NAMIBIA: Adventure is an attitude, that – no matter what your age

. WINDHOEK, Namibia / The Namibia Economist / Leisure / September 18, 2009 Film Review UP Written by Natasha Cooper Director: Pete Docter & Bob Peterson Screenplay: Pete Docter & Bob Peterson Cast: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordon Nagai Genre: Animation Rating: 4 stars Screenshot From Pixar’s New UP Trailer. Old age is scary. We stand to lose so much in the process of getting old – hair, teeth, hearing, agility, sense of humour and, maybe most importantly, our spirit of adventure. Up, the latest film from that unrivalled animation studio Pixar – responsible for Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc, Wall-E and so many others - poignantly highlights and irreverently revels in the terrors of this much feared stage of life. In fact, so much of the story revolves around the hopes and hang-ups of adults that I wondered if it would also enthrall a younger audience. It does! Once again, Pixar has delivered a film that really can be enjoyed by the whole family. At 8 years old Carl Fredricksen was cautious, clumsy and quiet, but that didn’t stop him from having the heart of an explorer. A crack in the pavement was the Grand Canyon, an old tree stump was Mount Everest and the future was filled with the promise that “adventure is out there”. Now 78 years old, he is a lonely widower, deemed a public menace and destined for a retirement home. He is lost without his wife, Ellie, and full of regret that they never fulfilled their lifelong dream to follow the intrepid explorer – Charles Muntz - to the top of Paradise Falls in South America. Carl refuses to vacate his home, stuffed full of memories of his life with Ellie, and so he ties thousands of helium balloons to the hearth and takes himself and the house up and away to Paradise Falls. But he is not alone. Russell is an irrepressible Wilderness Explorer with a sash full of achievement badges and the space for just one more – the assisting-the-elderly badge. He is not deterred by Mr Fredricksen’s reticence to be assisted in any way and is caught under the front porch when the house lifts off. Russell is book smart, teeming with erroneous explorer-related knowledge and labouring under an impressive array of survival equipment. He is also well-intentioned and absolutely guileless. When Mr Fredricksen suggests that they play a game “called See Who Can Go the Longest Without Saying Anything.” Russell enthusiastically responds “Cool! My mom loves that game!” Together they navigate the floating house to South America, but the loss of several hundred balloons and diminished buoyancy forces them to “walk the house” the final stretch to Paradise Falls. On the way Russell befriends an impossibly colourful and large bird he calls Kevin. Kevin is being tracked by a band of dogs, who all wear collars that vocalize their thoughts. The resulting stream of canine consciousness is extremely amusing and regularly punctuated with thoughts of squirrels and over-the-top proclamations of love and loyalty. These dogs belong to Carl Fredricksen’s boyhood hero, Charles Muntz, who is trying to reclaim his celebrity by capturing Kevin. Carl hangs onto his house at all costs, but when he successfully plants it on top of the Falls, he realizes that he has jettisoned the wrong things and that his adventure is not over. Up reminds us that adventure is an attitude, rather than a destination; that – no matter what your age - life is not about possessions or even achievements, but about sharing this grand adventure with people you love. [rc] Copyright © 2005 - 2009 The Namibia Economist.

NAMIBIA: Cash Boost for Old Age Home

. WINDHOEK, Namibia / New Era / National News / August 3, 2009 By Wezi Tjaronda Seniorpark, a government complex of dwelling units for senior citizens in Pionierspark, received a welcome monetary boost for their activities last week. Alexander Forbes Financial Services on Friday gave the Association for Senior Citizens N$10,000 to assist the elderly living at the park. Erika Reissner, who is responsible for marketing at the financial services institution, said although the senior citizens living at the park were privileged to have accommodation and were somewhat cared for, many of them still face hardships. With the economic crisis, which has affected many, Reissner said the elderly were the more affected considering the ever increasing commodity, living and health care costs as well as the increasing levels of violence and crime. She said senior citizens represent a generation of previously economically active people who are left to fend for themselves and are marginalised by modern society. Reissner added that the institution recognises the elderly citizens’ past achievements and contributions to modern society and felt it was duty bound to assist them. The park houses 161 senior citizens in 130 units. According to the chairman of the association, Charlie Hewson, most of the occupants of Seniorpark live on the government pension payout of N$450 per month. He said the association was also charged with creating a safe environment for the elderly and most of the money pays for security services. In a year Seniorpark needs about N$84,000 to meet mostly the cost of security services. “This is our greatest expense but our main goal is not to provide security,” he said. The average age of the occupants is 80 years, which is an age where people are prone to reclusion. Hewson said much as the association tries to create an environment which allows the elderly to mingle with others in society, the association cannot spend money on individuals. Unfortunately, the older they get, the more difficult it is for all of them to attend social events. [rc] Copyright 2008 © New Era Publications

