UNAM

14 Year Old
Boy
Admitted to
UNAM

CONTENTS
TABLE OF
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR ____________________________ PAGE 2
COVER STORY ________________________________________ PAGE 3
FOCUS ON YOUR CAREER______________________________ PAGE 4
NSFAF CARDS_________________________________________ PAGE 5
SINGLE quarters COMING TO UNAM ________________ PAGE 6
AN ARCHITECTURAL WONDER _______________________ PAGE 7
CAMPUS CRUSADE ___________________________________ PAGE 8
NEVER GIVE UP ______________________________________ PAGE 9
ACOHOL ABUSE ______________________________________ PAGE 10
THE BEAUTY OF NATURAL HAIR _______________________ PAGE 11
PROCRASTINATION ___________________________________ PAGE 12
STRIVE AND THRIVE FROM YEAR ONE __________________ PAGE 13
CHEERS TO SELF-LOYAL YEAR __________________________ PAGE 14
CAMPUS LOCK DOWN _________________________________ PAGE 15
UNAM HOSTELS' POOR CONDITION WORSENS___________ PAGE 16
PICTURE THIS THOUGHT______________________________ PAGE 17
Social Media________________________________________ PAGE 18
UNAM STAFF TAKE ON MORE___________________________ PAGE 19
News from UNAM Campuses_________________________ PAGE 20
Sport ________________________________________________ PAGE 22
AUNTY KNOWS BEST__________________________________ PAGE 24
PUZZLES _____________________________________________ PAGE 26
Cartoon ____________________________________________ PAGE 28
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By: Eveline Indongo
NOTE FROM THE
EDITOR
Greetings readers, HAPPY 2016 and a
warm welcome to yet another exciting
edition of UNAM Echo. Thank you for the
love and support you showed us in 2015. We
are excited to bring you BIGGER, BETTER
and JUICIER stories throughout this year.
We’ll strive for offerings and stories that
help students live their lives with optimism
and hope. In this issue’s cover, we feature
the youngest UNAM student from Malawi,
Brave Chibaka, who is only 14-years-old
and has already started attending his preengineering
classes at UNAM Main campus.
He has been the talk of the University as
well as the country at large. Don’t miss out
on your chance to be inspired by this young
man’s story.
Be sure to read the entertaining and
inspirational stories as well as the one
focusing on alcohol and how to avoid alcohol
abuse and the issues it raises: Is it better to
drink alone than in the company of peers?
Is it important to have a limit when it comes
to alcohol intake? When is enough really
enough when it comes to alcohol? Curious, I
know! All this questions will be answered in
our Coffee Pot section.
It hasn’t been a walk in the park to come
up with this edition, as we are all new
players but dedication and hard work has
made it possible. So, a round of applause
to my wonderful team for making this
edition possible and to our editorial adviser,
Professor Eno Akpabio; thank you for this
experience.
As always, we welcome comments about
your favourite UNAM Echo. You can
contact me on my email address: elisabeth.
massamba@hotmail.com.
Interact with us on social media: Facebook
page, twitter handle and follow us on
Instagram. Enjoy the edition. God bless.
Chief Editor: Elizabeth Massamba
14-year-old gains admission into UNAM
While most African kids are completing their primary
school and nervously anticipating how secondary
school is going to be like, at fourteen years of age,
Brave Chibaka from Malawi is pursuing his dream of becoming
a Civil Engineer at the University of Namibia.
Brave who was born in Lilongwe, Malawi, was the cynosure
of all eyes at the University last month when he showed up
to register for Civil Engineering. “I was very excited to come
to Namibia with my Dad,” said Brave who is named after his
Father, Brave Chibaka, a Civil Engineer. He said friends and
family mostly call him Junior.
Brave started school at the age of four at Walani Private School
in Malawi. At the age of 10, he gained admission to a boarding
school - St John Catholic secondary School - where he did his
grade nine to 12.
The bright and smart student is the eldest of Brave and Sophie
Chibaka’s all male children aged 14, 13 and 10. Brave described
his childhood as normal because his days are like those of a
usual 14 year old: “I love playing with my brothers, especially at
weekends”.
Going to secondary school at the age of 10 wasn’t scary, stated
junior; he was rather excited because he knew his dream of
getting his degree before the age of 20 was getting closer to
being realized. “My age was not a problem at secondary school
because I was not the youngest,” Brave said. “There were four
other kids that were younger than me.”
Brave is of the view that there is nothing special about him as
he is just like everyone else. He is also not intimidated or scared
of studying or of the workload at the university level. He loves
reading, and his favourite subjects in secondary school were
Mathematics, Physical Science, Biology and Agriculture.
When asked about what inspired him to come study in Namibia,
he said “nothing really, my dad just told me that I will be going
to Namibia with him”. All he wants is to be a Civil Engineer
like his dad; where to study was never really a concern.
The registration process was “cool” as he put it. He said that
the people working at registration were shocked when they
found out his age but to his amazement everyone was very
helpful. He described Windhoek as a very nice town and he
is enjoying his stay so far; everyone he has come across is and
was very friendly towards him. He, however, says that Namibia
is very hot, especially the northern part of the county, that he
visited earlier this year.
"All he wants is to be a Civil
Engineer like his father.. "
Brave doesn’t have any specific study technique. He said that
he starts his day very early. He gets up at 4am on week days,
first thing he does is read through the previous day’s work,
take a bath, have breakfast then off to classes.
One can clearly see that life gives you back the effort you
put into it. This young and determined teen puts his all in
whatever life throws at him. It all has to do with determination
and hard work. Let this be an inspiration to all. Use what
you carry in your bag of life wisely for profitable and more
rewarding returns.
Page 2 | | Page 3

