Agribusdev workers in limbo after dissolution

Workers at seven former Agricultural Business Development Agency (Agribusdev) green schemes say they have not received termination letters or any official communication explaining their employment status or future after the company ceased operations on 30 June.

The concerns are contained in a letter dated 9 July, seen by Namibian Sun, in which regional committee shop steward Semete Andreas, writing on behalf of the affected employees, appealed to the government for urgent intervention, saying the uncertainty surrounding their future has placed workers and their families under severe strain.

"Employees have not received official termination letters or formal communication explaining our employment status or what steps will follow," the letter states.

According to the letter, although management reportedly held meetings from 27 to 29 June to discuss the way forward for the green scheme projects, staff has had no official communication since.

"As employees, we are now left in a state of uncertainty. We do not know whom to approach for assistance, whether our employment has officially ended, or what arrangements are being made for the continuation of the projects or the welfare of the employees," Andreas wrote.

"This uncertainty has caused significant stress and hardship for many families who depend entirely on their employment for their livelihood," it reads.

"We therefore humbly appeal to your office to provide clear direction during this difficult period.”

Rocky process

The appeal was submitted on behalf of employees at the Ndonga Linena, Shadikongoro, Kalimbeza, ORIP, Uvhungu- Vhungu, Sikondo and Etunda green schemes.

The employees said they have served the green scheme with dedication and are calling for the immediate issuance of termination letters, clarity on the future of the projects and employees, and information on outstanding employment matters, benefits and possible future employment opportunities.

The uncertainty follows government’s decision to dissolve Agribusdev after years of governance and financial challenges at the state-owned enterprise.

Cabinet resolved in 2021 that Agribusdev would stop managing government green schemes, with responsibility for the schemes reverting to the agriculture ministry as part of broader reforms aimed at improving oversight and management.

Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani reinforced this directive earlier this year, stating that Agribusdev’s dissolution process had to be completed by the end of June, describing it as non-negotiable.

Government also appointed a consultancy to facilitate the dissolution process and oversee the reintegration of employees into the ministry, although the exercise experienced delays before the latest deadline.

Agribusdev was established as a state-owned company responsible for managing Namibia’s green scheme programme, including overseeing commercial irrigation projects, supporting agricultural production and maintaining farming infrastructure aimed at improving food security.

At the time of publication, the agriculture ministry had not responded to questions from this publication.