NAMIBIA: We are dying slowly here – a pensioner

. WINDHOEK, Namibia / Informanté.web.na / July 3, 2009 We are dying slowly here – a pensioner Written by Elvis Mboya WHAT used to be a sanctuary for the aged – Katutura Old Age Home – has been turned into a place where people come to wait for their death on empty stomachs and under extremely difficult conditions. While old people’s homes worldwide are regarded as resting places before the final day, Katutura Old Age Home does not offer that peace of mind with its depressing appalling conditions. Informanté visited the home three weeks ago and since then, two of the pensioners – Alfred Kashimunwe and Anna Meize – have died. The supervisor of the Home established in the 70s by the City of Windhoek and now run by a non governmental organisation, Martha Pholoana confirmed the deaths this week. The matron said that since the pensioners are old, they are constantly ill. She added that there are only three nurses that visit every month. “They need constant medical attention. Many die as a result of sicknesses.” “People are dying. Only within three weeks, two people died. There are more who are sick and we have to take responsibility.” Pholoana is appealing to well-wishers and especially the Government for assistance. When Informante’ visited Kashimunwe and Mieze were unable to talk and were bed-ridden but those who spoke painted a grim and bleak life at the home. About 20 of the Home’s residents who are all retirees said they survive on one meal – usually macaroni without sauce or meat - per day. The macaroni is served at 13h00 and thereafter they are left to fend for themselves using their N$450 Government Pension Grant. Those who are over 80 years-old said some of their unemployed family members constantly flock to their one-roomed shelters looking for food and shelter. Joseph Kambonde (88) who looks after his bedridden wife Sarah in a tiny room at the home couldn’t contain his rage saying he was taking care of his family. “They are here because I don’t have an option. I don’t want my whole family to die with me here.” His wife Sarah, who could neither speak nor move, had been sick for months. “Social workers come once in a while but she needs to be in hospital. I can’t afford that. We sleep on empty stomachs, no medication. Are we just dumped here to die?” lamented Kambonde. David Kambalala, 77, who was basking in the hot afternoon sun, spoke of the agonising times at the Home and the hunger which was slowly eating them. Frail-looking Kambalala asked why the Government had neglected their plight, saying: “I fought for the country. Is this the price to pay?” “I have to sleep on an empty stomach. They give only a plate of macaroni at lunch. It’s not easy for an old man like me,” he said. Another 77-year old, John McKenzi, echoed the same sentiments asking the Government to intervene in resolving their plight. “This money (N$450) they are giving us is not enough. We still take care of our families with this money and buy food to cook. We can’t depend on this food. We struggled for this country. Is this the way to say thank you to us?” Their grievances were shared by Eliaser Cloete (81), Robert Slanger (87), and Gert Swartbooi (67). “Are we just dumped here to die?” They asked. Mieze and Kashimunwe were buried last weekend at Khomasdal Cemetery. When contacted for comment, Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi, referred Informanté to his juniors. “I don’t have information on the ground. They (officers) should know.” The office of Directorate of Social Services said that they have responsibilities over other old age homes except Katutura: “We only provide subsidies. This happens upon request,” Mary Farmer, in-charge of Old age Homes at the Ministry said. Pholoana said the Home depends on charity for food and medical care for the elderly residents. She also said the institution is supposed to house over 50 pensioners, but there were currently only 22, “because of numerous death tolls and lack of willing sponsors”. For a pensioner to be admitted, they have to be 60 years or older, healthy, able to use the toilet on their own, bath and wash their underwear. In the State of the Nation address in April this year, President Hifikepunye Pohamba explained that Government had increased the funeral benefit for senior citizens to N$2,200.00 and not the social grant. [rc] E-Mail: informante3@tgi.na © 2008 Informante Click to see earlier report