By: Konstansia Elago
NSFAF launches
card for loan
beneficiaries
By: Matheus Michael and Vilho Hangula
The Namibian Student Financial Assistance
Fund (NSFAF) in conjunction with Nam-mic
and Bank Windhoek have launched NSFAF
Cards for loan beneficiaries. The new system will
stop the incidence of students getting refunds at
the end of the year, according to NSFAF’s Chief
Executive Officer (CEO), Hilya Nghiwete.
Focus
on
your
studies
-Vice Chancellor
The University of Namibia Vice Chancellor, Prof Lazarus
Hangula, urged students to stay focused and study hard to
realize their dreams. Hangula made these remarks at the 2016
commencement ceremony.
In his speech read by the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Kenneth
Matengu, Hangula advised students to make use of the unique
opportunities afforded by the University, and, to consult lecturers on
their study needs and, most importantly, build positive ties with fellow
students. He added that management would always be ready to listen
to the needs of the students.
“Study hard from day one”, said Hangula while warning students to
desist from locking down any part of the institution against the will
of the majority who want to focus on their studies. He stressed that
students who engage in such acts would be shown the door.
The Vice Chancellor applauded the Student Representative Council
for their matured and considerate leadership. He encouraged them to
redouble their effort to ensure efficiency in service delivery to students.
Hangula used the opportunity to welcome the new leadership of the
University and stressed that the UNAM is preparing to celebrate the
graduation of its first batch of medical doctors this year.
The University registered more than 23,000 students from 40 countries,
compared to 21,975 recorded last year.
Plans are underway for establishing the School of Dentistry in
collaboration with the Universities of Turku and Eastern Finland
while the school of Public Health has recently been introduced as an
important standalone unit of the Faculty of health sciences.
“With the new cards students can confirm their
application for NSFAF loans, use same as an
identity card for enquiries and for receiving funds
from NSFAF,” Nghiwete said. “It can be used to
withdraw money from Bank Windhoek ATMs and
for receiving loyalty cash back when paying for
products at selected shopping outlets across the
country.”
The cards, according to its promotional materials,
consist of three divisions: Tuition pocket, Upkeep
Pocket and Personal Pocket. With the new cards,
money will be deposited directly into student’s
accounts from April; an improvement over the
current system of refunding students at the end of
the year.
The cards can also be used for purchase of products
and cash withdrawals. The Upkeep pocket money
will be allocated for student accommodations,
meals, books and any expenses which student may
incur while studying.
The Personal Pocket will work as savings accounts,
from which students can deposit and receive money
from friends and family.
NSFAF and Nam-mic have both negotiated
discounts on the purchase of goods such as airtime,
electricity and groceries by students with the cards
from participating retailers.
Students can withdraw money from the Upkeep
and Personal Pockets from any Bank Windhoek
ATM, however there will be a monthly limit to avoid
misuse of funds.
The process of obtaining cards is currently in
progress, and students are being sensitized on notice
boards and via the UNAM portal.
Page 4 |
| Page 5

By: Blanche Engelbrecht
By: Stephen Nyoni
UNAM : An Architectural Wonder
Single Quarters
coming to UNAM
The University of Namibia`s Emona Hostels, will be the new
single quarters as it will be availing kapana every Sunday
in the hostel premises, following the launch of ‘Emona Sunday
Sessions’.
The idea is to bring the whole Single Quarters meat market
experience to campus. The initiative is spearheaded by the
housing committee chairperson, Drayton Magunde, who says that he suggested the idea when he realized that
many students feel discouraged to go all the way to single quarters in Katutura to buy kapana. This is because it is
a long way from campus and they have to pay double the normal taxi fare to get there.
Kapana is meat (usually beef) which is cut into small pieces, grilled and sold. A kapana man (as they are called)
will be coming to campus on Sundays to sell kapana at the underused braai area on the Emona premises.
The resident manager, Robert Haihambo, said he supports the initiative because it will create unity among
students, not only from Emona but from the other hostels on campus as well. ”Academics should be every
student’s first priority,” Haihambo said. “But it does no harm to unwind a little before the week starts”. The
kapana will be sold at an affordable price, similar to the prices at single quarters.
An excited Emona resident, Tulikeni Shikomba, says that it will provide an opportunity for herself and her
friends to enjoy the Namibian delicacy without going all the way to Katutura. “Kapana guys usually also make
provision for take aways,” Shikomba said. “We can take and keep in our fridges to consume later during the
week.”
The Sunday Session commences from 11am to 5pm.
The University of Namibia’s (UNAM) quest to turn
into a top - class academy, is one that is surely
evident with the continued infrastructural development.
“Ranging from turning a swimming pool into an
upgraded lecture hall facility and study centre to
erecting a standard and user-friendly three story library
building,” said Johannes Ndeitunga, a 4th year Business
Administration student. “The campus is beautifully
designed”.
The recently constructed Emona hostels are also a
good example of UNAM’s leap towards infrastructural
modernity. These are accommodation facilities designed
as three stories with rooms accommodating two
students each. Every bed space is accompanied by a
study compartment, book shelf and a wardrobe. Each
floor has a widely-spaced kitchen doubling as a communal
area with satellite Television; truly a 21st Century version of
students’ accommodation.
The University also officially opened a department housing
the School of Military Science - branding it as the latest
addition to the Institution’s academic portfolio.
Next to the Emona hostels currently stands a brand
new Taxi rank, so beautiful to the eye with a touch of
contemporary architecture which always brings out the edge
in any building or facility. This new taxi rank sports a very
strong security system that is designed to upgrade the level
of safety in and around campus.
With this continued construction of up-to-par high grade
infrastructure, “UNAM is definitely on course to being
ranked among the top best architecturally designed Tertiary
institutions in the region”. Tafara Chiweshe a Media Studies
3rd year student stated.
| Page 6 | Page 7

