Okahandja donkey abattoir not a sure thing

While an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a proposed donkey abattoir at Okahandja was submitted to the environment ministry for an environmental clearance certificate, senior members of the Okahandja town council say they have not yet made a final decision on whether to approve the abattoir. Okahandja mayor Johannes Hindjou told Namibian Sun that initially the council “thought [the donkey abattoir] was a welcome business opportunity,” especially because of the promise of 100 jobs. However, the widespread objections against the Okahandja abattoir and plans for another one at Outjo, from within Namibia and outside, highlighted the need for further consultations and meetings with concerned stakeholders, the mayor said. He said it was important for the council to listen to the public. “When they first came to us with this proposal, yes we supported it. But after we heard the public outcry, we received hundreds of mails, we said, let's investigate this, and let's listen. l had not yet decided anything.” Hindjou said he did not know whether an EIA had been completed, or who the consultants conducting the EIA were. The department of environmental affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism yesterday confirmed that the EIA report had been submitted to the environmental commissioner's office and was still being reviewed. Namibian Sun was informed that the EIA was completed by CNM Environmental Consulting Services, the company appointed by AgriNature Investment Trade who plans to operate the abattoir. Hindjou said AgriNature Investment Trade, the joint Chinese and Namibian venture behind the proposal, had been advised from the start that all procedures needed to be followed as required for an export abattoir. He denied reports that the municipality had sold land to AgriNature Investment Trade. Hindjou said Erf 780 was first registered to another Chinese company, and the property was sold to the new owners in a private transaction.He confirmed that the council now had to decide whether to approve AgriNature's application to operate a donkey abattoir on that property. Hindjou was speaking at the council chambers, where a number of consultants and community members who had lodged objections against the abattoir were asked to present their findings. An Okahandja resident said the meeting was a positive experience, and that council members were aware of the issues, including animal welfare, water usage, pollution, waste disposal and several others listed as top concerns by the community. Last week, members of the council met with representatives from Donkey Sanctuary UK, who have investigated the donkey-skin trade in more than 40 countries. The council has also met international and local representatives of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Abner Axel Xoagub and Werner Thaniseb, members of the Donkib Ge Cultural Group, who have objected to the establishment of the donkey skin trade in Namibia, also briefly met with the mayor yesterday before the closed-door meetings. Both said that the donkey abattoir debate had highlighted the need for education, especially for those with leadership roles in communities and government. Xoagub said the debate emphasised the importance of recognising the value of donkeys, which play a strategic role in communities. “Should these communities lose their donkeys, they will be paralysed,” he warned. He added that engagement with organisations such as the Donkey Sanctuary had highlighted the issue of donkey welfare, a point Donkib Ge Cultural Group would increasingly focus on. Okahandja CEO Martha Mutilifa said she could not comment on the matter as she did not have any information. “We received the objections, but aside from that, I don't know,” she said.JANA-MARI SMITH

Okahandja donkey abattoir not a sure thing

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Okahandja donkey abattoir not a sure thing

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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