Agribusdev workers sent to prisons

Following Cabinet’s decision to strip struggling Agribusdev of its mandate to manage green schemes across the country, the agriculture ministry has handed over the Hardap green scheme and irrigation project to the Namibia Correctional Services (NCS).

The ministry’s executive director, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, informed her safety and security counterpart Etienne Maritz of the decision in a letter dated 3 August.

“It is the considered view of the ministry that the project proposal submitted is feasible in terms of projected cash flow and the types of crops to be grown. The ministry of agriculture would herewith like to handover the management of the Hardap irrigation project to the NCS only for its utilisation,” she wrote.

She added that the NCS is expected to take over operations as soon as possible in order to make preparations for the upcoming summer cropping season, and that the ministry would monitor its development.

It is understood that seven employees who were stationed at the Hardap project have since been added to the NCS’s staff complement. Some of them are currently undergoing training at the NCS training facility in Omaruru.

Work for your dinner

NCS deputy commissioner general Sam Shaalulange said inmates will work at the project to produce maize, wheat and vegetables to complement their feeding programme. The surplus, he said, will be sold to cover maintenance costs.

NCS has partnered with the World Food Programme for financial assistance, he added.

“The Hardap green scheme already has competent and experienced agricultural personnel on its establishment and they are going to become part of the NCS establishment.”

There is already a decent water pump station and sprinkler irrigation, while the entire farm land is arable and suitable for both agronomic and horticultural crops, Shaalulange said.

In the dark

The transfer has seemingly caused friction between the ministry and Agribusdev, with the latter claiming it was kept in the dark regarding the new developments.

Agribusdev’s managing director Berfine Antindi told Namibian Sun yesterday: “As I am talking to you, the company, Agribusdev, is not in the know of the issue at Hardap”.

“We did not receive any communication from the ministry about Hardap [being] transferred to correctional services. I heard stories, but no official communication.

“For sure, if what I heard from the corridors is true, then I am not impressed at all,” she said.

Sources privy to the standoff say Antindi was vexed by the staff transfer, adding that, at one point, she wanted to block the move.

“She was not happy and she even wanted to reject the resignation letters of the staff members who moved over.

With open arms

With Agribusdev’s long-term future uncertain, staff members seemingly welcomed the transfer with open arms for job security purposes, the source said.

Antindi said she spoke to the project manager last week informing him that plans to resign immediately were not in line with the company’s policies.

“I spoke to [him] after he sent me a letter about the issue. I only reminded him of what the company policy says [when it comes to resignation], which states that you must give a month’s notice. Agribusdev is a company established through an Act, meaning any move should follow sound processes at all times,” she said.

She also questioned the transfer, saying: “How the staff members got to know that they are being transferred is only known by them”.

Contract terminated

Meanwhile, agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein wrote to Agribusdev chairperson Rosemary Shikangala to inform her of the termination of the ministry’s arrangement with the company to manage the green scheme projects.

According to him, the letter was in line with a Cabinet decision - dated 23 November 2021 - which terminated Agribusdev as the operator of the green scheme projects in the country as well as endorsed the transfer of the agronomic engineering division staff to the agriculture ministry.

He added that green scheme reforms are gaining traction and the Cabinet decision must now be implemented, hence writing the letter to direct Agribusdev to finalise the handover process in collaboration with his ministry.

“The ministry requests that Agribusdev takes stock of the state infrastructure and equipment at each green scheme under its management and submit a detailed handover report to the government and agriculture ministry.

Agribusdev, in line with the finance ministry, is requested to obtain urgent operational budgetary needs to ensure it continues operation of the schemes over the short-term,” he said.

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