By: Rejoice Hamauka & Rauna Moses
Campus Crusade
"We all have dreams that we want
to accomplish, but sometimes our
circumstances make succeeding a
challenge."
By: Wilhemine Mutorwa
N
E
Campus Crusade spices up spiritual life at
UNAM
Life at university can be a great load on the shoulders for beginners. It is for this reason that there
are various religious groups on campus that students can join as this may help them be a part of
a journey of embracing life’s roller coaster.
Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC), one of the religious groups on campus’ goal it to shine the light
thus enabling every student to grow in Christ.
Meetings, referred to as Prime Time, are held weekly on Wednesdays. During prime time, students
come together and learn from one another through evangelism. There are also Action Groups that is
the back bone for CCC. These small groups of students come together and learn from one another
as they share more insights about Jesus’ gospel as commanded in Matthews 28:19-20. This gives
students an understanding of God and that of themselves too.
We (fourth year students) are left with
10 months. What are you going to
do throughout the year to reach your goals and
accomplish them? Set your goals right now and
be determined to achieve them no matter what
the situation may be, just don’t give up. At some
point in our lives, we have all felt like giving up
because things just aren’t going our way and isn’t
that the easier way out?
No, never give up on your dreams. It might
not be easy, but every dream you have should
be realized. Like a seed planted in fertile soil,
it grows and produces the good fruits it should;
envision your dream the same way.
Many successful people did not get where they
are in life by lying flat on their backs, waiting for
things to happen. They had visions of what they
wanted to accomplish in their lives and worked
hard to succeed. You might be walking through
the most desolate desert, or the darkest time in
your life, but do not lose hope.
The bible tells us in Philippians 4:13 “I can do
all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Nothing can stop you from accomplishing what
you have set your mind to do, because God
gives us strength in ways that go beyond our
expectations. Let Him be your source of strength,
giving you wisdom to know when to
surrender to him when you are weak
and feel like giving up.
One of the most memorable stories
that has touched the hearts of many
people is that of Derek Anthony
Redmond. A retired British athlete
who held the British record for the
400 meters sprint, and won gold
medals in the 4x400 meters relay at
the World Championships, European
Championships and Commonwealth
Games.
His dream was to win the 1992
Olympic Games in Barcelona but
pulled a hamstring instead and
displayed strength that should inspire
all of us. After this happened during
the race he didn’t give up but was
even more determined to cross the
finish line. He got back up, hopped on
one leg and continued the race. His
Dad joined him, supporting his son
till the end. He did not let his situation
define his strength and what he is
capable of accomplishing.
As we begin this year let us carry
the same spirit
everyday as we
wake up and
start the day;
sometimes it
won’t go your
way, Yes! But
that doesn’t
make you
a failure or
incapable of
achieving your
dreams. Dream
big and Never give up. Be bold and
courageous.
Page 8| | Page 9
V
E
R
G
I
V
E
U
P

The coffee pot
By: Vaidah Kabajani
By: Kachinga Shezongo
The beauty of
natural hair
Alcohol is
healthy and
soothing
for the body when
it is taken in small
quantities. The average
university student in
Namibia drinks about 10
litres of alcohol a month and this is higher than the
required 5 litres, which is good for the body.
It is important to have a limit when it comes to alcohol
intake. Two glasses of wine are okay after a long
stressful day at school, as long as it’s not every day.
However, it is essential to remember not to drink on
an empty stomach, as this may lead to liver and kidney
failure
Drinking responsibly also means drinking wisely.
It is better to drink alone than in the company of
peers, because drinking in the company of friends
encourages a higher amount of alcohol intake.
Drinking alone allows one to relax and prevents over
drinking.
Strong alcoholic drinks like vodka, with an alcohol
volume percentage higher than thirty are supposed to
be diluted with water or drank in not more than five
Avoid being abused by alcohol
shots. Drinking should also be accompanied
with water intake. Taking water between
alcoholic drinks helps to cleanse the body
from most toxins and also helps one regain
their soberness. An effective way to do this
is to take a glass of water before taking any
alcoholic beverage, as one may forget to take
water afterwards.
Mixing different
types of alcohol is
also a hazard to one’s
health. Beer can only
be mixed with ciders
but not with vodka.
Wine shouldn’t be
mixed with anything
other than a cider. It’s
necessary to stick to
one type of alcohol,
as this limits the
chances of “blacking
out”, which is when one gets drunk, falls
asleep, wakes up the next morning and
doesn’t remember the previous nights’ events.
Avoid being abused by alcohol by controlling
your drinking. Being an adult means taking
responsibility for your actions and being
a student means being serious about your
actions.
It seems like
ladies around
the University
of Namibia have
discovered the essence of natural and
traditional look in their hairstyles.
The natural craze has taken the world of black
hair care by storm. I've seen dialogues and topics
surrounding the natural movement; celebrating
women who have gone natural, team natural,
team no weave. But many still have the mentality
that having long weaved or short artificial hair is
the only way of enhancing feminine beauty.
We took out time and talked to some students
around campus. They emphasised that they
prefer bold and tint hair cut while others added
that having short hair is the in fashion trend at
the moment.
“I am happy and it has been six months now with
short hair,” said Anna Ndamonako, a fourth year
media studies’ student.
“I do not miss the fiery
sensation of chemicals
caustic enough to smack
the kink out of my hair.”
"Having natural hair is the beauty of a
woman" said Jerome Nawej a male Congolese
student studying economics. “Women today
are so focused on having fake hair, Brazilian
hair, relaxed hair etc. We see these things in
our homes and around Campus, but at the
end of the day natural is still the way to go.”
It’s ok to have short, neat and natural hair,”
said Betty Temba, a first year student.
“Besides I have had short hair since high
school up until today; it really saves time.”
Page 10 | | Page 11

