Mashare agri equipment left to rot

In its current state, the Mashare Agricultural Development Institute (MADI) in the Kavango East Region is an absolute eyesore.

Agricultural equipment worth millions has been left vulnerable to the elements, the infrastructure is on the verge of collapse and government has turned a blind eye.

Situated some 50 kilometres east of Rundu, MADI has turned into mayhem, instead of an institute meant to contribute to the agricultural sector of the region and the nation at large.

Upon a recent visit, Namibian Sun observed brand-new equipment lying out in the open, exposed to all sorts of weather conditions.

Disappointment was etched onto the face of MADI centre manager and chief agricultural scientific officer, Lukas Mandema, as he spoke about a lack of support from the line ministry and the sorry state of the institute.

Regarding the equipment that is collecting dust, he said it arrived at the centre without prior consultation, and this has led to challenges in terms of its usage.

According to him, they cannot use the planter and rippers they received as the tractors they have are unable to pull them because they are too heavy.

“This equipment is heavy and not compatible with our tractors. Some of them have already started to get damaged,” Mandema said.

‘Politicians know’

MADI was once a place where local farmers could buy livestock and feed, but the centre has since devolved into a place where pigs survive on chicken feed.

Mandema revealed that since 2017, there has been no budget for the institute.

At the moment, it is home to pigs, donkeys and cattle left in the hands of the close to 50 labourers and three technical staff.

The centre manager said politicians - from the constituency councillor up to the highest office in the country - are aware of the situation at MADI, but their visits only end in promises that are never kept.

He said as part of her Swapo vice-presidency campaign last year, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila visited the institute and saw the state of the centre, yet nothing has changed.

“All the leaders - be it at a community, regional and national level, including the line ministry - are aware of the situation at MADI, but none of them have managed to offer us any assistance. Our governor has been here more than three times. They are all aware, but nothing positive has happened since their visits,” Mandema said.

Deliberate sabotage

All People’s Party (APP) secretary-general Vinsent Kanyetu, who initiated Namibian Sun’s visit to MADI, said there appears to be deliberate sabotage for the institute to fail.

He did not mince his words when he said he was disgusted by the state of affairs at the centre, further questioning why the concerns of employees are not addressed by the line ministry.

“Our message is clear: We are not going to allow anyone to kill MADI,” he said.

“What we want for MADI is for the government to provide an annual budget to the centre to make sure that this place is run accordingly.”

Disappointed

On the equipment that is not being utilised, Kanyetu said it has been a waste of money in a country that claims to be ‘broke’.

“We hear the chorus of the state coffers not having money, but if you look at this place and the equipment that is lying in the sun, it is very bad and I am disappointed.”

When contacted for comment, the agriculture ministry said it is aware of the situation at the centre.

“Just like a few other projects within the ministry that have been affected by budget constraints experienced over the past years, this centre has been negatively affected. We are working on a sustainable solution that will see the utilisation of the centre, and which will eventually see it being fully operational,” spokesperson Jona Musheko said.

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