WEEKLY NEWS – 24 February 2012
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: I AM NOT LOOKING FOR THE MAN WHO MAKES THE LEAST MISTAKES, BUT FOR THE ONE WHO CORRECTS THE MOST MISTAKES – C J Langenhoven
In today’s newsletter –
· Private sector raised objections about Employment Services Act
· President of the NAU meets with Governor of Khomas region
· NAU discusses farm valuations with Valuer General
· FA and other news
Private sector raised objections about Employment Services Act
The president of the Namibia Employers Federation (NEF), AdvVekuiiRukoro raised his concern this week during a press conference about the establishment of a national employment services office which was already gazetted. The aim of this national employment service office is that all employers as well as prospective employees have to register at the office. The idea then is if a vacancy arises at a specific firm it must be given to the central office which will identify suitable candidates to fill this vacancy. If these candidates are not considered by the specific firm, this firm will have to give reasons why they do not employ these people.
According to AdvRukoro this is flagrant interference in the free market system and the red-tape resulting from this process will probably lead thereto that less employment opportunities will be created in contradiction with the national aims of Government. Besides the red-tape, the NEF also expects that it will have a substantial effect on the growth and development of small industries, increase in labour costs and the in-house development of careers.
The NEF also questions the capacity of such an office to handle the lot of applications and placement of people especially in cases such as the farming sector at farms in remote rural areas.
President of the NAU meets with Governor of Khomas region
On request of the Governor, the president of the NAU, MrRyno van der Merwe this week met the Governor of the Khomas region, Mr Samuel Nuuyoma. Since his appointment, Governor Nuuyoma was already involved in the handling of people who were evicted from a farm nearby Rehoboth and who were provisionally accommodated by commercial farmers in the Dordabis vicinity. Against the background of this incident MrNuuyoma attended a meeting of the Dordabis Farmers Association and expressed his appreciation for the assistance which the commercial farmers offered in this regard.
The meeting with the president of the NAU was mainly about possible cooperation with the Namibia Agricultural Union and especially Farmers Associations in the Khomas region. According to Governor Nuuyoma the Farmers Associations as representatives of the rural environment in the Khomas region can make a substantial contribution by way of inputs at the Regional Council. He requested that different Farmers Associations in the different constituencies should nominate people to serve on the development committees of the relevant constituencies.
Governor Nuuyoma plans to attend a meeting of the Windhoek Regional Agricultural Union on Monday, March 12, 2012 in order to bring about closer cooperation with the different Farmers Associations.
NAU discusses farm valuations with Valuer General
The Executive Manager of the NAU, MrSakkie Coetzee last week had an appointment with the Valuer General of the Ministry of Lands, Mr Mackay Rigava to discuss the proposed questionnaire for the valuation of farms for land tax purposes. This questionnaire was already published in the Government Gazette in November last year and evoked quite some comments from land owners.
The aim of the visit was to get more clarity about the relevance of certain questions for land tax purposes and to try to make it more users friendly. Unfortunately the questionnaire was already gazette and thus cannot be changed.
MrRigava however indicated that the majority of questions are aimed to determine the prairie value of individual farms against the background of current farm prices as one of the criteria in the determination of land values. It is thus important that land owners determine the replacement value (which will be depreciated by the Ministry) of infrastructure as accurate as possible which will then be discounted against the purchase prices in order to determine the value of individual farms for land tax purposes.
According to MrRigava the questionnaires will be sent to land owners in the course of 2012 where after land owners will be given sufficient time to complete and return them to the Ministry. At this stage no date has been set yet for this action.
The NAU plans to make a list of values of most of the infrastructure on farms available to members in order to assist them with the completion of the questionnaire. These values will include inter alia the replacement value of fences (including jackal proof), borehole pipes, water conduits, etc.
Charcoal producers will hold a charcoal information / trainings day on March 24 at 08:00 at the Grootfontein Rugby Club. All charcoal producers who will attend are requested to bring along their charcoal foremen. Matters which will be discussed are inter alia the prevention of veldfires caused by charcoal burning, fire insurance, etc. For further details and to register, please contact Mr Willem Enslin, Tel 081 2305078.
2012 Meatco Inter Farmers Association braai competition
The 2012 Meatco Inter Farmers Association braai competition will be held on March 31, 2012 at the Keetmanshoop Show Grounds. The theme is “//karas” (which means Kokerboom). Exhibitors can book their exhibition space now already. Exhibition space can be booked with Antoinette Oosthuysen, Tel 063 683433, antoinetteoosthuysen@iway.na. To enter braai teams – FA and social, contact Brenda Kotze, Tel 063 281208, Kalahari@iway.na and any other information can be obtained from Willem Steenkamp, Tel 063 280655, toulon@iway.na. Entries for the FA and social teams close on February 29, 2012 (the previous closing date was February 15 but it has been changed to February 29). Entry forms and rules as well as the program can be obtained on the NAU website under the following links:
Forms and rules:
Program:
NSBA Meat production school
The Namibia Stud Breeders Association is hosting a meat production school from March 13 – 15, 2012 at the Agra/Bank Windhoek Ring, Windhoek Showgrounds. On March 13 a welcome function will be held at the Safari Hotel at 19:00 and will be opened by the Minister of Agriculture, Water & Forestry, Mr John Mutorwa. On March 14 & 15 the program each starts at 08:00. The ladies program is on March 14 and will be from 14:00 – 17:00 and the gala evening is on March 14 at 19:00 at the Safari Hotel. Speakers at the school will be Messrs R E F Rusch, PoenaPotgieter, Prof F W Neser, Dr H Dreyer, Brian Finkley (UK) Walter Roodt, Leon Lubbe, Dr M Bradfield, Martin Ferreira, Bertus Kruger, Mr Kellerman and Francois de Chalain. The summary will be done by the chairperson of the NSBA, Mr Ryno van der Merwe. Registration fee for the full school is N$850 per person whereby meals and material are included. A one day attendance will be N$430 per person whereby meals and material are included. The fee for the ladies program is N$250 per person whereby coffee and cake is included and the speaker at the ladies program is RiaanMomberg who talks about Efekto in and around the house. Further details from Mr Els, Tel 061 235158, Jacque@iway.na. Entry forms and the program are available at the NSBA or can be downloaded from the NAU website at -
Entry form:
Program:
FA and other news
Helmeringhausen FA is holding a meeting on February 29 at 10:00 at the FA house. Guest speaker is the president of the NAU, MrRyno van der Merwe and all surrounding FA’s are invited to attend the meeting as from 14:00. For further details contact Mr Christian Frank-Schulz, Tel 081 3543619,duwisib@iway.na.