NAMIBIA: Old Folks’ Valentine Treat a Hit

. WINDHOECK, Namibia / New Era / February 17, 2009 By Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro The hosting of a Valentine’s Day for senior citizens of the Katutura Old Age Home is not something that the St Stephen Rommanna Church of Africa can boast about, as this has been divined by the Almighty so that other denominations can emulate this benevolent act and spirit and provide for the senior citizens next time around, said the General Secretary, Bishop Anton Kandjima. Likewise, Bishop Gustaf Mutaazu of the St John Prophecy Church, echoed Bishop Kandjima pointing out that the church’s act is according to the scripture in the “Book of Life” and it has been empowered and spirited as such by it. The essence of Christianity, he said, is to look after communities. He prayed for strength to the Government so that it can in turn continue to look after communities. He especially prayed that the Government gives the Church the necessary support in view of the fact that the Church works for all Namibians inside and outside the country. He said the Government must pay heed, especially to the efforts of the Church in communities. The church’s Archbishop, David Kakero, in turn appealed to the Government to seriously look at the situation of senior citizens in the country, especially their monthly N$450 allowance. He said the senior citizens do not spend this allowance on their own needs but this has become an important lifeline for many a household, with most of the senior citizens spending it on caring and looking after families, including their grandchildren. The Government, he said, today owes its existence to the contribution to the struggle of the senior citizens. Thus, it must look at their needs. He said it must look beyond old people in homes such as the Katutura Old Age home and into the broader society, where they are carrying the burden of looking after their families. In this regard, the Government must look at exempting them from paying for services such as water and electricity. The Katutura Old Age Home here was on Saturday a hive of activities as members of the St Stephen church converged on the home to give senior citizens living in this home a Valentine’s Day treat. The treat started with the tidying up of the home, which included cleaning the rooms of the lodgers. The lodgers were also treated to manicures and haircuts for the gentlemen before the activities culminated in a Valentine’s Day lunch for the lodgers and a few other elderly citizens from the surroundings. It wound up with some spiritual trance as the church, led by its youth choir, engaged in some spirited singing in which the Archbishop himself, fellow bishops and the supervisor of the home, Martha Pholoana, joyously joined. Despite the tranquility of the day characterized by messages such as “St. Stephen Church Cares About You”, “Share The Love”; “God Love Us All. Love Is In The Air,” one of the lodgers, Josef Titus, used the opportunity to air his unhappiness, complaining that they only get one meal a day – porridge in the morning. After that, they are left to their own devices and are expected to fend for the rest of the meals out of the pension allowance of N$450 a month. He says the balance of N$430 after a N$20 deduction for meals a month, is not enough to provide for the two other meals every day. However, Pholoana says the lodgers receive breakfast and lunch and the only meal they have to provide for themselves is dinner. She says N$430 is enough to provide for a daily dinner for a month. The home relies on business benefactors to cater for the meals of the lodgers, while the building housing the senior citizens belongs to the City of Windhoek that also takes care of the electricity and water bills. The church also donated old clothes to the home. Copyright 2008 ©New Era Publications

