hair extensions and natural hair, also says I believe I can express myself in different ways and feel totally natural. The only hair I cant stand is Brazilian or Indian hair. The thought of wearing somebody elses hair is quite disturbing for me.
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godliness
culture since we embraced our Independence. By this I refer to the feeling that as individuals we are aware that our deeds on earth will be judged when we pass from this earth. This feeling is the one that makes you look around when you are about to do something wrong. That feeling that makes you come to the defence of those more vulnerable in our community, that feeling that makes us gives of our time, money and even possessions to make life a little easier for those around us. This feeling of fraternity, or brotherhood, is not natural to being human. At birth, we are naturally self-centred and believe ourselves to be the centre of the universe and that everyone around us is there to serve our needs. As we grow our parents and community teach us that we are part of the human race, and need to invest into our relationships with those around us to also receive something in return. This education is part of growing up and provided by our parents. It starts with our Mothers teaching us to no longer drink from her breasts but to eat on our own and eventually be able to earn our own living to enable us to purchase our own food. In the same way, our parents have to teach us that we are not the centre of the universe in terms of possessions or earthly goods but rather that we should love others as we love ourselves. This is what gives us human beings our godliness: Our ability to understand that we must respect and cherish all that is around us on earth. This includes our partners, our children, our institutions and even our natural world. If we can teach this awareness of godliness from birth we will soon end up with a society that we can all be proud of. Godliness is thus not about a specific religion, or book, but the universal teaching of us treating each other as the gods we all are. A sense of godliness in each of us will see less need of laws stopping the abuse by companies of consumers, abuse by men of women in relationships, abuse by those in power of the trust of those who put them there; and abuse of the very earth and its natural surroundings that is the Land of the Brave.
he discussion on bible studies at school is a reaction to our realising that we have lost our moral compass as a nation. Because we remember the days of preindependence as being without this type of lawlessness, it is easy to point to a single change, such as the removal of bible studies
from schools, and say we should reinstate this and then things will become better. Unfortunately this is too simple an argument and might even detract us too long while these things continue to occur in our communities. We need to tackle the root of the problem directly; there is a lack of godliness in our
CN 16
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Consumer News
tive trim giving it an ornamental effect. Exterior design The new BMW 3 Series Sedan systematically continues the design tradition and features of the BMW brand. The sportingly elegant exterior creates the effect of coming from one single mould and conveys aesthetics and dynamics at first sight. Even in its sixth generation, the most frequently sold BMW vehicle in the world sets standards. Inspired by a rich model history, the heart of the BMW brand appears in a modern and powerful design always convincing with its BMW-typical proportions. Combined with the headlights, the striking BMW kidney grille forms a harmonious unit and follows on from the front design of earlier models, thus
emphasizing the breadth and sporting character of the vehicle. Extended, ascending lines stretch the vehicle optically, giving it enhanced dynamic character. In this way, the forward-striving front end transforms into the bonnet in one striking move. As a result, the vehicle appears as if in motion and very agile. Like its predecessors, the BMW 3 Series Sedan has the classical three-box design in a modern interpretation. Long bonnet, short front overhang, long wheelbase and rear-seat greenhouse promise pure dynamics. The flowing transition from the curving roof line to the flat standing rear window lends the vehicle a coup-like appearance and a sportingly elegant lightness.
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