NIDA to surrender 56 properties to PAMA

The Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida) has earmarked 56 properties valued at more than N$277 million for transfer to the newly established Public Assets Management Agency (PAMA).

An internal asset assessment seen by Namibian Sun shows that more than half of Nida’s 104-property portfolio could be transferred, although the properties represent only about a quarter of the portfolio’s total value.

The document, titled Nida Property Assets Portfolio – 31 March 2026, puts the total value of Nida’s properties at N$1.13 billion.

Of these, 56 properties valued at N$277.4 million are earmarked for transfer, while Nida proposes retaining 48 properties valued at N$850.6 million.

The proposed transfer has raised concerns among some Nida employees, particularly property officers who are questioning what the restructuring could mean for their jobs.

Internal discussions seen by Namibian Sun show employees questioning why information about the proposed transfer had not been formally communicated by management.

“What is the fate of us, property officers?” one employee asked after the asset list was circulated internally.

Another questioned why employees had to learn about the proposed transfers through unofficial channels.

Properties earmarked

The properties earmarked for transfer include industrial parks, SME parks, business parks, community markets and other facilities across several regions.

Among the highest-valued properties are the Karasburg Business Park at N$18.8 million, Henties Bay SME Centre at N$14.9 million, Ruacana SME Park at N$13.4 million, Nkurenkuru SME Park at N$13 million and the Mariental Industrial Estate and SME Park at N$12.2 million.

The 56 properties contain 536 units, of which 343 are recorded as occupied.

They generate combined monthly rental income of N$954,398, against monthly expenses of N$348,829.

At least 11 properties with units recorded in the assessment have no occupied units, while the properties earmarked for transfer carry N$13.4 million in outstanding utility bills.

Nida retains bulk of value

Despite the proposed transfer involving more than half of Nida’s properties by number, the agency would retain about 75% of the portfolio’s total value.

The 48 properties earmarked to remain under Nida are valued at N$850.6 million and include some of its most valuable assets.

These include the Oshikango Industrial Park, valued at N$105.9 million; the Katima Industrial Park EPZ, valued at N$65.2 million; and the David Shikomba Business Park in Ongwediva, valued at N$56.3 million.

The retained portfolio contains 578 units, of which 414 are occupied.

Employees expressed mixed views about the proposed transfer, with one arguing that some of the affected properties are dormant, poorly maintained and accumulating rates and taxes.

“Most of those properties are dormant and not well maintained in order to fully utilise them. Nida is unnecessarily just accumulating rates and taxes,” the employee said.

“If we can’t leverage those properties, why keep them?”

Another employee said Nida had been asked to identify properties for possible transfer following the establishment of PAMA.

Questions sent to Nida acting chief executive officer Phillip Namundjebo last week were not answered.

PAMA raises questions

The proposed transfer comes shortly after Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi announced the establishment of PAMA, which will be responsible for managing state properties.

Nekundi said the agency forms part of government’s efforts to improve the management of public assets amid concerns over underutilised and poorly maintained state properties.

“We must move towards a position where the government has a clear understanding of what assets it owns, where they are located, their condition, how they are utilised, the income they generate, and their potential value,” he said.

Nida was established in 2018 under legislation passed in 2016 to spearhead Namibia’s industrialisation agenda, promote investment and develop business and agribusiness infrastructure.

The proposed transfer raises questions about how PAMA will operate alongside statutory entities such as Nida, which already owns and manages a substantial portfolio of industrial, business and SME properties.

It also raises questions about the legal framework governing the transfer, the staffing of PAMA and the future of Nida employees responsible for property management.

IPC parliamentarian Nelson Kalangula has called on government to halt the transfer of public properties to PAMA until a proposed public assets management law has been debated and passed by Parliament.

Works ministry public relations officer Nelago Shivute told Namibian Sun on Saturday that PAMA’s board could not respond to questions until it had held its first meeting.