By: Elizabeth Haidula
Procrastination
- a student’s disease -
By: Eliphas Naango
Survive and thrive from year 1
You get an assignment that's due in a month’s time
and what you tell yourself is “I will do it during
the last week.” Doing things when the time suits you
and not realizing it's a bad habit is a smooth road to
failure.
Here are SIX signs you are a procrastinator.
1. You get up late
You try to be an all-nighter and you delay your
important tasks to the early AMs. Finally, you end the
night with a series of “energizing naps” which
stop when you suddenly realize that it’s already the
next afternoon
and you’re not finished.
2. Every Time is your bedtime
Like I just stated, you don’t know when to sleep or
when to wake up. So you simply sleep when you want
to
procrastinate. You don’t have a certain
time to start working which makes it hard to get
anything done.
3. You are getting addictive
Eating, drinking or nail biting calms you down for a
while when you are nervous and stressed. But you just
do it to get away from the boring “to do list” that you
have on your bedroom wall.
“I will do it later.”
4. When it’s too hard, you give up
You’re in love with new beginnings; a new movie
to watch, or a one-time show you want to attend.
You’re just so stressed that the only way to
get out of it is to give up.
5. You no longer trust yourself
You never keep a promise, especially to yourself.
You know that promises are stronger than you and
that you can’t get out of it, so you just stop making
them.
6. You envy hard workers
You admire how organized hard workers are. You
really admire them and you want to be the same but
deep inside you believe that you can’t. That’s why the
more you procrastinate the more you admire hard
workers. Pity!
Perhaps you were class president in
high school or you were a member
of the honours’ society. Actually, it
doesn’t really matter what you did in high
school as you make the transition to the
university. High school success (or lack of it)
doesn’t automatically apply to varsity life.
You start at the university with a clean
academic slate, along with a lot of
independence and a myriad of critical
decisions as you begin the transition into
adulthood. The decisions that you make and
the actions you take during this first year at
the university will have a major impact on
the rest of your university experience.
This article is not meant to scare you or
take away any of the joy, excitement, and
anticipation you feel about being at varsity,
quite the opposite. This article is all about
the things you need to do, to not only
survive your first year of college, but to
thrive. And many of the tools, skills, and
habits you develop through this article
cannot only be used to help you succeed but
help with your future career as well.
1. Get Organized.
In high school, the teachers tend to lead you
through all the homework and due
dates. At the university, the lecturers post
the assignments — often for the entire
semester — and expect you to be prepared.
Buy an organizer, use an app, or get a big
wall calendar — whatever it takes for you to
know when assignments are due.
2. Find the ideal place for you to
study.
It may be your dorm room or a cosy corner
of the library, but find a place that works
best for you to get your work done — while
avoiding as many distractions as possible.
3. Go to class.
Obvious, right? Maybe, but sleeping in and
skipping that 7.30 am class will be tempting at
times. Avoid the temptation. Besides learning the
material by attending classes, you’ll also receive
vital information from the lecturer about what to
expect in tests, changes in due dates etc.
4. Become an expert on course
requirements and due dates.
Lecturers spend hours and hours preparing course
syllabus and calendars so that you will know
exactly what is expected of you — and when. One
of the lamest excuses a student can give a lecturer:
“I didn’t know it was due today.”
5. Seek a balance.
University life is a mixture of social and academic
happenings. Don’t tip the balance too far in either
direction. “Study hard, play hard.”
6. Get involved on campus.
A big problem for a lot of new students is a
combination of homesickness and a feeling of not
quite belonging. A solution? Consider joining a
select group — and be careful not to go overboard
— of student organizations, clubs, sororities or
fraternities, or sports teams. You’ll make new
friends, learn new skills, and feel more connected
to your school.
7. Strive for good grades.
Another obvious one here, right? Remember
the words of the opening paragraph; while good
grades could have come naturally to you in
high school, you will have to earn them at the
university— and that means setting some goals for
yourself and then making sure you work as hard
as you can to achieve them.
8. Take advantage of the study
resources on campus.
Just about all universities have learning labs and
tutors available. If you’re having some troubles,
these resources are another tool available to you.
Another idea: form study groups.
9. Make time for you.
Be sure you set aside some time and activities that
help you relax and take the stress out of your day
or week. Whether it is enlisting in yoga classes,
watching your favourite television shows, or
writing in a journal. Be good to yourself.
10. Don’t feel pressured to make a
hasty decision about a career or a
major.
It doesn’t matter if it seems as though everyone
else seems to know what they’re doing with their
lives — believe me, they don’t — university is the
time for you to really discover who you are, what
you enjoy doing, what you’re good at, and what
you want to be. It’s not a race; take your time and
enjoy exploring your options.
11. Take responsibility for yourself
and your actions.
Don’t look to place the blame on others for your
mistakes; own up to them and move on. Being an
adult means taking responsibility for everything
that happens to you.
12. Stay healthy/Eat Right.
A lot of problems first-year students face can be
traced back to an illness that kept them away from
classes for an extended period of time that led to a
downward spiralling effect. Get enough sleep, take
your vitamins, and eat right.
13. Seek professional help when you
need it.
Most universities have health and counselling
centres. If you are sick, feel isolated or depressed,
please take advantage of the many services these
offices provide students. You don’t have to face
these issues by yourself.
14. Keep track of your money.
If you have never had to create a budget, now
is the time to do so. Find ways to stretch your
money – and as best you can. Avoid all those
credit card solicitations you’ll soon be receiving.
The average credit card debt of college grads is
staggering.
15. Don’t cut corners. College is all
about learning.
If you procrastinate and cram, you may still do
well in tests, but you’ll learn very little. Even
worse, don’t cheat on term papers or tests.
You have done all the prep work — you have
gotten good grades in high school, scored well on
a standardized test, and have been accepted into
the university you want to attend — so enjoy all
your hard work while laying the groundwork for
a successful university stay. Don’t be a statistic;
be determined to make it through your freshman
year — and beyond. Take advantage of your
network of new friends and lecturers. Have fun
while learning as much as you can and get the
most out of your university experience.
Page 12 | | Page 13