Windhoek FA is holding a farmers day on March 16 at 08:00 at Farm Paulinenhof of Peter and Christine Schaepe. To register and for any further enquiries contactGudrun Middendorff, Tel 061 222140, 081 2403635, gudrunm@iway.na.
Osire-Waterberg FA is holding a meeting on February 28 at 14:00 at the Osire farmer’s hall. Guest speakers are Mr K Nandova of AgriBank and MrUirab of the Osire Police. For further details contact MrsDagmar Wilckens, Tel 067 306201, wilckens@iway.na.
Steinhausen FA is holding a member meeting on March 14 at 15:00 at the FA hall at Steinhausen. Guest speakers are MrKamaauuNandova of AgriBank and MrIzakSmit of Lucks Oil and Energy. For further details contact MaykeRumpf, Tel 062 561422, combumbi@iway.na.
The Limousine Breeders Association of Namibia are offering a 2-day course on April 23 & 24 2012. The course will be held at Farm Omateva of MrSiggiWilckens and the costs are N$500 per person whereby 2x breakfast and 2x lunch are included. Attendants have to arrange their own accommodation. Willie Grobler and BarendDorfling are offering the course. Please register before April 14 with Ellie Lottering, Tel 081 2924917, 062 571527, Fax 062 571527, franseli@iway.na.
Karibib FA is holding a meeting on March 3 at 17:00 at Kaltenhausen. For further details contact Mr Polla Swart, Tel 061 241191.
Otjiwarongo FA’s annual start-up will be held on March 2, 2012 at 19:30 at the Otjiwa Lodge. For further details contact Callie Steenkamp at 081 3326292, tilla@iway.na.
Otjiwarongo FA is holding its AGM on March 27 at 08:30 at the Hadassa guesthouse, Otjiwarongo. For further details contact Callie Steenkamp at 081 3326292, tilla@iway.na.
Dorsland FA is holding a meeting on March 7 at 15:00 at Saambou. Guest speakers are Messrs T Choen& D Byleveld of Agra and MrRiaanAlberts of Nam-Agri. Further details from MrsEllie Lottering, Tel 081 2924917, 062 571527, Fax 062 571527, franseli@iway.na.
Veldduin FA is holding a hunting and game day on February 25 at Farm Duinekraal of Schalk and Mary-Ann Nel. The program starts early in the morning with a Potjiekos competition and various speakers will attend the day. A race and entertainment for the women are also offered. For further details contact Schalk and Mary-Ann Nel, Tel 067 232321, swbnel@iway.na or Schalk and Monia Kuhn, Tel 081 2332123, 067 232306, swk@iway.na.
Seeis FA is holding a meeting on March 14 at 15:00 at the association house at Farm Otjihaenena. For further details contact Mrs Elke Zimmer, Tel 062 560080,ziboauto@mweb.com.na
Kalkfeld FA is holding a meeting on March 14 at 09:00 at Farm Klein Okarumue-Süd of Mr and Mrs I Jacobi. Guest speakers are Mr Derek Wright of the Agricultural Employers Association and Dr L de Waal, the Omaruru state veterinarian. Further details from Mrs Sylvia Friedensdorf, Tel 067 290009, kfriedensdorf@iway.na.
The annual motivation day of Mariental Regional Agricultural Union will be held on March 22 at Mariental. Further details will be announced soon or can be obtained from Mr HannesVisagie, Tel 063 275342, jwv@mweb.com.na.
WestelikeKhomas FA is holding a meeting on March 14 at 15:00 at the Harmonie hall. Further details from Mrs Greeff, Tel 064 551565,luanda@iway.na.
Gobabis Veterinary Practice plans to offer an informal K.I. Course at the Sandveld Research Station. Interested parties can contact Gobabis Veterinary Practice at 062 563877, gobavet@mweb.com.na.
The annual Stampriet Show will be held from September 5 – 7 at Stampriet and there will be again Dorpers, Goats, Kalahari Reds, Damaras, van Rooy’s and black head Persies on show. There will also be a weaner, cattle, bull, Dorper Top ram and interrace ram auction. Further details will be given nearer to the time or can be obtained from MrIzak Meyer, Tel 0-63 260230, 081 2121177, ijmeyer@iway.na.