NAMIBIA: Valentine’s Not Everyone’s Cup of Tea

. WINDHOECK, Namibia / New Era / February 17, 2009 By Helvy Tueumuna OSHAKATI – Valentine’s Day was celebrated worldwide including the northern town of Oshakati. But people from different social backgrounds and age groups in Oshakati had different meanings and interpretations of Valentine’s Day. “When I worked at the smelter (TCL in Tsumeb), sometimes whites (employers) would give us presents to take to our families because it was Valentine’s Day. I didn’t really know what it was until my Damara-speaking girlfriend explained it to me. She told me that it was the day of love. She would demand special treatment that day, but I am an Oshiwambo-speaking man, I don’t believe in such things. I’m not a coward,” says Simon Johanes (67), a resident of Oshakati. Johannes said he believes Valentine’s Day was a day created by women so that they can seek attention from men. According to him, he will never commemorate Valentine’s Day and will always discourage his children from believing in Valentine. Although she had a different opinion, Nazareth Kakala said she fully understands what Valentine’s Day is all about. She said many people think they know what Valentine’s Day is but they don’t. According to Kakala, Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a day of mourning, not a celebration. In addition, the young woman said Valentine’s Day should be commemorated like Cassinga Day and other days where people commemorate the deaths of loved ones. “Look at me, I am wearing black today because I am commemorating the death of a woman who was murdered because of love. Valentine’s Day is not supposed to be the day of roses and presents. Those things are encouraging murderers to think that if they kill in the name of love, it will be celebrated. After all, it is not an African culture to celebrate death. We mourn, we cry, we show remorse – we don’t celebrate.” According to Kakala, she spends Valentine’s Day with her family. “I cannot spend Valentine’s with a man. Today they (men) are killing women; if you spend your day with him, he can kill you and claim that he did it in the name of love.” Also coming up with a different view on Valentine’s Day was Hilen Shatumbu, a resident of Ongwediva. Although she is at the stage where her age mates celebrate the day, on Saturday afternoon (February 14, 2009) Shatumbu was wearing a yellow T-shirt with brown prints and a pair of jeans. Shatumbu considers Valentine’s Day as a day where young girls and boys break the rules and engage in sexual activities. “Just go to high school now – you will find them standing in the dark corners doing all sorts of forbidden activities, apparently it’s because of Valentine. I don’t celebrate such evil.” Wearing a red skirt and a white top was Rauna Amunyela, hairdresser at Ongwediva Hair Salon. Although Amunyela said she will always dress up in red and white on February 14, it would be her last year to exchange presents. “I did not know what Valentine’s was until today.” The programme on Valentine’s Day, broadcast on a local radio station, gave Amunyela a different view of Valentine’s Day. “The programme made me understand that Valentine’s Day is a commemoration of someone’s death – it’s not about presents.” While talking to Hamunyela, a man walked into the salon with a parcel in his hand and handed it to another woman who was also wearing red and white. “I gave my wife a Valentine’ present, because me and my wife believe in Valentine’s Day,” said Salomo Mukwendja, who personally delivered a valentine’s gift to her wife Selma at Ongwediva Hair Salon. The Mukwendja family maintained that although they show each other love every day, Valentine’s Day is a special day for them. Josua Ferdinand, also a fan of Valentine’s Day, said he normally celebrates the special day with his girlfriend. “We used to go out, hang around and eat out but she is not here.” Ferdinand said now that his girlfriend is not in the area, he will still go out with his friend and have a good time as is his culture to go out on the day of love. John Joseph, Ferdinand’s friend said for him Valentine’s Day is a foreign culture. “Apparently it is the day of showing love, but for me love should be shown every day, not just once a year.” About the author Helvy Tueumuna: Journalist at New Era Oshakati Where I grew up: Ongwediva Places I've lived: Windhoek and Ongwediva Companies I've worked for: Informantè and Namibian Sun Schools I've attended: Unam, Haimbili Haufiku SSS, Tucsin Other names: Kula Copyright 2008 ©New Era Publications

NAMIBIA: Old Timers Will Party on Valentine’s Day

. WINDHOEK, Namibia / New Era / February 12, 2009 By Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Senior citizens at the Katutura Old Age Home are poised to join the rest of the country for the February 14 craze when romantics shower one another with gifts as a sign of love – Valentine’s Day. The St Stephan Rommanna Apostolic Church of Africa in Katutura has scraped together about N$4 500 from own coffers to bring the township’s seniors a feel of Valentine’s Day by hosting a luncheon for them as the day’s highlight. Apart from the planned sumptuous lunch consisting of the main course of chicken, for health reasons, and assorted salads among others, the church’s youth members would be busy the Saturday morning bringing the home and the senior citizens up to scratch for the luncheon. The youths have been gearing up to spend the first half of the day cleaning the home and watering the home’s trees. Residents are not spared the touch-up in preparation for what is probably a once-in-a-lifetime treat of a Valentine lunch with their hairdos attended to, and being treated to a manicure. However, the church and its generous gesture is no stranger to the residents of this home. Some time back it mopped up the home. The church’s engagement with the residents of the old age home is not coincidental with Valentine’s Day but deliberate. In its eyes, “love” is not just there for enjoying and feeling by “lovers” but must extend to and between all members of society. Likewise, Valentine’s Day. The orphans, and those living with disabilities, widows and widowers and other vulnerable people must be part and parcel of the various streams within the society and there is no reason why Valentine’s Day should be an exception. The church’s youth secretary, Paatjee Meroro, has been tasked by the church’s leadership and elders to spearhead its Valentine’s Day initiative for senior citizens. “Those who have must give to those who don’t,” he finds some Biblical motivation for the initiative. As if this Biblical verse is not enough motivation for the church’s benevolent act, Meroro seeks to further indulge in the word, invoking its imploration of mankind to think of fellow vulnerable people. “Those who can must help those who cannot,” he further accentuates the church’s goodwill act. Based on its Biblical inspiration, the church sees its mission beyond the gospel, “praying and clapping” to the ministering to the physical and material well-being of the spiritual soul. In this regard, the church is actively involved in the HIV and AIDS awareness campaigns. Fully aware of the Government’s extensive hand to help communities, the church feels that the Government’s hand alone is not enough and that the church must also contribute something to the communities they serve and not confine themselves to gospel and “healing” only. Meroro thinks that development and progress is only possible with the contribution of all towards Government’s efforts. In this regard, his church has been active among its communities although not as much as it would wish to. Its activism also includes visiting and praying for the sick in hospitals as well as counselling prison inmates, hoping for them to mend their ways once they have served their time and to become responsible citizens. The church’s initiative, Meroro says, is also informed by the realisation that most of us are destined one day or the other for the same lot as our senior citizens today. So looking after our senior citizens is in a way an investment in our own old age. “The wood that has not landed in the fire cannot laugh at the one in the fire,” he bluntly put it to everyone that old age is bound to catch up on anyone, and that one should not poke jokes at senior citizens but rather help them. Meroro thinks that most of the churches in the country, with the exception of a few, still need to live up to their Biblical calling of going beyond the gospel and praying and singing, to caring for the vulnerable in society. This is a calling that his church intends to take further this year. As well as providing for lunch for the elderly, the church would also be distributing blankets and clothes to them. This is only the beginning of its yearly activities as it also intends to meet with the Deputy Prime Minister Dr Libertina Amathila to see how it can support her activities in caring for vulnerable people. Although other senior citizens from Katutura would not be turned away, the church has only budgeted for the 35 occupants of the Katutura Old Age Home. Copyright 2008 ©New Era Publications .