By: Veripura Muukua
“What’s your New Year’s resolution?” has
become one of those clichéd phrases that we
find ourselves being asked at the start of every
year. Honestly, it’s always something I think
about that moment I am asked. LOL, ignore or
say the first thing that comes to mind, for the
sake of it?
In short, a New Year’s Resolution is when a
person makes a promise to do an act of selfimprovement,
growth or change. When I looked
at this definition I realized I never had a “self”
focus which I kept till the end. I probably say
the same thing other students out there say, “
I will just focus on the goal of completing my
studies, finish the year and move onto the next
year of studies, work or whatever the case may
be.”
A few weeks ago I came across an article
titled “Self-Loyal” that moved me and got me
thinking, “YES! This is what I want to achieve
this year and always.” So I thought, why not
share?”
Many a time we find ourselves putting other’s
first and the needs of others first, which is great,
as I believe that we are here to serve others and
to be selfless. That, however, does not mean we
should forget about ourselves, which I realized
that we sometimes do.
- THE LOUD MOUTH -
Cheers to
self-loyal year!
Culled from: http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/612097-30611-5.jpg
They say who/what you give loyalty to, is what
you become. So I should ask what or who are you
loyal to? Loyal to others and not to yourself? Is
everything and everyone around you a priority
but you’re not a priority to yourself? Drop your
dreams to go build the dreams of others? All these
questions came to mind.
I learned that, in everything we do, we should be
loyal to our own worth, goals and also those who
are living the way that we want to be.
Let this be the year you work on building and
improving yourself for the better, and becoming
who you
ought to be.
A year to
set goals,
work on
them till
you achieve
them.
I am
sharing this
hoping it motivates you as it has motivated me, or
simply to remind you.
With this, let’s all say cheers to a self-loyal year!
#Varsity
About two
weeks ago,
the feesmust-fall
fever
finally hit our
shores. A handful
of students from
the University of
Namibia (UNAM)
gathered at the
main campus
to demonstrate
against the
proposed 7. 5%
fee increment for
the 2016 academic
year.
The students,
together with members of the Namibia National Students
Organization (NANSO) and other youth leaders, expressed
their concerns over the increment and demanded that
they should be allowed to register without paying any
registration fees.
As expected, the VarsityLockDown hash-tag went viral
on social media and also made headlines in some local
daily newspapers. This prompted the Minister of Higher
Education, Training and Innovation, Iita Kandjii-Murangi
to convene a meeting with the affected parties in order to
reach an amicable solution.
The closed-door meeting yielded some positive results as
students were allowed to register without paying registration
fees. This, however, is a once off agreement and students will
have to settle all outstanding fees sometime this year.
As a student myself, I do commend the University for its
willingness to engage students in dialogue and, in particular,
for providing some temporary and much-needed relief at
Lock -
Our side of the story
By: Fillipus Absalom
Down
this time when money
is really tight. As we
all know, young people
are the future of this
country and in order
for us to propel it to
greater prosperity and
ultimately reach Vision
2030, we need to educate
and equip them with the
necessary knowledge
and skills. This will not
only enable Namibia
to become a powerful
global player, but it
will also contribute
significantly to the fight
against poverty.
However, this is only attainable when people have access
to affordable education which, contrary to common
belief, does not necessarily mean service provision will be
compromised.
Increasing tuition fees also means that funders such as
the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF)
will be forced to fork out more and more money each
year to assist these students. This will only increase the
student debt that is already high and put more pressure
on new graduates as they pay back their student loans.
In conclusion, universities should try securing
more sponsorship from the private sector and meet
government halfway in its quest for development and
poverty alleviation. Everyone should have access to
education; after all, it is a fundamental human right.
Page 14 | | Page 15

By: Carol-Lee Shandry Peter & Vaidah Kabajani
UNAM HOSTELS' POOR CONDITION
WORSENS
By: Vaidah Kabajana
PICTURE THIS THOUGHT
His serious nature comes through, with the
way he sounds. When expected to answer
every question, going into serious detail
and making the conversation as interesting as
possible.
This popular music video director is not your
average kind of person. Maya Neto, the owner
of Maya Neto Films has managed to have the
public wanting to know more about him and
appreciating the impact he has made in the
Namibian Music Industry.
Living conditions at UNAM main campus have
worsened rapidly since the hostels were built and
the shortage of caretakers and cleaners is seen as
the main cause.
With the name New Hostels, one would think that the
living condition is up to standard but this is however
not the case. Malfunctioning toilets, fire catching
geysers, broken shower and room doors are among
some of the inconveniences experienced at the hostel.
According to the representative of UNAM housing
committee, Hilya Joseph, each block has only one
cleaner resulting in a cleaner to occupancy ratio of 1:67.
“They do not give them enough cleaning supplies,”
Joseph said. “Cleaners need to dilute the detergents,
resulting in the chemicals not being sufficient.”
In addition New Hostel only has one person who is in
charge of maintenance. With a total of eleven blocks
and more than sixty occupants each, the request to fix
facilities may be too much for one caretaker.
Hostel students also complain about waiting for a long
time before broken facilities are fixed. Due to improper
upkeep, water pipes are said to be rusted, making water
unsafe to drink. “The main cause of pollution at New
Hostel is the occupants”, Joseph stated. “Other problems
students are experiencing are lack of litterbins in toilets
and kitchens and floors that are constantly stained.”
“This is totally unfair” said Anna Shitete, a concerned
student. “We are paying a lot of money to this
institution and we deserve proper sanitation.”
Another student who preferred anonymity noted that
“for the amount of money we pay, we deserve proper
and clean toilets with hand sanitizer and toilet paper.”
Students currently pay N$9470 per semester to live in
the hostel and many occupants have questioned the
disbursement of these funds. Some students believe that
the bulk of these funds may not be used for the care of
the hostel.
“Increase the number of cleaners, look at water pipes,
draw up strict policies, students to clean up after
themselves and increase the number of bins inside and
outside blocks,” said Joseph when asked for suggestions
to improve hostel conditions.
Renovations are currently taking place at UNAM old
hostels and have also started at New Hostel, giving hope
that conditions may improve.
“Concentrated and quick to cut to the chase, Neto
doesn't say much but as the scenes unfold under
his unwavering gaze, there is a ferocity and focus that belies his calm character”, said Liz
Ehlers, the Namibian award winning jazz musician.
According to the Namibian Music Industry Page on Facebook, Neto has been ranked the
best video director in the country, which he is not too thrilled about as is usually expected.
According to him there is so much to do and he is not even close to what he wants to
accomplish.
“The moment you get too comfortable and assume, that is as far as you go just because it was
decided for you by another individual or group, is the moment you actually fail yourself,” he
said. “I understand that the University of Namibia (UNAM) offers Directing, but the fact of
the matter is, you will only be as good as you decide, not even being a graduate from Harvard
University can decide that”, he added. He has never attended Varsity courses or anything in
relation to broadcasting, he simply just loves to do his job.
“When I started, I was an employee at Ogopa Butterfly, It was more of an experience than a
job, one that has shaped me into what I have become today. My final words of encouragement
to the UNAM students would be to do what you love and never be in it for anything but the
love of it. For when you do it with such thoughts, you win without even knowing that you
have completed the race”, he said.
Currently, he has major projects in Luanda, Angola that his working on completing,
Page 16|
| Page 17

