Oshikuku land deal: Mukwiilongo accused of hypocrisy

Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) leader Epafras Mukwiilongo has been called a hypocrite following revelations that his company sold a piece of land in Oshikuku to a foreign business entity.

NEFF has consistently expressed discontentment towards the alleged invasion of foreign businesses in Namibia, claiming they are pushing local businesses to the brink of closure.

Mukwiilongo’s company, Mokasa Trading Enterprises, sold a 1 229 square metre plot in Oshikuku’s Extension 1 to Rani Traders for N$880 000 on 23 September 2022.

The sale came six months after Mukwiilongo’s party and the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement staged a protest demanding that Chinese businesses close, while adding Indian businesses to their list of foreigners allegedly exploiting Namibians.

Rani Traders is owned by Indian businessman Ali Dharani.

‘Nothing wrong’

Mukwiilongo, a member of the National Assembly, said revelations about the plot sale are an attempt to silence and castrate him from fighting for the rights of workers.

He added that he sees nothing wrong with lawmakers being actively engaged in business transactions.

One of the key founding pillars of the red berets is the fight for economic emancipation, of which the redistribution of land to Namibians and ensuring that the economy is fully in the hands of locals are central objectives.

In 2014, Mukwiilongo blasted government for allegedly ignoring local undertakers and entrusting state funerals to foreign-owned companies.

Land baron

While admitting that he sold the piece of land, Mukwiilongo said the deal was initially between himself and northern businessman Shamil Dirk, who runs a transportation company, Samco Import and Export.

Before approaching Dirk, Mukwiilongo said he first spoke to prominent Namibian businessmen based at the north to buy the land, but none of them were interested. He then proceeded to look elsewhere.

“I approached Shamil. We went to see the place and he was interested. After my return to Windhoek, he called me days later and asked that I go with the title deed to [law firm] Weder, Kauta & Hoveka. They drafted the contract and called me to come and sign it, and to my surprise, it was Rani Trading on the contract as the purchaser,” he explained.

He added: “I immediately called Shamil to ask what is going on and he told me he was buying the land in partnership with the Rani guys”.

“This is the fourth property I sold to Shamil, so it is not the first time I am doing business with him.”

Mukwiilongo vowed that the land deal would not prevent him from demonstrating against Rani Trading should issues of worker exploitation arise there.

“I am a businessman and a politician. This deal will not make me stop fighting for workers' rights,” he quipped.

He further alleged that he received information that there is a plot to release the details of the land sale if he continues to castigate foreign businesses, in a bid to paint him in bad light.

Rani makes headlines

Rani Trading is one of the fastest growing supermarket and retail companies in the north, as their outlets are “way cheaper” than conventional retailers, according to locals.

In March, Rani Trading made headlines after the Bank of Namibia (BoN) froze its accounts, as well as the accounts of several other companies linked to it, on suspicion that “monies held in the accounts of the referenced entities were so held and/or received in violation of the exchange control laws”.

The other affected companies were Nemi Investments 104, Nemi Investments 105, Rundu Cash and Carry, Dharani Traders and Oshana Cash and Carry. The accounts held close to N$14 million.

The retail outfit pleaded its innocence at the time, further claiming that it did not receive an explanation on how it contravened the said law.