NAMIBIA: Swapo Elders Disurbed By Moral Decay

WINDHOECK, Namibia (New Era), February 15, 2008: By Anna Shilongo, Windhoek The Swapo Party Elders Council is concerned with an upswing in wife-bashing and other forms of domestic violence that result in close family members being brutally murdered and cases where mothers kill their own babies. This worrying phenomenon also involves grandchildren killing their grandparents, parents killing their offspring, and children murdering their parents as a result of substance abuse while the motive in some of the cases is to cash in on insurance policies. Addressing the media at a press conference in Windhoek yesterday, Swapo Party Elders Council Secretary, Kanana Hishoono, said the nation shows an increasing tendency towards these social evils. "There are two fundamental questions that Namibians, law -abiding citizens, need to answer. What is the cause of this perilous phenomenon? And what can be done to stem the tide?" asked Hishoono. He said there are some aspects of life in society that contribute to the various forms of domestic violence. Hishoono said traditional customs and values are no longer respected in modern society, adding that the entire society has lost its morals, while discipline has broken down and moral decay has set in. He believes the culture of cuca shops is destroying traditional customs and values. "People in our country today, in both urban and rural areas, both old and young, spend their evenings at cuca shops, drinking tombo, pwaka, ndjambula and all other illicit home-brews. They no longer have time to spend the evenings to teach their children the good customs and traditional values of society," he said. Rather, the secretary of the Elders' Council said, they keep on quarrelling and hurling insults at each other, fighting amongst each other, irrespective of the vast age difference in their various age categories. "No useful things are learnt at the cuca shops, and usually. parental care and youth upbringing is generally lacking in today's society," he said. Another concern raised by the Elders Council was the issue of equality and human rights resulting from freedom and independence. The influence of the media, particularly the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), was another concern on top of the elders' list. "The mission of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation is to inform, educate, and entertain. This is a sound mission and NBC is congratulated for that." He noted that the media have a profound influence on members of society in which they operate, adding that the influence of TV is particularly significant. Though most TV programmes are full of violent scenes and younger generations are deeply in love and are obsessive with these programmes, older people do not admire them. "Many people when they commit violence they claim to have suffered from mental health problems, which is not always the case. It is just an excuse," said Hishoono. Thus Swapo Party Elders Council demands a system of ethics and values, to be devised, in order to transmit these desired values to the younger generations who will give the country a unique identity amongst the nations in the world. "The system should draw on the past, those positive aspects of culture and combine them with ethical values and be drawn from the aspirations for the better and safe future of Namibia." As a result, he said, the Elders Council is currently busy doing research for the establishment of a new system, and the research findings will be addressed to the appropriate authorities for attention and consideration. Copyright © 2008 New Era.