By: Matheus Michael
By: Vaidah Kabajani
UNAM staff take on more...
By: Vaidah Kabajani
With a five percent increase in the student population this year, the University of Namibia is
short-staffed and, as a result, many lecturers are overworked.
UNAM has enrolled more than five thousand new students this year with the breakdown as
follows: Faculty of Science 50 percent, Humanities 30 percent and Law 20 percent. With this many
students, the institution is said to be in need of about fifty additional academic staffs.
Social media is life
Many lecturers are forced to teach more than three modules and, as a result, they have more
contact hours with students and increasing amount of assignments to mark. “I shouldn’t be
teaching first years,” complained Albert Shiino, a Science lecturer at UNAM. “But since there are a
very few lecturers, I’m forced to teach them.”
This issue has also sparked concern among parents as they worry that their children, especially
first years, are not going to perform well since lecturers would be too overwhelmed to give the
required attention to their wards.
People constantly complain about how social media is damaging the world and human
interaction in general, even though they do not want to admit that we cannot do anything
without the internet and social media.
We need to put this in the right perspective. As students, we can’t live without social media because
it’s become our routine activity. Parents will tell you that the internet is harmful and it takes up much
of our study time, but one should understand that we live in a different era now. Everything has its
pros and cons. I am not saying the internet has no negative effects, but maybe time will tell
A colleague sent me a WhatsApp text arguing that social media was killing cultural values and
norms. He said he wants to send an Email to some experts to discuss it further, and that he will use
some YouTube videos as reference. Lately, he’s been posting about such effects on Facebook and he
even demonstrated with some pictures on his Instagram page.
He ended the text by saying that I should
follow him back on Twitter and that I should
check his LinkedIn profile for his views and
opinions. What he implies makes sense,
however his approach is contradictory. A
wise man once said “You cannot fight an
opponent in their comfort zone”.
What am saying here is, if you think the
internet is destructive, don’t make it look like
an impossibility; find a different platform
to fight against it. You can’t go against the
internet on the internet, and that just shows
how you cannot do without it.
Page 18 |
| Page 19

By: Letta Muleka
Around and about UNAM Campuses
By: Vaidah Kabajana
Neudamm Campus "The farm-fresh campus"
"There is insufficient spaces at Katima Mulilo Campus- Students"
Neudamm is a beautiful campus situated on a large-scale farm, 30km
outside of Windhoek which accommodates a total of 150 students.
It is also the core of the agriculture and natural resources faculty of the
University of Namibia that provides farm fresh produce to the UNAM
community.
Neudamm houses Bachelor of Science courses such as animal science,
food science, agricultural economics and veterinary medicine. The campus
attracts and is home to students from different parts of the world. The
tranquil atmosphere and friendly students welcome daily visitors who have
grown fond of the campus’ environment.
Neudamm campus is widely known for its farm produce, ranging from
quality dairy products like butter, sour milk and yogurt, to meat products
as well as poultry and vegetables. The small student population takes pride
in volunteer programmes and practicals.
Katima Mulilo campus hostels is unable to accommodate the increased student numbers
thus leaving students with no alternative than to secure accommodation off campus.
Students from rural areas like Masida and Linyanti are forced to reside in Coloureds’ Camp
and Katima Base. The students said that they are forced to part with a lot of money even
though these locations are unsafe.
The students said that these accommodation are located near bars and shebeens, from
where loud music emanate thus hindering effective study. They recall that about two years
ago, a fight which killed about three people occurred at one of the nearby bars.
Another issue the students raised is poor sanitation in these off campus accommodation.
“Many of the ablution facilities here are not working,” Mundiya Simataa said. “This forces
some of us to use the bush.”
This raises the spectre of a possible epidemic outbreak as “the constant use of bushes has led
to these places being littered,” said a student who pleaded anonymity.
The introduction of new courses resulted in the increase of enrolment figures to 3000 even
though the campus can only accommodate 200 students.
The farm produce are sold at affordable prices although the Neudamm
and main campus staff get first dibs on purchases. The remainders of the
products are then sold to students.
Even though Neudamm campus is isolated, students take part in extracurricular
activities and also relax at the Neudamm dam in their leisure
hours.
Page 20 |
| Page 21

By: Elizabeth Massamba
Sport
By: Mariana Shaakumeni
The Mighty
Gunners FC
overshadow
UNAM in
round 18 of
NPL
The Mighty Gunners Football Club beat UNAM FC one to nil in Windhoek
on the 6th of February.
This prevented UNAM from winning their first game since the start of round
two of the Namibia Premier League (NPL).
UNAM Bokkies flying high...
The UNAM female football team, UNAM Bokkies, defeated Omaheke Queens on Saturday, 6th
February with four goals to nil.
The game took place at Legare stadium in Gobabis. UNAM Bokkies only managed to score in the
second half. The first goal was scored by Elina Uugulu, a midfielder, the second and fourth was scored by
Ester Amukwaya, a defender and the third by Aina Gabriel, a striker.
“The girls are really doing well in the Namibian Super League,” said the UNAM Bokkies’ coach Simson
Paulus. “This game went well with few players benched due to injuries and other commitments” The coach
also said that both their goals came in the second half. “Amukwaya who scored two goals joined the team as
a goalkeeper but changed to defending just for that game,” he said.
The highest goal scorer, Amukwaya, also confirmed that they were playing possession football but did not
capitalize on the chances due to the fact that they were in a hurry to score and they were not used to the
terrain.
“I was booked off by the medical team due to some injuries but I could not let my team down,” Amukwaya
said. “I decided to be a goal keeper but I got really frustrated as we were losing possession too often so I
asked our coach if I can go into the field. I went in and scored a very important goal within minutes. And we
kept pressing until we scored four goals.”
On Saturday at the University of Namibia (UNAM) sports field, Werner
Waputuaka from the Mighty Gunners scored one goal and that’s all they needed
to collect three points in their first game.
The defeat against Mighty Gunners leaves UNAM without a win in their last
seven games. UNAM lost its last two games against Rundu-based club Rundu
Chiefs and Young Chiefs from Oshakati.
UNAM’s coach Ronny Kanalelo said his team needs to start winning games
because they are dropping in the log standings. He added that he feels that lack
of confidence is affecting their games and things need to start changing soon.
The last time UNAM won a game was in the first 2015/2016 NPL season, which
was on 25th October last year against Black Africa.
Page 22 |
| Page 23

AUNTY KNOWS BEST
Q: Dear Aunty
I am a 26 year-old-lady and I am in love with a married man. He lives
with his wife but he promised that he would marry me. He currently
pays for my school fees at UNAM and he gives me everything I want.
Aunty, how can I hasten their divorce?
A: If you are anticipating a divorce one wonders as to why you did not
wait for the supposed divorce to get finalized before getting involved
with him? Firstly, ask yourself does this man actually want to divorce his
wife or did he just fill you with stories so that he can continue with his
master plan of being a husband and a play boy? It should not be your job
to separate them, this man should want to divorce his wife, otherwise
you are wasting your time and youth on a man that will never leave his
wife. If he really wanted to, he would have done it before getting involved
with you. An agreement with a married person to divorce his or her
spouse to pave a way for your relationship is not only against public taste and good manners, but immoral as
well. The law protects the institution of marriage. The man’s wife is entitled to sue you for committing adultery
with her husband.
Q: Dear Aunty
My life is a little messed up. I am in love with a man that does not love me. We have a child together and he
supports both me and the child and we spend a lot of time together. We chat all the time, we sleep together and
even kiss every time we say goodbye but he still says he does not love me. He is the only guy I’ve been with,
whom I love dearly. Aunty what do I do? How do I let go? I really don’t want another guy in my life.
A: It is so difficult to let go of a marriage or significant relationship particularly if there are kids involved.
More-so for you as this is your first love. So you, like many people (especially women), keep the relationship
going under any circumstances, because it feels too painful and scary to be free of this person completely. You
know what you need to do. You know you are compromising yourself and confusing your child with this socalled
relationship. You know you need to kick his sorry butt out the door and keep that door tightly shut. Just
because he is the father of your child, does not mean he has the right to treat you like a side bag. You as a lady
should love yourself enough to walk away from situations that don’t build you. There is someone else in your
life now who deserves all your attention and love. Work on being the best role model you can be for your little
one and give yourself time to heal, grieve, cry, get angry and get confident, sassy as well as sexy.
Q: Hi Aunty
There are not enough graduate programs to train and insert new graduates into the workforce. This makes it
difficult for university graduates to secure employment after they have completed their studies. It is especially
hard for the University of Namibia students, as many courses do not make provisions for students to do
internship in order to learn how to apply what they have learned at the university and therefore gives them little
experience. It is a problem because companies do not only require some expertise but they require you to have
the knowledge and be able to apply it, which is a skill the university fails to teach.
A: These days’ degrees are only a small part of securing employment; it’s unfortunate but this is the truth. As
much as a lot of people believe experience is important, it really isn't necessary. Employees look for individuals
with new and fresh ideas and perspectives; people who show that they can be proactive and aggressive. By
getting involved in a lot of different projects on or off campus as well as working hard, you are creating your
own work experience. Once an employer sees how you've been innovative enough to gain your own work
experience, I can almost guarantee that you will be able to secure any job you want.
Q: Hi Aunty
What’s going on? I am repairing two cars!! I have loads of unfinished tasks and I think I got someone pregnant.
I have workers asking for money even when they didn’t finish their tasks. I don’t know, I’m just messed up!!
A: I want you to find a quiet, cosy place where you can sit, take a deep breath and handle one problem at
a time. Firstly, find out what you want in life. That's the only way you can straighten your life out. All these
things you are facing will not go away until you solve them. Secondly, make time to repair those cars, draw up a
schedule of everything you need to do and make sure you do them on time; it’s important to prioritize. Thirdly,
you think you got someone pregnant? Well you need to make sure and if she is pregnant by you, you need to
man up and take responsibility. Finally, as regards the workers asking for money without completing their
tasks, is it that you do not have a signed working agreement? You need to have a fixed agreement with your
employees, that outlines all the necessary details from day one and when it all needs to be completed. Don’t
worry you are not messed up, you’re just not organized properly.
Q: Hi aunty
I am a 19 year old girl and my pastor sucked my breast in order to remove some bad things. I am a virgin and I
never had a man suck them before. I am so in love with my pastor and how will I let him know that I love him?
A: You need to be extremely careful when it comes to religion and faith. So many false prophets are springing
up each day promising various things. To most, they come off very convincing and it forces a lot of people
to follow blindly without knowing what the scriptures say. I urge you to critically look at these practices and
determine whether they are in line with what the Bible says and as you do this, pray to God for enlightenment
because they are so many false prophets taking advantage of people. After this, you should be able to decide
whether your feelings for him are true and not built on false ideas.
Page 24 |
| Page 25

PUZZLES
TULI LOST EXAM TIMETABLE
Puzzle Game
Black History Month
Do you know your Black History? Test your knowledge on Black History.
Tuli will be having her exams in 15 minutes but she can't seem to locate her exam Timetable. Can you help her find
it?
Down
1. What was the name of the movement across the world to support African countries' quests for Independence?
2. He served as the seventh Secretary General of the United Nations from January 1997 to December2006.
5. Who was the first black astronaut to walk in space?
8. The first African to be honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1986.
Across
3. Which Namibian leader was also known for the name Nansebgaib Gâbemab
4. Which group migrated to Southern Africa about 2,000 years ago?
6. Who is the founder of the Wassoulou Empire, an Islamic state?
7. He fought against Apartheid, was imprisoned for many years, and then became the first black African president of
South Africa after his release.
9. What was the first black newspaper called?
10. Malian leader who traveled to Mecca, giving gold out all along the way.
Page 26 |
1. Independence
movement.
2. Kofi Annan.
5. Bernard Harrisjr.
8. Wole Soyinka.
Down
3. Hendrik Witbooi.
4.The Bantu.
6. SamoryToure.
7. Nelson Mandela.
9. Freedom’s journal.
10. Mansa musa.
Across
| Page 27

Cartoons
| Page 28

Entire List of Contributors
Secretary
Eliphas Nahango
0813992003
Politics
Vilho Hangula
Sackeus Iikela
Idipo Hosea
Johannes Akwenye
Agnes Iikuyu
Margaret Kalo
Economics
Mulenga Mwelwa
Farai T. Munoriarwa
Francis Mkandawire
Lifestyle
Vaidah Kabajani
Eveline Indongo
Tendai Nyashanu
Kachinga Shezongo
Ndamonako Iita
Lineekela Amadhila
Veripura Muukua
Shareen Van Wyk
Wilhelmine Mutorwa
Gossip
Salimi Gerhard
Agnes Iikuyu
Angelina Uunona
Maranatha Goroh
Photography
Eliphas Nahango
Masiyaleti Mbewe
Idipo Hosea
Thomas Amutenya
Shareen Van Wyk
Caleb Munthali
Salimi Gerhard
Lineekela Amadhila
Campuses
Vaidah Kabajani (Katima
Mulilo)
Idipo H. I Jose (Eduardo
Dos Santos)
Letta Muleka (Neudam
campus)
Elizabeth Haidula
(Khomasdal campus)
Anna Iithete (Southern
campus)
John Mwenyo (Rundu)
Courage Gondo (School of
Medicine)
Botho Tswetla ( Hifikepunye
Pohamba)
Maragaret Kalo (Ogongo)
Mandy Mumba (Oshakati)
Agnes Iikuyu (Sam Nujoma)
Konstancia Elago (Main
Campus)
Design
Laban Ebenezer
Thomas Amutenya
Sackeus Iikela
Sijile Mapanda
Today Amoomo
Religious &
Devotional
Rejoice
Rauna
Wilhelmine Mutorwa
Vaidah Kabajani
Lineekela Amadhila
Kachinga Shezongo
Caleb Munthali
Veripura Muukua
Agnes Iikuyu
Education
Agnes Iikuyu
Johannes Akwenye
Sadam Absalom
Rauna
Deidre Shino
Freddie Muyamba
Margaret Kalo
Opinion
Lineekela Amadhila
Mariana Shaakumeni
Vaidah Kabajani
Masiyaleti Mbewe
Matthew Kawonge
Souja Mwaulange
Thomas Amutenya
Farai T. Munoriarwa
Kudzai Muchechetere
Anna Iithete
Margaret Kalo
Features
Eveline Indongo
Salimi Gerhard
Sadam Absalom
David Lyimo
Elizabeth Haidula
Veripura Muukua
Videos
Lineekela Amadhila
Idipo Hosea
Vilho Hangula
Sackeus Iikela
Thomas Hamutenya
Laban Ebenezer
Caleb Munthali
David Lyimo
Jane Moshi
Matheus Michael
Agony Aunt
Eveline Indongo
Elisabeth Massamba
Vaidah Kabajani
Souja Mwaulange
David Lyimo
Jane Moshi
Social Media
Masiyaleti Mbewe
Matthew Kawonge
Letta Muleka
Ndamonako Iita
Lineekela Amadhila
Angeline Uunona
Deidre Shino
Veripura Muukua
Shareen Van Wyk
Elizabeth Haidula
Michael Mathews
Agnes Iikuyu
Sports
Elisabeth Massamba
Mariana Shaakumeni
Rejoice
Rauna
Idipo Hosea
Marketing
Vaidah Kabajani
Rejoice
Tendai Nyashanu
Wilhelmina Mutorwa
Lineekela Amadhila
Kudzai Muchechetere
Agnes Iikuyu
Anna Iithete
Cartoons
Idipo H.I
Sackeus Iikela
Laban Ebenezer
Johannes Akwenye
Editor
Elisabeth Massamba
Sub Editors
Marianna Shaakumeni
Vaidah Kabajani
Thomas Amutenya
Idipo H. I
Eveline Indongo
Sijile Mapanda
Ndamonako Iita
Kudzai Muchechetere
Lineekela Amadhila
Agnes Iikuyu
Elizabeth Haidula
Wilhelmine Mutorwa